Reviews

Emma: 200th-Anniversary Annotated Edition (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Jane Austen

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saoirseluvr's review against another edition

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4.0

it’s always “wyd” and never “iilylimbattaim”

luisams's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mtyler3707's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Emma, Emma, silly girl. Of course this was masterfully written. Jane Austen blows me away in terms of accomplishment in her time, as a woman, probably a dozen more ways. Though it is slow and I really have a hard time caring about silly society gossip, I would even say Emma is an enjoyable read. What gets me under a 4 rating is what/if it projects any virtue to the world. I wish Jane Austen had challenged societal “levels” a bit more. It’s bothersome to me that Emma is so sheltered (I respect it as part of the story but I wish the story noticed that perhaps that held her back.) Ultimately, though Emma seeks to blur the lines for Harriet, she does not in general seek a society in which everyone is equally valued - none of which means I don’t love her. She is a forever beloved heroine - I mostly don’t feel the message of the book holds up particularly well today.