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    Emma
    Emma
    Emma
    Audiobook16 hours

    Emma

    Written by Jane Austen

    Narrated by Juliet Stevenson

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Arrogant, self-willed and egotistical, Emma is Jane Austen’s most unusual heroine. Her interfering ways and inveterate matchmaking are at once shocking and comic. She is ‘handsome, clever and rich’ and has ‘a disposition to think too well of herself’. When she decides to introduce the humble Harriet Smith to the delights of genteel society and to find her a suitable husband, she precipitates herself and her immediate circle into a web of misunderstanding and intrigue, from which no-one emerges unchanged. Juliet Stevenson, an incomparable reader, is for many the voice of Jane Austen
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaxos Audiobooks
    Release dateFeb 1, 2010
    ISBN9789629544485
    Author

    Jane Austen

    Jane Austen (1775–1817) was an English novelist whose work centred on social commentary and realism. Her works of romantic fiction are set among the landed gentry, and she is one of the most widely read writers in English literature.

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    Reviews for Emma

    4.5/5

    773 ratings245 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Honestly I found this to be one of the harder Austen novels to read. The plot wasn't as captivating as some of her other works, nor were the characters as interesting. Mr. Knightly and Emma are, of course, exceedingly interesting, but everyone else I found rather blah and dull which might have been the point. Emma is an absolute scoundrel and I was constantly reminded of the Austen quote where she tells her sister I believe that Emma is a protagonist only she will like. There are a lot of interesting choices and techniques used in this novel that require some more pondering and close reading, but I will say this: Emma is not the best Austen novel, but it is probably one of the best literary pieces she produced.

      All in all, I would recommend this book to the dedicated Austen fans, but I probably wouldn't recommend it as a starter into Jane Austen literature.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      An extremely enjoyable and often hilarious slice of Georgian life featuring the spoiled, snotty, but also weirdly lovable Emma who is very convinced she understands how everyone feels even when she is repeatedly proven wrong (even about herself). Austen has the ability to draw characters that are simultaneously pointed caricatures and lovingly individualistic portraits. It is no wonder she published her novels anonymously during her lifetime, because I'm sure her friends, family, and acquaintances could find themselves in these pages. Not sure how I made it this long without reading this one, but I'm glad I finally did.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Although Emma isn’t going to displace Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice as my favorite Austen, it was definitely a fun read. The introduction mentions that Emma was Austen’s favorite character she created and I can see why. She’s sometimes naive or snobby, but she’s also cheerful, happy, and concerned with the happiness of others. I thought her father and sister were pretty funny, unique characters as well. The way relationships develop between characters is generally slow, subtle, and believable. The end is a bit abrupt and everything wraps up a bit too neatly, but I was in the mood for a light read and actually liked that the resolution wasn’t drawn out too much. Overall, this was a very fun, light read.

      This review first published at Doing Dewey.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I must begin by stating that I may be utterly biased here. Emma is the novel that introduced me to the treasure that are Jane Austen's masterpieces. I read it when I was fourteen, and fell in love with it right there and then. People often tend to mention that Emma Woodhouse is the least likeable heroine Jane Austen has created. It may be so, since she is rather headstrong, spoiled and with a strong tendency to plan other people's lives, without giving a second thought to all possible consequences, secluded in the protection of Hartfield, her house, her bubble. It may be so but we should not forget that she has no siblings, and an onlychild, more often than not, believes that the world probably revolves around him/her. And I am an onlychild, so don't judge me... :)I recently revisited Emma's world for a group discussion, and I once again found myself utterly charmed by Jane Austen's creation. In this novel, she presents all the vices of the aristocracy, all the possible ways the high and mighty use to look down on those who are less fortunate, and she does so with style and elegance, and her unique satire. Yes, Emma is a difficult character, but I think we must regard her the way we do with a younger sister or a younger cousin who has yet to experience the difficulties of the ''real'' world ''out there''. Emma is a charming character, for all her faults. Frankly, I find her a bit more realistic than the other iconic heroines, the ever - perfect Elizabeth, the always - sensible and cautious Eleanor, or the ever - waiting, passive Anne. Emma makes many mistakes and regrets, but her heart is kind. After all, don't we become a little stupid when we fall in love? (view spoiler)The rest of the characters are all iconic as well. Mr .Knightley is sensible, gentle, gallant, the true voice of reason. I highly prefer him compared to Mr. Darcy. Frank Churchill joins Sense and Sensibility's John Willoughby as the two most unsympathetic young suitors in Jane Austen's works, Harriet is well...Harriet, and Miss Taylor is a lady that I believe all of us would want as a close friend and adviser.Emma is a wonderful journey, full of satire, lively, realistic characters and the beautiful descriptions of a tiny English town. It is small wonder that there have been so many adaptations in all media, the big screen, TV and in theatre. The best adaptation, in my opinion, is the 2009 BBC TV series, with Romola Garai as Emma and Jonny Lee Miller as a dreamy Mr. Knightley.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Emma is from the leading family in Highbury, living alone with her widowed father at Hartfield. She loves to play matchmaker, feeling her skills quite superior after her friend's marriage went exactly as she hoped. Now Emma has set her sights on Harriet, a young woman of unknown parentage whom Emma wishes to match with the local vicar. The book is a comedy of misunderstandings and secrets. People often don't talk about how they really feel, leaving things up for interpretation, and often misinterpretation.I really enjoyed Emma. The prose is very simple, making it an easy read. I like that Emma herself is a flawed character who comes to recognize her flaws and works to correct them. Not everyone in the story is as self-aware as she is, and that's part of the fun. Austen created a cast of characters here whom you could easily recognize in real life. (How many of us know a talkative Miss Bates?) It's a romantic comedy where the matchmaker lead has no desire for marriage herself, which is perhaps unusual in this genre (and also serves to make the story more interesting). I wholeheartedly recommend reading Emma. It's a fun, low-stakes comedy, with lovable characters and a happy ending.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Emma by Jane Austen; (4 1/2*)Austen's prediction that her Emma was not a person many people would like certainly came to fruition. In point of fact Emma is one of the least likable characters in British literature. She comes across as a snob. She is a rich and manipulative character whom I found to be rather despicable throughout the novel. But for this reader, Emma came to be a character I loved to hate, so to speak. The novel is quite funny and the characterizations I found to be well rounded, not flat, and I could easily identify with most all of them. There were the irritating Bates', the hypochondriac Father, the dashing, the elegant neighbor & brother in law, the accomplished Jane Fairfax of whom Emma is fiercely jealous, and the fawning lower class friend Emma wants to 'match up' with someone of a higher class.The comic exchanges between characters, the complexity of the plot and the witty conversations/bickerings between the characters makes reading Emma a great deal of fun indeed. The reader has no need to like or agree with Emma in order to enjoy this great piece of literature. If not for Jane Austen's brilliant use of the English language, which pulls the reader right in and holds one captive for the duration, I could have never gotten through this book with so much joy and entertainment.But it is exactly the author's control of language which makes the novel the masterpiece it is and why we still enjoy it some 200 years later. Emma is filled with complexity and interesting, funny interludes. The dialogue between the characters is quite brilliant. Emma is highly enjoyable to read and to re-read. I highly recommend this novel.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The reader definitely did this book justice! One of my favorite stories by Jane Austen and despite being a tad bit long keeps your attention the entire time!
    • 5/5
      The book was clever and enjoyable, and the narrator was fabulous!
    • 3/5
      Maybe I shouldn't have listened to this as an audio book because I found it kind of boring. I'm looking forward to listening to more of her books.
    • 5/5
      A sensitive, lively novel of impeccable taste from Jane Austin.
    • 4/5
      I appreciated this more than when I first read it at a younger age, however, it’s still not quite as dear to me as some of Jane Austen’s other books. Bored and lonely after the departure of her friend/governess to married life, Emma takes a new, less fortunate friend under her wing and enters into a mostly disastrous hobby of matchmaking which leads to ever so many miscues, including some in Emma’s own love life. Emma might not be the most seamless introduction to reading classics if you’re accustomed to books that jet along at a fast clip, the pace here can feel somewhat plodding, I know for me, there were moments when I thought it could stand to pick up the pace a touch, yet at the same time, slow is really the only way to tell this story well, or maybe more accurately, slow is the only way to feel this story. You wouldn’t truly feel the tedium of Emma’s worrywart dad or Miss Bates’s inability to edit her side of a conversation nor would you reach quite the same fever pitch of frustration with Emma if this rolled along at a more modern pace, this plot and these characters probably wouldn’t have the same richness, the same depth if they happened in a hurry.Emma herself, can be a bit challenging to love, she interferes with Harriet’s life, she steamrolls with whatever notion pops into her head rather than fully considering a situation, and she has a habit of seeing what she wants and ignoring all evidence to the contrary. The first time I read this book, Emma aggravated me more than a little, thankfully though years later, I guess I have a bit more patience, compassion, and probably stronger reader comprehension, too, plus, having come to the realization that flaws = interesting characters, I found Emma much easier to tolerate this go round, her oblivious actions more forgivable, even if she almost always jumped to the wrong conclusion, her heart seemed to be in the right place. The romance wasn’t quite as compelling as some of Austen’s other titles, perhaps because Emma’s more focused on other’s people’s love lives, though hers does have its moments, however, for the most part, I feel like the main appeal of this novel is in the distinctive and intricate personalities of each character in the ensemble, not the most easily likable group but certainly well-crafted, there’s a timelessness to them, these aren’t just people of their era, they possess certain traits (however annoying) that are every bit as identifiable today.
    • 4/5
      Love this book and the way Emma is determined to never fall in love and yet does with her best friend. What a fun story and the characters and the romance is great.
    • 4/5
      I've had this on my "to read" list for quite a while, but funnily enough decided to read it now in preparation for the release of the final Harry Potter book. There's been so much talk about how much this book influenced Rowling, I thought it would be good to read it now. I started it hoping for some insight to what JKR might do in the final book, but once I got reading, Rowling and the young wizard both left my mind. (So, I can't say that it opened up any new speculations for that series)."Emma" started off a bit slow, but once it got going, I found it quite a page-turner. Emma, even though she is still very young, is basically the head of her household, as her father is a fretful, ineffectual man who allows others to "handle" him easily. Fortunately, Emma is basically a good-hearted young woman who makes (mostly) good decisions, and (usually) behaves properly, and always with great consideration for her father. At the outset of the book, we learn that she thinks herself an excellent matchmaker and decides that she is going to help her newly cultivated friend, Harriet, find the perfect husband. Emma herself, however, intends never to marry and ruin what seems to her an already perfect life. Throughout the book, she pokes her nose into situations that would perhaps better be left alone, and behaves in ways which are destined to be misinterpreted by others (although she's unaware of this at the time). All this, of course, leads to what are supposed to be some interesting twists and turns in the plot.***The rest of this review contains MAJOR SPOILERS including what happens at the end of the book***Austen's books are always a look into a world that is different from my own, and yet some things never change. She drew many wonderful characters in this book, although I did find a few of them to be off-puttingly obnoxious. Not more obnoxious, perhaps, than characters in some of her other books, but they seemed to have a lot more page-time (and dialogue in particular) than I remember being the case in other of Austen's books. Of course, Mrs. Elton was utterly loathesome, and in need of a major smackdown. I also quickly tired of Mr. Woodhouse. Sweet man though he was said to be, his constant worrying was very tiresome, and I could have done without quite so much of it. While these characters annoyed me, it wasn't because they were unbelievable; on the contrary, I've known people like both of them. I just don't have as much patience with either sort as Emma did. I found that with this book, also perhaps more than in others by Austen, I had to consciously "turn off" some of my modern sensibility while reading. Class and wealth and everyone knowing their proper place (and staying in it) is always a theme, and one that was relevant to the time and place in which these books were written, but somehow in this book I found it more oppressive than usual. Emma and those around her are very concerned with maintaining the status-quo in regards to their relationships, and in the course of the story, Austen plays with this quite a bit. As Emma wonders just how much her friend Harriet's low birth might be outweighed by her wonderful personal qualities, we're led to wonder as well, which sets up most of the tension for the whole story. It turns out, though, that "playing" with this is all Austen does; she proves herself to be conservative, and none of her characters rock the boat by marrying outside of their class.I will say, in relation to the above comments, that one of the things that puzzled me about this book was that it's considered a masterpiece of narrative misdirection, and is said to end with a monumental twist. Narrative misdirection, perhaps, but it was one that never really sucked me in. It was obvious Emma was convincing herself of things that were not true. Mr. Elton was clearly was courting Emma, not Harriet, and for Emma to be blind to that made me stop trusting her judgement, so later in the story I didn't buy into any misdirection. As for the ending, there were no surprises there - it ended exactly the way I'd expected it to end. (From the very first time we see his name, I knew she'd end up with Knightley, and all the other pieces were equally easy to fit into the puzzle). Perhaps because I'd heard there was a twist at the end, and read it with a mind to figure out what it could be, I was more careful in my reading than I might have been otherwise and I did figure it out, where others might not have. But, assuming that the book would have a happy ending for Emma (which I was certain it would), there was really no other way for everything to work itself out in the end, so I'm not sure just what the big "twist" is supposed to be. (Although, for a short time, I thought perhaps Frank Churchill was just wacky enough that he was interested in Miss Bates). I thought the book was fun, and I enjoyed following Emma's train of thought, but early on I stopped seeing things solely from her point of view, so I wasn't surprised by anything at all. (If I'd thought that the book might end unhappily for Emma, I might have suspected that Knightley would have set his sights on Harriet. It was clear, though, that Austen liked Emma far too much to leave her love-less at the end of the book). So, a great book, but one of the biggest surprise endings in literature? No, I don't think so. I can't decide if this is now my favorite Austen, or if P&P still holds that honor. I did enjoy Emma and Knightley at least as much as Elizabeth and Darcy; perhaps more, since they were always genuinely friendly to one another, even when they disagreed. But in the end, I will say that I still like Elizabeth Bennett better than Emma Woodhouse. Emma is lovely, but her ill-conceived manipulations were heavy-handed at times. (Even though, of course, there wouldn't have been a story without them).
    • 5/5
      My second favorite Austen.
    • 4/5
      Emma is a lovable character even with all her faults and misjudgments. She seems to be forever misjudging people and putting her own ideas in place of the reality. She attempts to match make on behalf of her friends but does not do so well at it. In the end it is her own match that secures the happy ending.
    • 4/5
      Emma seems to have everything going for her. She is pretty and rich, she lives in a fairy tale setting, and has a doting father. She is so satisfied with her life that she has no plans for marriage, but delights in meddling in others' lives. Austen lets the reader really get to the heart of Emma through her amusing, though sometimes hurtful matchmaking. I was drawn to Emma as a character because she seemed so earnest while being so inept in her role as Cupid. It was tough to walk the line of correctness required in the 19th century world ruled by proper decorum and social hierarchy.
    • 4/5
      If books can grow on you - this one did. It started as something quite unsubstantial, especially in plot (not in style), compared to a more dramatic book I read just prior to this one. But I slowly got in with the story and the mindset of its protagonist, Emma - the great manipulator at first glance, but a little more insecure person when one reads deeper. Her character proves how even the shrewdest of us can never totally depend on our intuitive perception of reality. Jane Austen, as always, is very keen in describing the quirks and the essence of that particular layer of society of her days. One thing that still makes me smile (though not with much disapproval or anything like that...) is the fact how important it was in those circles for a person to be "agreeable". One just HAD to be "agreeable" to be included in certain company.The plot was not without its surprises, but there was a degree of predictability (thanks to the author's hints throughout the book) of Emma's true feelings for Mr.Knightley. All in all, to me, this novel cannot equal "Sense and Sensibility" (which I adored) but it was an amusing sort of read.
    • 3/5
      Andermaal is het hoofdthema: misleiding, niets is wat het lijkt. Andermaal happy end. De hoofdfiguur Emma is eigenlijk niet echt sympathiek, eerder meelijwekkend.Wel weer mooi societyportret en vooral enorme psychologische diepgang (in dit opzicht is Austen zelfs een voorloper van Dostojevski). Vlotte dialogen afgewisseld met beschrijving en introspectie. Vormelijk toch wel minder dan P&P, met soms langdradige stukken.
    • 5/5
      I thought this is the most Charming works of Austen. I can read this book over and over if time permits.
    • 5/5
      I have read all of her completed works and most of her juvenalia. It is not one of her popular novels because of the heroine but that is the challenge to see the good in Emma as well as her class snobbery. I have it in the Penguin edition as I have the other completed books.
    • 1/5
      I can't stand this novel!! It's so slow. It's like watching baseball
    • 5/5
      I love electronics, cars, and all things made available by modern technology. But reading Emma (or any Austen, really) makes me want to live back in the 1800's. So lovely.
    • 4/5
      What can I say, I love Jane Austen; she was an amazingly talented author. I hadn't read her books since I took a class on her works in college, and since it's been about four years since then I figured it was time to reread them all. I really enjoyed "Emma"- if I remember correctly it isn't my favorite Austen book, but I do really like it. I read through this one faster than I did my recent reread of "Pride and Prejudice" probably because I found this one a bit more interesting. I'm not a fan of Emma's character, but I think that's probably the point Austen intended. She's not the most likable character (well, she's pretty flawed, not really unlikable, I guess), but she's certainly well-developed, so my dislike of her has everything to do with how well she was written. What I mean is Austen made a believably flawed character who is human enough to get on my nerves as a reader- that takes far more skill than writing a poorly-developed character who gets on my nerves because they're so poorly written! I did really like the character of Mr. Knightley, so I think that made up for my annoyance at Emma.I like any story where the characters are well-developed, interesting, and rounded (if you couldn't already tell, well-written characters are what make a story great for me), and I don't think I've ever found fault with any of Austen's. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, mostly because Emma tended to get on my nerves, especially with her matchmaking, so that kept it from being five stars. However, the interesting plot and all the character development worked in the book's favor.
    • 5/5
      Austen's best work. Emma's very believable heroine -- witty and intelligent, but flawed with self-importance. The story itself concerns rich kid Emma fancying herself a matchmaker and deals with the difficulty of reading the feelings of others. Emma undergoes a greater transformation than any of Austen's other heroines as she learns empathy, kindness, and the power of riddles.The Gwyneth Paltrow film version was pretty good but, as usual, the book is much, much better. If you liked Pride and Prejudice, you'll love Emma.
    • 5/5
      Possibly my favorite book, ever. Emma is one of the most fully realized, lifelike characters in all fiction.
    • 4/5
      When commenting about the brilliant Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice is the most commonly discussed. Though I must admit that Pride and Prejudice is my undisputed favorite from among those novels I have read by Ms. Austen, she does have many other great works. Emma is yet another example of her unparalleled skills as a writer. Most people find Austen’s themes of romance most interesting but her novels, Emma in particular, are peppered with a great deal of satire. Austen manages to not only create an engaging story but also to criticize the ridged society in which she lived. In all of the Jane Austen novels that I have read she has created a humorous character who seems to talk far too much and make herself ridiculous to everybody; that character in this story is Mrs. Bates. Though Mrs. Bates long speeches did often get annoying they were not without humor and it seems obvious that Austen was poking fun at many of the women in her society. Though it took me a while to get through this book I did thoroughly enjoy it and was further convinced of Jane Austen being one of the greatest writers to ever live. This novel rather contrasted both Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility in the fact that the heroin was not an underprivileged young woman who was lifted up from inferior circumstance. Instead, Emma was born into a high circle of society and a great deal of money. It was not her who was looked down on but she who looked down on others and while she was generally well meaning she was not without her pride and sense of superiority. I had a bit of a difficult time relating to Emma’s character as opposed to those of Elizabeth Bennett or Elinor Dashwood who were both more level headed and loveable. I always enjoy Jane Austen’s novels and I am very glad that I read Emma. I would most certainly suggest it!
    • 5/5
      I’m sure much has been written about the longevity of Jane Austen’s works of proper English life during the early 19th century, but you have to wonder why, at this time, her novels of keen social commentary immersed in drawing room drama and provincial balls, continue to enjoy such a wide readership. When you consider the lack of manners today, it’s hard to understand why so many of us enjoy her social commentary of a time long past. But enjoy them we do and Emma is no exception.Emma Woodhouse proudly proclaims to all who will listen that she never intends to marry. Rather she spends her young life meddling in those of others, mainly playing matchmaker, to mostly disastrous results. Nothing seems to stop her though, to the detriment especially of her young, decidedly lower class, friend Harriet. Emma’s object is to raise Harriet’s station in life. Early on in the book, I did not find Emma appealing at all. I mean, she was methodically destroying Harriet’s life. For someone who was so obviously aware of the importance of the English hierarchy regarding class, it never occurred to Emma that by matching Harriet with a young man of higher station she would thereby lower his and that just wasn’t going to happen as her friend, Mr. Knightly, points out.At any rate, Emma cannot be convinced of her own folly and along the way we are treated to Austen’s trademark satire and biting wit. She doesn’t fail to provide for a few deliciously drawn supporting characters including Emma’s father, who is scared of his own shadow and the possibility that someone, anyone will suffer from the fatal effects of a draft; his neighbor Miss Bates, whose non-stop chatter absolutely grates on the nerves and the obsequious prattler Mrs. Elton. How these people exist and even thrive in each other’s company is beyond the pale. A conversation between Emma and Mrs. Elton went like this:”’My brother and sister will be enchanted with this place. People who have extensive grounds themselves are always pleased with anything in the same style.’ Emma doubted the truth of this sentiment. She had a great idea that people who had extensive grounds themselves cared very little for the extensive grounds of anybody else, but it was not worthwhile to attack an error so double-dyed.”As the narrative progresses Austen tosses the omniscient reader bits of information that enable you to piece together the clues and come to the proper conclusion. My early misgivings about Emma are soon overcome as I realize that she actually considers her meddling to be a service and, at heart, she is trying to help poor Harriet. Once again when Mr. Knightley points out her faulty thinking it becomes apparent that Emma is actually “faultless in spite of all her faults.” This made her endearing to me although Austen claimed before the book was even written, “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” Well, I liked her and loved her tale. Highly recommended.
    • 2/5
      Don't get the fuss. Did not enjoy.
    • 3/5
      Emma is a fun read. I picked this book up because I had heard that it was the inspiration for the movie Clueless. Once you begin reading it, you see the parallels immediately. A smart, sassy novel.
    • 5/5
      My favorite Austen book! And I absolutely love the narration. Perfect!