Emma

' 'I shall not scold you. I leave you  to your own reflections.' 

'Can you trust me with such flatterers? - Does my vain spirit every tell me I am wrong?' '

Title: Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Publisher: John Murray (December 23rd, 1815)
Digital Version: Emma

As promised, I now give you a review of one of Jane Austens novels and one of my favourite books of all times. Not to bias you in any way, no no, but just so you know: This book is FABULOUS! 


Plot

Emma Woodhouse, heir to 30.000 pounds and mistress of her fathers house, Hartfield, had very little to worry about in her life. The most grievous occurrence of some time, was the removal of her beloved governess to another home in consequence of her marriage to an idependent and cheerful man. But even there Emma finds a matter of joy, because 'I made the match myself'. 
A consequence of her gouverness, Mrs Weston, leaving Hartfield, days grew a little boring and lonely and so Emma decided to take notice of a young parlour-boarder her age. Harriet Smith was an artless and aimable girl, so that most naturally after such a match-making success no one else had seen coming but herself, Emma soon took to finding a suitable match for her new friend.
The reader finds himself in a series of blunders, misunderstandings and confusions so artfully woven, that at some point you will wonder yourself, how it coud get thus far.


Review

'Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich'. This is the first sentence, the introduction to a heroin, of which Jane Austen thought nobody but herself would like.To be honest, not only at the beginning of the novel Emma appears in a little flattering light. All the same it isn't possible to not grow partial towards her and to overlook all the good in her character, even if she isn't living fully up to her potential.
But that is one of the charms of this novel. The reader accompanies Emma through a change of character and principle, which is woven into the story so slowly and gradually to be almost not noticable. Neverless at the end of the book, Emma is fully worth every ounce of love the readers has developed towards her. I love this transformation, because it takes place so naturally and provides the reader with much pleasure to witness the beloved character grow worthy of her position in society.
There is much to be learned from Emma's mistakes even though the story took place in another century. But modesty, honesty and kindness are values, which are as sought in a women today as they were at that time. So the topics are still highly relevant.

Also, I love, how Jane Austen can maintain the excitment troughout the whole book, even though admittedly there is neither much change of scene nor of main characters. But all the characters there are seem to come alive in her stories. They are described so realistically and every word or action seems so fitting, especially in hindsight, that at the end the whole Highbury society seems more like friends than fiction and the readers interest in their well-being never decreases.

Another thing I like about the book is the unexpected ending. Well, at least it took me by surprise and is all the better for it!
In her other novels the outcome was mostly clear from the beginning as it is with most love stories and I am eager to know, if it was just me or if you guys also did not expect that kind of an ending.

I hope, you will enjoy the book as much as I did!