Emma

by Sarah Bevan Fischer

In this modern version of Jane Austen's classic I have taken a few liberties with the plot, but essentially the story remains the same; one of a small town girl, tied to the place of her birth through her responsibility to a sick parent. Emma needs an outlet for her talent, and has more opportunity to realise her potential than she would have had two centuries ago. Yet Emma's inclination to meddle in the love lives of others is a strong temptation, opposed only by the wise counsel of 'the boy next door' Mr. Knightley.

This story follows Emma's coming of age, and her struggles to come to terms with the restrictions imposed by her parochial life. Above all the story is a love story. Emma has always been intended for the dashing Frank Churchill, yet, when she finally meets him, there is something that doesn't entirely jell between them. She likes him, yes. He is fun and entertaining, and he flirts outrageously with her at every opportunity, but...

Slowly Emma comes to realise that her old friend, and confident George Knightley is the man for her, but not before she has inadvertently fixed him up with her best friend Harriet Smith. Emma realises the folly of her ways when the truth finally hits her…if George Knightley is to marry anybody it should be Emma Woodhouse.

Emma, by Jane Austen, is one of my favourite novels. To my mind Emma is a wonderful character. She is clever, but, without occupation, her imagination turns to ill-conceived interference in the lives of others. I have always felt, though, that Emma is a loveable character, despite her shortcomings. It requires a good heart to remain at home to care for an elderly relative, and Emma performs this service without complaint. George Knightley's pragmatism provides the perfect counterbalance to Emma's, understandable, but rather snobbish attitudes. He loves her despite her faults, and through his routine correction of the same, manages to make Emma a better, more humble person.

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2015

About the author

I have been an avid reader all of my life. I wrote my first story aged eight and have never really stopped since. I became interested in fashion and design at school and my ambition was then to become a designer. I learned fashion and textile design at Art College and from there entered the fashion retail sector as a trainee manager.
I have had a busy career in which I have learned the essence of fashion and retailing, business and management skills. I spent ten years as a teacher, and have written articles, regular features, and a blog for many years.
My long held ambition to write has come to fulfillment in the last few years. Drawing on my experience 'Palmerstone' was born. The independent retail business founded by the fictitious character Rebecca sits at the core of the Palmerstone and Friends and Palmerstone and Company books.
I loved writing Palmerstone and Friends and I had high hopes that readers would love the characters as much as I had loved writing them. Caitlin, Rebecca, Suzanne and Penny have been my imaginary friends for a long time. I always had the intention of continuing the stories with the younger characters to the fore. The warm and supportive feedback that I have received from many of you has inspired me to crack on with the next story -Palmerstone and Company.
Palmerstone and Company features the children of the older generation of characters, and some others. The stories flit from character to character as the story follows different lives and loves. Above all the plots entwine and encompass friendships old and new. There is some heartbreak along the way, yet these stories are of love and laughter, life and all its challenges, but most of all love; and fashion of course.
My sincere thanks go to all of you who have followed my stories. Particularly thanks to those of you who have taken the time and effort to give your very valuable feedback. Writing can be a lonely business, a word of praise or a constructive criticism are always welcome.