“After nearly two centuries, Emma Woodhouse, one of Austen’s finest creations in the novel many critics consider her best, wins hearts because she makes us laugh; also because no malice beats behind her profoundly misconceived romantic stratagems.” Chicago Tribune
Description
Often considered Jane Austen’s finest work, Emma is the story of a charmingly self-deluded heroine whose naive matchmaking schemes often lead to substantial mortification. Emma, “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.” Her own great fortune has blinded Emma to the true feelings and motivations of others and leads her to some hilarious misjudgments. But it is through her mistakes that Emma finds humility, wisdom, and true love. Told with the shrewd wit and delicate irony which have made Jane Austen a master of the English novel, Emma is a comic masterpiece whose fanciful heroine has gained the affection of generations of readers.
Praise
“After nearly two centuries, Emma Woodhouse, one of Austen’s finest creations in the novel many critics consider her best, wins hearts because she makes us laugh; also because no malice beats behind her profoundly misconceived romantic stratagems.” Chicago Tribune
“As in all of Jane Austen’s works, the simple theme of courtship belies the complexity of her vision of human nature and of our need for power. Technical brilliance? Yes. Moral brilliance? Most definitely.” 500 Great Books by Women
“In this novel…Austen’s genius for ironic comedy is displayed at its peak. The plot involves finding the proper husband for the heroine, but behind the deceptively simple and everyday events lie the author’s moral vision of a world in which social responsibility and familial obligation are key virtues and compromise a necessary response to the irreconcilable opposites encountered in life.” Masterpieces of World Literature
“[Narrator Wanda McCaddon] does a wonderful job rendering the variety of accents necessary to portray the span of upper and lower classes, as well as the medley of personalities, from the sweetness of Emma to the egregious Mrs. Elton.” Kliatt
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Aug 31, 2000 |
| Release Date | September 1, 2000 |
| Release Date Machine | 967766400 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Craig Black |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Classics, Literature & Fiction, Classics, Evergreen Classics, Evergreen Classics, Literature & Fiction, Classics, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Jane Austen (1775–1817) is considered by many scholars to be the first great woman novelist. Born in Steventon, England, she later moved to Bath and began to write for her own and her family’s amusement. Her novels, set in her own English countryside, depict the daily lives of provincial middle-class families with wry observation, a delicate irony, and a good-humored wit.
Narrator Bio
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.
Overview
Often considered Jane Austen’s finest work, Emma is the story of a charmingly self-deluded heroine whose naive matchmaking schemes often lead to substantial mortification. Emma, “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.” Her own great fortune has blinded Emma to the true feelings and motivations of others and leads her to some hilarious misjudgments. But it is through her mistakes that Emma finds humility, wisdom, and true love. Told with the shrewd wit and delicate irony which have made Jane Austen a master of the English novel, Emma is a comic masterpiece whose fanciful heroine has gained the affection of generations of readers.
Reviews
Write Your Own Review