June Sturrock is professor emeritus of English at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.

• Acknowledgements; References and Abbreviations; General Introduction; PART I: FAMILY DYNAMICS: Introduction; Chapter One: The Functions of the Dysfunctional Family: “Northanger Abbey,” “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice”; Chapter Two: Spoilt Children: “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park” and “Emma”;  Chapter Three: “Usefulness and Exertion”: Mothers and Sisters in “Sense and Sensibility,” “Mansfield Park,” “Emma” and “Persuasion”; PART II: FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS: Introduction; Chapter Four: Money, Morals and “Mansfield Park”; Chapter Five: Speech and Silence in “Emma”; Chapter Six: Dandies and Beauties: The Issue of Good Looks in “Persuasion”; Conclusion: “Creative Attention”;  Notes; Select Bibliography; Index

'Sturrock reads the novels through the lens of ethical criticism, and explores how the heroines differ from their parents in terms of morality. [...] Sturrock's contribution lies in her exploration of the various intrafamilial relations: those between sisters, between mothers and daughters, and between fathers and daughters. [...] Exhaustively researched and well written, "Jane Austen's Families" is a pleasure to read.' —'Forum for Modern Language Studies'