Emma

by Austen, Jane; Stafford, Fiona; Bickford-Smith, Coralie

• ISBN13: 9780141192475
• ISBN10: 014119247X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-10
• Publisher: Penguin Classics Hardcover

Summary

"Emma," the comic and sharply observed story of young Emma Woodhouse's education in life, is regarded by many as Jane Austen's most perfect novel. Introduced to the reader as "handsome, clever, and rich," Emma Woodhouse is also a spoiled, meddling matchmaker--Austen's most flawed, and possibly most endearing heroine. Her fourth published novel, and the last to appear before her death, this lively comedy of manners is the work of an incisive writer at the height of her powers. Jane Austen is a renowned Regency novelist. Her other works include ""Pride and Prejudice ""and "Sense and Sensibility." Andrew Lycett is the author of "Dylan Thomas: A New Life," "Ian Fleming," and "The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes."

Author Biography

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 at Steventon near Basingstoke, the seventh child of the rector of the parish. She lived with her family at Steventon until they moved to Bath when her father retired in 1801. After his death in 1805, she moved around with her mother; in 1809, they settled in Chawton, near Alton, Hampshire. Here she remained, except for a few visits to London, until in May 1817 she moved to Winchester to be near her doctor. There she died on July 18, 1817.

As a girl Jane Austen wrote stories, including burlesques of popular romances. Her works were only published after much revision, four novels being published in her lifetime. These are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816). Two other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously in 1818 with a biographical notice by her brother, Henry Austen, the first formal announcement of her authorship. Persuasion was written in a race against failing health in 1815-16. She also left two earlier compositions, a short epistolary novel, Lady Susan, and an unfinished novel, The Watsons. At the time of her death, she was working on a new novel, Sanditon, a fragmentary draft of which survives.