The tale of charming, meddlesome Emma and her Mr Knightley

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In a time when one's town was one's world, and the actions at a dance created greater interest than the movement of armies, there lived a young woman who knew how this world should be run. Definitely one of Jane Austen's best - sparkling, witty romance at its best. Has there ever been any heroine so spectacularly flawed - and yet so well-loved. Beautiful, enchanting, witty Emma - filled with so many wonderful qualities but with just a dash of failings that make her just so endearingly human. Brought up in rural Highbury by a doting, elderly father and a loving governess, Miss Emma Woodhouse has always had her way in most everything and is disposed to thinking a little too well of herself. Remarkably pleased with herself after making a succesful match for her governess, Emma sets out to try her hand at improving the lives of yet another couple. This time however, her generosity descends upon her unsuspecting friend, the silly, henwitted Harriet Smith - the admittedly daughter of nobody knows whom. Although Harriet would much sooner marry a local farmer, Emma decides that her friend would do very well indeed with the eligible young vicar, Mr. Elton. All this is done under the watchful eyes of her neighbour, Mr George Knightley. Some years her senior, Mr Knightley has watched over Emma, scolded her, lectured her and generally giving her a lot of grief for her meddling ways. Better to be without sense than misapply it as you do. Our crafty heroine manages to prod poor Harriet into falling heads over heels for the vicar. Unbeknownst to her, Mr Elton is actually in love with the incomparable Emma herself. When Mr Elton reveals his deep feelings to her instead, Emma is suitably horrified and categorically refuses each and every proposal that he makes. Rejected, Mr Elton marries a lady of means ( but not taste nor tact ). His return with his new bride coincides with the coming of several new faces in Highbury. The stepson of her governess, Frank Churchill appears in town, a rakish, charming young fellow whom Emma decides to fall in love with. Miss Jane Fairfax, a genteel, well-bred lady, also comes to Highbury to live with her maiden aunt, Miss Bates. As elegant and accomplished as Emma, Jane inspires pangs of envy and jealousy in Emma. Alas, poor Emma finds that the handsome Mr Churchill doesn't arouse in her the warm, tender feelings that come naturally with a certain other gentleman of her acquaintance. The feeling is further reinforced when Miss Harriet announces the name of her latest beau. The realization that she loves Mr Knightley strikes her with an intensity that staggers her. She realizes that no one, not even Frank, has ever replaced Mr Knightley in her estimation. However, Emma suffers a severe shock when the charming Frank is found to be in love with Miss Fairfax ( which quite spoils all her plans of refusing his ardent proposals ). With Miss Smith also fancying herself in love with Mr Knightley and believing her feelings returned, Emma finds herself quite alone. But little does she know that the object of her affection cares more for her than she thinks - and in far from brotherly affection. But as in all romances, all's well that ends well. There is no better page for this novel than the wonderful, insightful Emma - The Novel and Its Adaptations The novel at Project Gutenberg.

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