Published in 1815 I reread this for my chronological reading project, one publication for each year of the 19th century.

"I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." - Jane Austen about Emma.

I enjoyed this reread and my opinion of it hasn't changed much since the last time. I like Emma even though she is...

...kind of stupid, spoiled and a bit full of herself. She meddles in other people's lives without any consideration of what their individual situation in life is and what the consequences might be. But she's also endearing and caring, she truly believes that her actions are for the benefit of others. That's why she's so sympathetic despite all her flaws.

I also love the fact that Austen lets this heroine talk with so much conviction and self-confidence, but letting the reader see through it and understand the reality of Emma's situation before she does. She thinks she knows the world and that she's smarter and wiser beyond her years, but in reality she is quite immature and has a very biased and contradictive view of her own social class. She criticizes someone for attaching great importance on social status and then in the same breath labels the same person as socially inferior to herself. She's also blind to the matters of the heart when it comes to herself when she's playing match-maker for her social circle and therefore keeping herself occupied and clueless about her own love life.

I was quite surprised to find out that there was some criticism about the lack of story in Emma. Here are some quotes by Austen's contemporaries...

Anglos-Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth, to whom Austen had sent a complimentary copy, wrote: "There was no story in it, except that Miss Emma found that the man whom she designed for Harriet's lover was an admirer of her own – & he was affronted at being refused by Emma & Harriet wore the willow – and smooth, thin water-gruel is according to Emma's father's opinion a very good thing & it is very difficult to make a cook understand what you mean by smooth, thin water-gruel!!"

Scottish novelist Susan Edmonstone Ferrier wrote in 1816: "I have been reading Emma, which is excellent; there is no story whatever, and the heroine is not better than other people; but the characters are all true to life and the style so piquant, that it does not require the adventitious aids of mystery and adventure."

Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott wrote in 1815: "The author's knowledge of the world, and the peculiar tact with which she presents characters that the reader cannot fail to recognize, reminds us something of the merits of the Flemish school of painting. The subjects are not often elegant, and certainly never grand: but they are finished up to nature, and with a precision which delights the reader."

My favourite (classic) novel of all time. <3

Rarely an author captures the human mind, naivety, stupidity, and... love as accurately, beautifully, and timeless-ly as Jane Austen does with Emma.

The characters are neither perfect nor should the reader think they are. They are foolish, arrogant, and full of themselves. They are so alive, their mistakes and actions so wrong, yet very... normal.
If we like it or not, we are all full of faults. We are foolish, we are blinded by our own preconceptions, and we are wrong. Often. Yet that's what makes us human, forgiven, and loved.

So it's no wonder Emma is such a timeless classic. A story about imprudent mistakes (time and time again), and how we still deserve a happy ending in our own way if we can learn and grow from them.

This book is 210 years old, beloved of many, assigned reading for some. There's really not much I can say about this book that hasn't been said before, so instead, let's consider -- did my corgi Emma's previous family name her after book Emma?

There's strong similarities between the two of them. They are both beautiful and loved by their families, but some might find them annoying. They both have very strong opinions about rules and manners. And they both care a lot about balls (dog Emma doesn't realize this is also a kind of dance).

Dog Emma isn't much of a matchmaker. She'd actually prefer that my spouse and I didn't kiss, but then again, book Emma didn't approve of certain matches, either. The question is, which of us does dog Emma think is below the other's station? Probably best not to ask.

In conclusion, I'd like to share two quotes that definitely feel like they could be about or spoken by dog Emma:

"The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself."

and,

"Oh! I always deserve the best treatment, because I never put up with any other."

Definitely a new favorite of mine! I loved Emma’s lively disposition, and found it very funny how oblivious she can be, even though she can also be so bright, and how she prides herself in supposedly being a great matchmaker…. Which she is soooo not!! 😂

I love how we follow her evolution and growth, from a certain superficiality in some of her choices, thoughts and opinions at first, how her judgement can feel lacking and misplaced at times, how she refuses to concede that she might be wrong, and how she chooses to intervene and « imposes » her views and influence, especially with Harriet…

But then, she realizes and acknowledges her mistakes and how it affects the people around her, when she tries to be more thoughtful and intervene less, and she learns to take a more critical stance, about herself, and also about others, even rethinking her initial views and admitting the changes in her perceptions. AND! When she finally, FINALLY! Became conscious of her own feelings. AND THEN! THAT moment, when all misunderstandings are finally clarified, when feelings are confessed in such a natural, pure way! It felt so right! (I may have made myself voluntarily blind to some details… like the « Thirteen years old » part for instance 🙉🙈🙊).

Overall, I loved the rythm and flow of the story. It felt comfortable and natural, instead of an overwhelming cascade of events. I loved the way the pieces progressively moved and took place, and how it just felt right. I also loved the personalities and colors of the different characters, each and everyone of them were just so charming!!!

(Except the Eltons. They were just absolutely irritating. THE. WORST.)