Emma is one of Jane Austen’s most representative and highly valued novels. This literary work tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, a lively and unconventional woman who enjoys matchmaking friends and learning to understand her own feelings. The novel is rich in humor and refined irony.
Summary
‘I wonder what will become of her!’ the friends and neighbors say about Emma Woodhouse, the complex heroine of Jane Austen’s fourth novel. Confident in her judgment, Emma tries to find a suitable husband for her friend Harriet, but gradually discovers that she has as little understanding of others’ feelings as she does of her own heart. Austen sketches a small village in transition, with an unforgettable cast of characters.
Emma is regarded as Austen’s finest and most representative work, with a unique structure and timeless relevance. This edition highlights the novel’s technical boldness, which—despite its traditional setting—counts as a formally innovative masterpiece.
Product specifications
- Author: Jane Austen
- Series: Oxford World's Classics
- Publisher: Oxford University Press
- Publication date: 2022-03-03
- Number of pages: 432
- ISBN: 9780198837756
- Theme: Classic fiction: literary and general
- BISAC: FICTION / Classics
About the author
John Mullan is Lord Northcliffe Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London and editor of various Oxford World's Classics editions, including works by Daniel Defoe, Samuel Johnson, and Jane Austen. He has published several literary studies and essays on English literature.