The author’s knowledge of the world, and the peculiar tact with which she presents characters that the reader cannot fail to recognize, reminds us something of the merits of the Flemish school of painting. The subjects are not often elegant, and certainly never grand; but they are finished up to nature, and with a precision which delights the reader. This is a merit which it is very difficult to illustrate by extracts, because it pervades the whole work, and is not to be comprehended from a single passage.A re-watching of the Jane Austen Book Club and a reading of her main works is now complete. One half of her novels were actually written or written in some form long before they were published from 1811-1818. Northanger Abbey* was actually sold to a publisher, as a note in some editions notes, some thirteen years before (shall I say three and ten?) before (she inserted the comment to inform any reader who might find some fashions outdated) finally being released a year after she died. Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice were actually written in some form (the first at least as a series of letters like her unpublished novel Lady Susan) in the 1790s.
-- Sir Walter Scott, review of Emma
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.Emma was written at the height of her success, after Mansfield Park (her first "adult" novel) was published. The Prince Regent (a bit of a cad, so she wasn't too pleased) even asked her for a dedication, him a fan of her previous work. The book was something of a lark after the much more serious (when she wrote comments about her books, some found it, at least it's goodie toe shoes protagonist, Fanny Price, a tad insufferable) MP. A look at her collection suggests some back/forth in flavor -- the serious/more playful P&P after MP with Persuasion following the more playful Emma.
Austen herself at times was the book/character as her special favorite, like Mr. Knightley, even for all her (its) flaws. I read the Signet Classics version, the convenient pocket-size paperback with a critical introduction. Quite so here: the analyst in fact had a rather clear dislike of the book, thinking it too parochial for her tastes. I think it a bit unfair of a critique, more sympathetic like some reviewers cited on this site. Not all her heroines can be Elizabeth Bennett or Fanny Price, after all. And, her discerning and satirical eye (sometimes you aren't quite sure, but assume such ... like when she names one family "The Sucklings") though with a with a 17th Century poet (Austen liked her poetry) of that name, who knows her intentions?
My favorite is clearly Lizzy and Darcy, for which I am far alone, though I have some pleasure in the lesser known Lady Susan. Fanny Price and her cousin are a bit too priggish for me; I like the deemed more devilish women in that novel. The Mary/Martha like pair in S&S are somewhat interesting (as with some others, the background is more so) while Fanny and Anne Elliot (her book seems a bit rushed, perhaps as the author became ill; the force of her feelings and some goings on of other characters are highlights) are a bit too restrained, though Anne has a good head on her shoulders. Emma is more of a fun character, even if she starts off too immature. Here, she, not the guy, is the one who needs to be "trained." Or, rather, matured. Meanwhile, a lot of amusing stuff is going on around her.
The introduction wonders at her going no further than a neighbor (who is over fifteen years her senior and unmarried; the intro wonders if he was waiting until she became "nubile" enough to get married!) and to live with her father. But, especially since her father was a widower and his other daughter married with children further away, someone would need to be there for him. Cassandra Austen (intended long dead by disease) staid with her widow mother, never marrying. And, if Fanny can married her cousin, why not Emma her brother-in-law? The interbreeding of the elite was not unusual, I reckon at the time.
There are various television / film adaptions of the book (let me add that I overall enjoyed it and her writing style overall, but find Austen a tad too verbose at times; amusing as it truly was, the ramblings of one character got to be a bit much). The most well known here is likely the Gwyneth Paltrow version. A British version from a couple years ago, clips from on this charming blog, looks interesting too. And, there is Clueless, an amusing semi-translation that takes place in a modern day high school, the television version somewhat respectable though less Emma-like.
A semi-crash course in Jane Austen was a success, including a P&P graphic novel and a book concerning Austen and her times. It is unfortunate she died (early for her immediate family) before she finished any more novels, her novel begun promising to be a change of pace once again. I am left to her "juvenilia" (works as a teen), letters and perhaps other commentary/biographical works on the author. And, then there are Austen knock-offs aplenty. And, at least one film version of Emma. Well, I am not quite done, even without re-reading, the sign (per the book club movie) of true Austen-phile.
So, I need not be quite "vexed" as of yet.
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* The books release alone with Persuasion is something akin of an early book or film released after the author/actress succeeds with better material. The book is somewhat promising, a satiric look at a young woman (of somewhat middling class) who has read too many Gothic novels. But, it is quite short compared to her other works (Persuasion excepted) and it seems about 1/3 of the novel is removed or something. She just gets to the title locale and before you know it, the conclusion is upon us. It is not a wonder it was unreleased at first though her basic satirical voice, character style and style is there.
I tried to watch a television adaption but got bored. The main character is the least interesting of the bunch, probably, and watching her handle Bath and then blunder along in NA was not to be in this form. I would add that the bit where the male lead informs her that it is the 19th Century, snap out of her Gothic fantasies was amusing. It is a like a movie character says "this isn't a movie!" to inject a bit of realism to events.