The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This is the discussion in our Archives on Emma from when we read it in 2016 - 10 years ago!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I chose this book to lead for our Austen anniversary, because it is my favorite - funny and with some original narrative techniques. Austen herself said "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like". It's true that Emma is spoiled, vain, and meddling (not a spoiler, that comes up in the first chapter) - but she always means well, and I adore her!

There have been many movie and TV versions, but one of my favorites is the 1990's retelling Clueless. It did a great job of showing that class differences have not gone away in 200 years, and replicating a character who causes problems every time she tries to arrange the world around her.

I love Clueless too! Not least because I grew up in the world of the movie, so it played well on several levels at once for me. Totally!

Among the period adaptations, I would recommend the BBC version with Romola Garai. It’s closest to the novel and the cast is wonderful.

It is a cliché (and as apt as most clichés are) that Emma can be read as you would a detective novel. Jane Austen has a lot of fun with misdirection here, and the clues are hidden where you would least expect to find them. One tip: however boring she seems, listen to Miss Bates.

I agree Robin, I absolutely love the character Emma. She used to annoy me, but after reading and listening to Emma many, many times, she really has become a firm favourite.
I love listening to Emma read by Alison Larkin, which is on Spotify. Alison Larkin does such a great job of bringing the characters to life.

I also love the BBC version of Emma Abigail.

I just found this map of Highbury. Really fun.

That's delightful!