Emma - Jane Austen

Advantages: One of the funniest novels I've ever read, superb social observations, excellent writing
Disadvantages: Funny looks from strangers on the train...

I picked up Emma more because I knew I should try Jane Austen as a fan of literature rather than a burning desire to read it. I wasn't expecting much; I knew Jane Austen is an extremely highly regarded writer, but I wasn't expecting more than an arbitrary romance with flowery prose. I was pleasantly surprised. Emma is a young woman growing up in the rural early nineteenth century as the younger daughter of an aging wealthy father. We meet her as ...
...is sweet and compliant, allowing Emma to boss her about a bit! Austen's forte is witty social commentary and her observations are so acute that she never fails to induce me to laughter when I'm reading her novels, and never more so than with Emma. The only disadvantage to this is that I read Emma on the train to and from college and people tended to give me funny looks when I burst out laughing... Still, social ostracism is a small price to pay ... Read review

Advantages: Well-drawn characters, interesting social history, nothing to shock...
Disadvantages: Rather tedious in places, long-winded and inconsequential converstions, not much plot

...is a worthy farmer, but Emma does not consider him good enough for her friend. She points her first in the direction of the local minister, and then of someone else. Harriet is rather pathetically grateful for her high-born friend's recommendations and takes on board whatever she is told. Since Emma has a good opinion of herself, she considers Harriet intelligent and sensible for following her suggestions; only gradually does she realise that her ...
...walks, visits and conversations between Emma and her neighbours, with a few diversions such as parties or balls. It's a pleasant enough social commentary on life in an upper-class English village two hundred years ago, written with close observation and the thread of irony that made me keep reading. But having said that, it felt like quite a chore at times. The dated style of language didn't particularly worry me; within a few pages I had no problem ... Read review

Advantages: works on several levels.
Disadvantages: a litle tedious in places.

...and see clearly. Emma herself is a very wealthy and bored young lady who lives with her father in a large house. Unmarried at 21, she has decided she is already an old maid and has set about getting everyone else suitably married off. When the bok opens, she has just suceeded in pairing her tutor off with a suitable man and is looking around for new projects. She picks on a pretty girl of uncetain birth - depsite all the evidence, Emma is convinced ...
...the priest has designs on Emma (here the class issues begin to show, Emma is above the priest, the priest is socailly above Emma's friend.) Rougish young men, romanitc droopy woemn and an old family friend are caught up in Emma's schemeing and plots, until eventually she finds herself to be in love..... The basic story line is quite sweet and fairly endearing. AS is often the case in Austin novels, Emma ends up married to a far older man. ustin's ... Read review

Advantages: unexpected twists and turns
Disadvantages: when emma slips up, it can make you cringe

...is centred around a Miss Emma Woodhouse of Hartfield house and her matchmaking. Emma has everything going for her, she’s pretty, young and intelligent, if a little vain. But when she was raised by an indulgent father, a loving governess Miss Taylor, and an elder sister who she was always superior to, is it any wonder? The only person who can see her faults is a very close family friend, Mr. Knightley. We meet the Woodhouse’s after Miss Taylor has ...
...pities ‘poor Miss Taylor’ whilst Emma congratulates herself on the success of the match. Mr. Knightley cautions her, but she cannot be stopped and is soon planning another match, between Miss Smith, a local girl of unsure parentage, and the local vicar, Mr. Elton, all this after she convinced Miss Smith to refuse the offer of a local farmer, Mr Martin. On the discovery of this plan’s failure, (the reasons for which I will not divulge) Emma vows not ... Read review

Advantages: A believable, well rounded story, wonderful characters, true to real life today.
Disadvantages: Awfully embarrassing moments, Emma's Naivety.

...Emma. Jane Austen, throughout Emma uses semi formal or formal situations to gather all of the characters so we can see personal traits and specific situations which either add to or give meaning to the plot. Dramatic irony is a strong force throughout, the reader often cringing at the embarrassing situations created by Emma yet the characters being blissfully unaware and happy, for a time. The first social situation that I am looking at is the ...
...or at least less wealthy. Emma at first totally refuses to go to the dinner party but then later changes her mind. This is a small sign of her growing maturity as she loses some of her snobbery. The gathering helps Emma to almost come down to Earth and realise that her condescension isn’t always correct because she actually enjoys the party. Mr Knightley and Emma both take part in banter prior to entering the Coles’. We see how well ... Read review