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The Complete Novels of Jane Austen, Volume II : Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion
The second volume in the Complete Novels of Jane Austen , this volume contains the classics Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion.
712 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1976
16 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Jane Austen
3,897 books74.4k followersJane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.
The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 21, 2009
Emma is about the young, rich and spoiled Emma Woodhouse. After setting her former governess up with the dashing Mr. Weston, Emma decides that she's a great matchmaker and she should concentrate her efforts in that field. Her next project is Harriet Smith; Harriet has already received a marriage proposal but Emma convinces Harriet not to stoop so low. Instead Emma encourages Harriet to chase after Mr. Elton, the vicar. The comedy ensues when Mr. Elton expresses his desire not for Harriet, but for Emma.
If it seems sort of familiar, it is - this is the book the movie Clueless was based upon. And I can say now that the movie does Austen a great justice.
________
In Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland reads Gothic novels and lives vicariously through the pages. Her family moves to Bath, a change which introduces Catherine to a new group of kids and experiences about which she had previously only read. She is easily influenced and allows her romantic imagination run wild, creating a slew of confusions and complications throughout.
________
Anne Elliot is the chicky-baby of Persuasion who, the reader finds, was once in love with a poor officer, Wentworth. Anne's family, of course, disapproved of his social standing and discouraged Anne from pursuing him. Now she's almost thirty, alone and basically worthless, and here again comes Wentworth into her life, except this time with a pocketful of change and much higher on the social ladder.
I like Austen. She's a fun read. She's sometimes subtle in her social satire. She makes fun of the men and women of her society, her peers, other writers, politics. She's quick, and if you blink you might miss a crack. For that reason alone I enjoyed all three books in this volume, though favor them in the exact order in which they're in this collection. I had trouble caring all the way through Persuasion, but it could be a form of brain-melting, too much Austen at one time. I still have Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park to read at some point, but I'm willing to wait until I get bit by the Austen bug again. In the meantime my heart still goes out to Ms. Edith Wharton.
If it seems sort of familiar, it is - this is the book the movie Clueless was based upon. And I can say now that the movie does Austen a great justice.
________
In Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland reads Gothic novels and lives vicariously through the pages. Her family moves to Bath, a change which introduces Catherine to a new group of kids and experiences about which she had previously only read. She is easily influenced and allows her romantic imagination run wild, creating a slew of confusions and complications throughout.
________
Anne Elliot is the chicky-baby of Persuasion who, the reader finds, was once in love with a poor officer, Wentworth. Anne's family, of course, disapproved of his social standing and discouraged Anne from pursuing him. Now she's almost thirty, alone and basically worthless, and here again comes Wentworth into her life, except this time with a pocketful of change and much higher on the social ladder.
I like Austen. She's a fun read. She's sometimes subtle in her social satire. She makes fun of the men and women of her society, her peers, other writers, politics. She's quick, and if you blink you might miss a crack. For that reason alone I enjoyed all three books in this volume, though favor them in the exact order in which they're in this collection. I had trouble caring all the way through Persuasion, but it could be a form of brain-melting, too much Austen at one time. I still have Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park to read at some point, but I'm willing to wait until I get bit by the Austen bug again. In the meantime my heart still goes out to Ms. Edith Wharton.
January 24, 2021
I am grateful to once again own the complete novels of jane austen.
June 23, 2023
It has been such a pleasure returning to Emma, having not read it for quite a few years. Emma enjoys the privilege of wealth and is spoiled by her father. She has the comfortable position of not needing to marry. Drawing rooms don't hold her attention for long, so she naively sees herself as a matchmaker , seeking to save other individuals from unhappy marriages! Heels meddling gets her into lots of scrapes throughout that are a mix of humorous, immature, and quite annoying! As usual, Austen creates her heroic male protagonist so well in Mr Knightly and conveys her truly awful protagonists perfectly in the guises of Mr Elton and the Fairfaxes.
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September 3, 2024First published October 30, 1811
December 23, 2025
A sweet reread. Not her best, but a silly respite.
February 8, 2015
Being already familiar with Emma (through various movie adaptations) I flew through the first half of the book (by far her longest work) and enjoyed all the little details that invariably get left out of the movies.
The desire to read Northanger Abbey (due to taking a "Which Jane Austen Heroine are You?" quiz and getting Catherine Morland as the result) is what actually prompted me to finally read Austen's novels. And while, yes, I have to admit to occasionally (oh alright, frequently) enjoying the modern equivalent of Gothic fiction, and perhaps a certain propensity for wanting to believe the best of most people, I sincerely hope that I'm not so naive!
Persuasion was another that took me a while to get into, but once I did I enjoyed it as well.
I have also watched at least one adaptation of each of Austen's novels (excepting Persuasion, which I have not yet gotten to) and while the novels themselves are charming, I think there's just something about them that is better served on screen. Of course, that could just be because I'm a visual person.
The desire to read Northanger Abbey (due to taking a "Which Jane Austen Heroine are You?" quiz and getting Catherine Morland as the result) is what actually prompted me to finally read Austen's novels. And while, yes, I have to admit to occasionally (oh alright, frequently) enjoying the modern equivalent of Gothic fiction, and perhaps a certain propensity for wanting to believe the best of most people, I sincerely hope that I'm not so naive!
Persuasion was another that took me a while to get into, but once I did I enjoyed it as well.
I have also watched at least one adaptation of each of Austen's novels (excepting Persuasion, which I have not yet gotten to) and while the novels themselves are charming, I think there's just something about them that is better served on screen. Of course, that could just be because I'm a visual person.
August 23, 2014
The second volume is only 4 out of 5 stars because it doesn't have P&P in it. Also, Emma is Austen's protagonist who I most frequently want to smack sense/humility into while reading (Fanny Price of Mansfield Park would be my smacking target for sense/gumption). I'd never read either Northanger Abbey or Persuasion before, but loved both. Northanger Abbey is Austen at her sassy and socially astute best; I would have loved to take a college course on this novel alone to fully understand Austen's commentary on the state of the novel at that time she was writing. And then Persuasion...no character could have usurped Elizabeth Bennet's place as my very fave, but Anne Elliot is how I would hope Elizabeth would be 10 years and some emotional maturity down the road.
October 21, 2008
I really love this collection - the book is nicely bound and error free, which is such a relief after having gone through a couple poor editions. As for the stories - I just read Northanger Abbey and it is hilarious. I know it's not one of the more popular novels, but her political rants are so interesting and, as usual, her depictions of catty women and social situations are so exact and extremely funny. It's slow to start, but give it a chance!
As for Emma - I hated the character so much I then hated everyone who adored her. So that didn't go over well between me and that novel.
Persuasion - I was very unimpressed when I first read it, but I am convinced of giving it another try soon.
As for Emma - I hated the character so much I then hated everyone who adored her. So that didn't go over well between me and that novel.
Persuasion - I was very unimpressed when I first read it, but I am convinced of giving it another try soon.
March 21, 2008
I love Jane Austin and the sly British wit. This time around I read Northanger Abbey and then Persuasion. I heard Northanger Abbey was one of Jane Austen's first works, and the story and text have a very young feel to them. Persuasion, on the other hand, is about a woman "after her bloom" and I was struck by the increased maturity of thought, character and plot. Emma is one of her 'flawed' heroines, and yet she is so likeable. Austin's ability to weave a story around her characters is really apparent here.
Want to read
October 28, 2010i've read 'emma' so far ... surreal how well i knew the story, just from conversations over the lit-soaked college years, and seeing a glimpse of the film.
the narrator's attitude toward emma is classic - almost constantly with her and kept almost constantly at a gently teasing tone that holds you just close enough not to hate her. a sado-masochistic kind of balancing act (in a late georgian kind of way).
the narrator's attitude toward emma is classic - almost constantly with her and kept almost constantly at a gently teasing tone that holds you just close enough not to hate her. a sado-masochistic kind of balancing act (in a late georgian kind of way).
July 30, 2022
I read Northanger Abbey only on this occasion Folio Books are a Guilty Pleasure for me but much more expensive than a Kindle copy. I love Austin's cool wit and romantic cynicism. Romance, class and money all go together It is a real treat.
June 20, 2007
Jane Austen's wit and use of language make you wish that her books never end. Northanger Abbey was particularly enticing because she pokes fun at the romance novel authors of her time.
November 12, 2008
Northanger Abbey is my least favorite Jane Austen books, so I can't give this edition five stars because of this.
March 11, 2010
Reading for the fourth (of fifth?) time - a sure thing.
September 20, 2010
I really only read Persuasion. I enjoyed. Maybe at a later date I will get to the others.
June 7, 2012
Even though this isn't as good as Pride and Prejudice, I still loved it. Austen reveals yet again her wonderful sense of humor and satorial wit. Not a huge amount to discuss at book club, however!
July 1, 2018
I just reread the volume "Shorter Works" for the millionth time. I really must find my own copy!
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June 22, 20102-in-1 Anthology
March 1, 2015
love jane austin. her characters are so innocent and sweet.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews