Emma Emma is considered by many to be Austen's finest novel, single, clever, rich, and beautiful, Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage.   The story of Emma Woodhouse's matchmaking, and her awakening to the true feelings of others as well as herself, is told with accomplished wit and humour. She delights in interfering with the romantic lives of others.   However when she ignores the warnings of her friend Mr. Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protégée, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected.

Emma by Jane Austen

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VOLUME I

CHAPTER I

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home

and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings

of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world

with very little to distress or vex her.

She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate,

indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage,

been mistress of his house from a very early period.  Her mother

had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct

remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied

by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short

of a mother in affection.

Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family,

less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters,

but particularly of Emma.  Between them it was more the intimacy

of sisters.  Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal

office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed

her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being

now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and

friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked;

highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by

her own.

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; these were the disadvantages which threatened

alloy to her many enjoyments.  The danger, however, was at present

so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes

with her.

Sorrow came--a gentle sorrow--but not at all in the shape of any

disagreeable consciousness.--Miss Taylor married.  It was Miss