Last year, in the heat of empty summer lockdown days, I unhappily closed the last page of Emma and realised that never again would I be able to read for the first time a full novel by Jane Austen. Her books have accompanied me through many stages of my life, and it is sad to me that no longer do I have the prospect of reading another (though, of course, I will be reading her shorter fiction and unfinished novels). From Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, read companionably with my mum, falling into the sharp wit and romances so easy to invest in for the first time, to Persuasion, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, and finally Emma, it has been a long journey, and one that I’ve loved every second of. I do not profess to have even scratched the surface of the cavernous expanse of classic fiction – my journey there is still beginning – but I think Jane Austen will always have something unique that no one else can match. Her voice comes through in her books across time, and she feels alive to me in a way many other classic authors do not. And these books are intricate, precise, funny, emotional – they are crafted with an immense amount of skill and intellect that I can only wish fruitlessly to match.
But with all books, some order of preference must come into play, and even Jane Austen cannot write six equally perfect books. I genuinely adore hearing the opinions of others on the vital question: Which is the best? And so here is my version, as of now, July 2021, having read each book once through. I will add that many of my opinions are not based on objectivity, rather enjoyment, considering that I have not read some of these books for many years, and when I was a child without a critical literary school trained brain. But I hope that this offers some small insight as to my thoughts, whether they be ‘intelligent’ or not.
6: Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey simultaneously evokes the same tone of the rest of Austen’s novels, but also, to me, feels slightly outside of the sub-genre those others fall into. It is also both funny and more lighthearted and darker at the same time, which is an interesting duality. This novel mimics and parodies many of the tropes popular in the Gothic genre at the time, and in the future I want to read the ‘horrid’ novels suggested for Catherine Morland (I am just so in love with the idea of reading something that was known to or read by Jane Austen herself). It has the same sharpness as many of Austen’s other novels, and I think that she retains that societal commentary present in all her books. The reason I rank this lowest is because I just don’t find this book that memorable, at least in terms of characters. The setting and atmosphere are the most prominent things about this book for me, but I just never think about the characters themselves. Catherine Morland is not the protagonist that comes to mind when I think of Jane Austen, and honestly sometimes I just forget that she even exists (sorry). I also think that this book just has less complexity in terms of the amount of characters, the layers of the plot and the central relationships. Though it is really enjoyable, I just don’t find it comparable to my favourites.
5: Persuasion
Persuasion is to me Jane Austen’s softest, quietest novel, and I think for a lot of people it is one of their favourites. Reading it for the first time, I remember comparing it somewhat to a Cinderella like story, and to be perfectly honest I think that that idea can be transferred to many of Jane Austen’s books, particularly where the main character is sidelined. We also have the element of the second chance romance. I do really love Persuasion, its somewhat melancholy tone, and Anne Elliot as a character is certainly likeable enough. But, similarly to Northanger Abbey, the characters from this novel just do not stand out to me. And while there is always an inevitability to any romance story, something about the delay of Anne and Captain Wentworth confessing their feelings to each other frustrated me. Sometimes it simply felt a little drawn out – it lacked the compelling quality of some of the other romances. That being said, Jane Austen’s beautiful writing is always present, and I remember (it has been quite a while) liking the cast of characters a lot. It has more complexity and a preferable atmosphere to Northanger Abbey, which is why I rank it here.
4: Sense and Sensibility
I will forever love a sister story, and that is exactly what Sense and Sensibility delivers. It contains Jane Austen’s most melodramatic protagonist, Marianne, as well as one of her most sensible ones, Elinor. I love Elinor (though perhaps it is a little bit because of my childish glee that we share a name – if not in spelling) and her relationship with Marianne. Whilst the romances in here are not necessarily my favourite, I like the fact that the sisters are at the heart of the novel, and I also find Willoughby a very interesting, if horrible, character. I love the sweeping emotions of this book contrasted with Elinor’s more sensible, very sensitive personality (and I feel if I read this book I might find her relatable). Personally for me the romances have deteriorated in my mind over time: Elinor and Edward’s because I have mostly forgotten it, and Marianne and Colonel Brandon’s is almost predatory in hindsight (she is so young!!). However, this one also carries an element of nostalgia for me: it was the second Jane Austen book I read, read aloud with my mum, and so it kind of represents the beginning of my journey with her books. It is definitely one I wish to reread soon.
3: Emma
Emma was the last Jane Austen novel I read and I truly wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did! I had read an abridged version previously and perhaps the stage in my life in which I read that I wasn’t enamoured as much with the story. Still, even after reading and loving the full version, the concept alone is not my favourite of Jane Austen’s; the true strength of this book is the character of Emma, who is so flawed, yet so undeniably relatable, and I adore her. She seems to transcend time and it is fascinating that even today I can still identify with some of her insecurities even 200 years after she was written. I remember reading this at midnight last summer and becoming emotional in the final scenes, as the romance finally came to fruition. Emma just filled me with the joy of reading again, her character’s independence is so refreshing, her wit scathing yet amusing. Even the minor characters are drawn together vividly in a few, concise sentences. I think this book truly demonstrates the craft of Jane Austen’s writing.
2: Pride and Prejudice
I love this book so much. In terms of pure joy and happiness this brings me it is probably my favourite. It’s Jane Austen’s most popular and well beloved novel and I do not begrudge it that position in the slightest; I will happily consume its compelling characters, romance and writing until the end of time. It is packed with nostalgia, being the first Jane Austen I read, the book that began my adoration of her books. I lack intelligible thoughts about this book because it is just pure witty enjoyment for me, but it is such a clever novel regardless. Jane Austen knew how to create characters that would stand the test of time and become iconic throughout film and literature, as well as a romance arc that would capture the imagination for centuries. The amount of retellings which stem from this book is unfathomable, and just demonstrates the impact it has had. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy will forever be one of the most iconic romantic pairings in literature, but there is also another sisterly bond at the heart of this novel, as well as social commentary, humour, all so seamlessly blended.
1: Mansfield Park
I know a lot of people dislike Mansfield Park, but I love it because to me it does not have the same intentions as some of Jane Austen’s other novels. I think the problem is that it is expected to be a compelling romance, but really the romance is not all that convincing, and I don’t think this is a flaw. In my opinion this is the most realistic and also the saddest of Jane Austen’s novels. Fanny Price is our heroine, and she is quiet and compliant and lacks agency but if we examine her position we see all the mistreatment which has placed her in that mindset. Mrs Norris, for example, is a character who makes me wish I could reach into a book and slap a fictional entity because she is unbelievably cruel, and she projects her own insecurities onto Fanny, putting her down to maintain her own power. I think some see this novel as the most superficial and lacking in rich emotion, but it truly is not. And even if you don’t want to examine it for its literary merit (which I have to because I’m currently writing about it for my English Literature coursework), I find the second half of the book so compelling in terms of plot, and the beginning so compelling in terms of the characters, writing and setting. I will forever be obsessed with the section of the book where the Bertrams attempt to put on a play (although perhaps this is a product of my love for books with play elements). So while Mansfield Park may not necessarily be the most consumable of Jane Austen’s books, it is my favourite because of its depth, as well as the quiet, absorbing story which encases you in its menacing safety.
I am sad to have lost the ability to read these books for the first time, but I will be using my time now to dive into Jane Austen’s letters, teenage writings, unfinished novels and novella, Lady Susan, all of which I am excited to consume. Let me know which Jane Austen book is your favourite and if your ranking is similar or different to mine. Happy reading!
The Bookish Courtier 