A Novice Guide to “Emma” by Jane Austen

Is there a more perfect spring read than “Emma” by Jane Austen? Rhetorical question. It is the perfect spring read. A witty comedy following Emma Woodhouse. A girl who truly believes she has it all figured out for herself and everyone around her. It’s truly a timeless classic if you ask me. It is no secret that Jane Austen’s works have been adapted. Raise your hand if you know about the “Mr. Darcy hand flex”. It is one thing to watch a Jane Austen adaptation, but it is a special kind of delight reading one of her books. You could read, “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility,” or “Persuasion”, but why not start with a comedy? 

As aforementioned, Austen’s works have been adapted multiple times over the years. Have you ever heard of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?” Never mind. Most recently, Anya Taylor Joy starred as Emma Woodhouse in “Emma.”, which debuted in 2020. While you could go ahead and watch that or the Gwyneth Paltrow adaptation from 1996, there are other artworks you could listen to, read, and watch before jumping into reading the 1816 novel. 

To begin immersing yourself in regency language that is diluted with common vernacular, I would read “Mr. Malcolm's List”. Since it takes place in the same period as “Emma”, it introduces concepts of marriage, values, and light historical context that is helpful to know before reading. Not to mention, it is a fun romance read. In short, Mr. Malcolm ticked off this girl Julia. So, to tick off Mr. Malcolm, Julia reaches out to her old friend from school: Selina. Selina is a kind girl who has been living with some of her parent’s friends for the last couple of years. Julia wants to pull a not-so-nice prank on Mr. Malcolm, and she entices Selina to help by allowing her to stay with her in society. Oh! Light spoilers ahead! Unfortunately, Mr. Malcolm starts actually falling for Selina, AND Selina starts falling for him too. How does she come clean? Should she? Do I need to mention that this newfound infatuation between the two ticks off Julia? With the book being less than 300 pages, it’s a fairly quick read. I recommend going to the park and reading it in the spring sunshine on your next day off. 

I’m sure you’ve heard about “Bridgerton”. Don’t leave the guide just yet! Ok. Is it flawed? Yes. Is it the best representation of the period? No. Does it introduce society, and its rules in an approachable and digestible way that may help you better understand “Emma”? Yes. Warning! It is rated TV-MA. Make sure to read up on why it is rated that way before watching. Did you know that there is actually “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical”? And! It won a Grammy! Wild. My favorite song off the album is “Lady Whistledown”. Aside from its flaws, it does a great job introducing the titles and rituals that governed high society at the time. I heard through the grapevine that “The Buccaneers” on Apple TV+ is also an entertaining and modern take on dating during the 1800’s. I personally can not vouch for the show, BUT it did get renewed for a second season: it can’t be that bad. Can it? Fine. It’s on my watchlist. Another 1800s show

on my watchlist is “The Gilded Age” on Max. With season three underway, I am intrigued to see how they portray the period. It stars Carrie Coon and Christine Baranski. It can NOT be that bad. 

Now, I would be remiss not to mention the iconic 90’s classic “Clueless” as an intro to “Emma”. Without a doubt, it is one of the most famous iterations of Austen’s classic. Cher, Dionne, and Tai are almost if not as immortalized as Emma, Harriet, and Mr. Knightly. If you don’t already know: Cher is super cool and also thinks of herself as some kind of amateur philanthropist. We follow as she navigates, friendship, love, and the oh-too-cruel reality of high school. Reminder! This is NOT an exact adaptation. One of the characters DOES have the same name as his counterpart in the book. If you want to find out who, you are going to have to watch the movie and read the book. Trust me. BOTH are worth your time. It is not a perfect adaptation. It is, however, a hilarious and riveting iteration of “Emma”.  

Ok. I know I listed a lot of options, but just pick one that speaks to your interests. Austen wrote books that are meant to be enjoyed. Her books are whimsical, romantic, and hilarious. The goal of bringing these options forward is to encourage confidence. Jane Austen’s books are not meant to be complicated. Learning a little bit more about the period may make reading her novels more fun. It will at least be a little easier than going in blind. This year, don’t just spring forward. Spring into a Jane Austen novel. (Hey! Was that too cheesy…?) Anyways. Happy reading!

Graphic made by me; photos from Pinterest, Barnes and Noble, and Netflix