Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen's first published novel, tells the story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, who both face romantic problems. The younger and more emotional sister, Marianne falls in love with a man named Willoughby who disappoints her and breaks her heart. Marianne eventually marries Colonel Brandon, a more serious, older man who is very much in love with her. Kelly says she was initially dubious about the pairing because Marianne hadn't been attracted to Colonel Brandon when they first met. But after looking at research, Kelly says she found evidence that couples who become slowly attracted to each other over time often have longer-lasting relationships than those who are attracted to one another right away.
