22. Emma

Jane Austen was thirty nine years old when Emma was published. She died only a year and a half later. During her lifetime, she only earned 40 pounds for this remarkable work of literature. At the Prince Regent’s request, Austen dedicated her book to him.

Emma is a comedy of manners and romance. The title character Emma Woodhouse lives happily, and highly, with her father. She is certain that she has a gift for matchmaking until she finds her instincts at complete odds with reality. As she continues to find a mate for her friend, she maintains that she will never marry. Austen is brilliant in her descriptions of the people with whom Emma interacts. It seems that the reader knows each person, their faults and what makes them dear. Emma finds that she has misjudged and misguided a number of her friends. In the end, everyone is happy except for the reader who wishes the story would continue on and on.

TITLE: Emma
AUTHOR: Jane Austen
COPYRIGHT: 1815
PAGES: 304
TYPE: Fiction
RECOMMEND: Another wonderful classic, everyone should read

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20. Cranford

Absolutely wonderful. I have always been a huge fan of Jane Austen and writer's of her era. This book was originally published in installments in 1853 as a result of a request by Charles Dickens. This wonderful story of the small town of Cranford - with almost everyone who is anyone being female - introduces us to Miss Mattie, who is constantly striving to behave in a Proper manner. The women in Miss Mattie's world are brought to life through the eyes of a frequent visitor to the small English town. My favorite qoute concerns "the mouldy smell of aristocracy" which surprisingly enough is the most cherished memory of these women for whom the charade of aristocracy is the norm. In the end, the friendships and love take over the novel and leave the reader hoping to learn more about this small hamlet. Happily this is possible, because the author continues (or adds to) the story in The Chronicles of Cranford. PBS recently aired the combined stories in their Masterpiece Theatre.

If you enjoy this work by Elizabeth Gaskell, you can read three of her other works at Daily Lit. You can also read this entire work from Google Books.

TITLE: Cranford
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Gaskell
COPYRIGHT: 1853
PAGES: 304
TYPE: Fiction
RECOMMEND: Wonderful classic, everyone should read

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