Perfect Happiness: The sequel to Jane Austen's Emma

by Rachel Billington

Perfect Happiness finds Emma one year later, still living at her family home in order to care for her father, the hypochondriac Mr Woodhouse. Her husband has left his own estate in order to live with her there – a move that is the cause of some conflict. Her protégée Harriet is happily married to her husband’s tenant farmer, the estimable Robert Martin, in a union that does indeed appear to be perfect – and throws a shadow of doubt across Emma’s own marriage. Their social circle is unchanged – the Westons, the Eltons, the Bates ladies – and all is tranquil. That is, until the reappearance of Frank Churchill, who had flirted with Emma while conducting a secret engagement with the Bates’ niece, beautiful and good Jane Fairfax.

When tragedy falls into this narrow, comfortable world Emma must deal with the fallout – and, two decades younger than her husband, learn to gain his trust as a woman and not just a charming young girl.

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2021

About the author

Rachel Billington has written twenty one novels and eleven books for children. She is also a journalist, feature writer and reviewer. She is a regular contributor and Associate Editor of Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners and a Vice-President of English PEN. In 2012 she was awarded an OBE for Services to Literature.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Emma sequel, Emma Knightley has just received the news that Jane Churchill, nee Fairfax, has died giving birth to a son. But where is Frank Churchill. What is George Knightly hiding from Emma. Can Emma finally grow into her role in life.
An entertaining and well-written story

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, actually!

I appreciate the attempt at keeping Jane Austen's style. I also appreciate the most scandalous intimacy that was portrayed. It helped paint a picture of how marriage might have been back then when impropriety was such a hurdle to surmount: even in marriage.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect sequel to Emma. Loved the exploration of Emma and Mr. Knightley's marriage, and some very believable challenges they might have faced. Some interesting new characters and scenarios too.