Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby, she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behavior leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love-- and its threatened loss--the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

The collection draws inspiration from the original Cranford series, which was published by Macmillan and Co. between 1876 and 1907. This earlier series is renowned for its decorative gilt designs and high-quality bindings, and for vintage book collectors it is a cherished part of literary history. The RBA collection revives this legacy by reinterpreting classic Victorian works with a modern touch.