Classic
Emma
by Jane Austen
Summary
Wealthy, self assured Emma Woodhouse amuses herself by matchmaking for her friends in the village of Highbury, certain she understands everyone's romantic feelings better than they do. Austen lets Emma's confident misreadings drive a plot full of comic misunderstanding, then guides her toward genuine self knowledge and a marriage she never saw coming. The novel is often called Austen's most technically accomplished, prized for its narration that shares Emma's blind spots with the reader.
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Historical Context & Significance
Austen published the novel in 1815 and dedicated it, at his own request, to the Prince Regent. Its close focus on a small community and its clever narrative misdirection have made it a favorite subject for literary study.