Lady Susan by Jane Austen

A charming but manipulative widow, Lady Susan, seeks to secure wealthy marriages for herself and her daughter through cunning schemes. Told through a series of letters, the story reveals her flirtations, deceptions, and the chaos she causes in polite society. Despite her sharp mind and allure, she eventually faces consequences for her actions. The plot offers a biting satire of courtship, hypocrisy, and female agency. It’s one of Austen’s most daring and ironic works.