Published in October 1811, Sense and Sensibility was the first of Austen's novels to be presented for public consumption. As it turned out, readers loved it, and the novel sold out its first edition of 750 copies (which was a lot back then) by 1813. However, Austen herself didn't become an overnight sensation; rather, throughout her brief lifetime, she published under the pseudonym, "A Lady," and never attained much personal fame. Her books, on the other hand, were quite successful; she followed up Sense and Sensibility with Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma, as well as two posthumously published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.Though Sense and Sensibility is Austen's first full-length novel, it possesses a lot of the traits that we see in some of her later, somewhat more widely read, works - her books grant us an intimate glance into the everyday lives of women in early nineteenth century England. We learn about their trials and tribulations (mostly having to do with romantic relationships - looks like not much has changed there over all these years), as well as about the importance of family life.