Which Jane Austen Book Should You Read First? Her Best Books Ranked

Do you want to start reading Jane Austen's novels but have no clue where to start? Well, in this video I break down each of her six major novels and share some reasons you my like (or dislike!) each one. That way, you can choose which Jane Austen book to read based on YOUR interests.

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📚 Books Mentioned in This Video

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility

Persuasion

Northanger Abbey

Emma

Mansfield Park

The Mysteries of Udolpho

🕰 Watching Guide
00:00 Which Jane Austen Book Should You Read First? [Intro]
01:13 Who should read Pride and Prejudice?
05:36 What is Jane Austen's Emma about?
09:16 Persuasion by Jane Austen Review
11:11 What does Sense and Sensibility mean?
14:38 What is Northanger Abbey about?
19:12 Who should read Mansfield Park?

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[TJAllenwood]

I like Northanger Abby as well. For those who don’t like Catherine’s naïveté, I think they need to realize that we are all naïve when we were young.

[bernicerogers]

I read Pride and Prejudice first and was glad I did as I didn't realise how witty Austen was and it drew me in, making me want to read other books too.

[wrongwayconway]

My favourite novel is Persuasion. The idea of an "older woman" Anne Elliot, getting a second chance at love. ❤ sigh. I always found it just perfect in the portrayal of what 'spinsterhood' meant for an unattached woman.

[TJAllenwood]

You said exactly what I have always thought, that Mr. Knightley is a true gentleman. Perhaps the most gentlemanly person of all the Jane Austen novels.

[jeromemckenna]

When I read Pride and Prejudice I was about the same age as Elizabeth, but I didn't know the ages of the characters. As a much older reader (age 69) I can see how insecure many of the young characters are, even Darcy.

[fishstick]

I love Persuasion! It's a story about the one that got away, but they still get to enjoy some of their youthful love when they become re-engaged! They don't find each other as old people like so many stories these days. I related to Anne so much as I grew up, learning to trust myself more and not be swept along with what other people told me to do.

[zoigxxn]

I don't think there is a Jane Austen book I don't like but my favorites are Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma. However my favorite of all Austen heroines is Emma. I know many people see her as a spoilt brat but I find her so witty and smart and funny and so adorably headstrong. I absolutely love her!

[daffodilunderhill]

For those who have Audible there is a new collection of Austin's books that is excellent! There are actors reading each part and some music where appropriate. They produced it during quarantine so everyone was doing it from home. I am enjoying it very much.

[pennynifiachra]

I know modern adaptations aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I feel like it would be so easy to make one for Northanger Abbey. That book feels timeless!

[janedoefamily]

I've read all of these except for "Emma" I'm reading it now, but I'm only on chapter 3. I love "Mansfield Park." In my opinion, it's second only to " Pride and Prejudice." I don't understand why so many people hate Fanny. She's such a gentle, kindhearted girl. She's my favorite Jane Austen Heroine.
I hope I'm not being creepy by commenting on nearly every new video. I'm sort of obsessed with 1800's literature right now and every new video that feeds my current fixation makes me happy. 😁

[rogerhwerner]

Pride and Prejudice is such a fantastic novel. I watched the 2005 version this evening. The ending to the story is perfect for those who are hopelessly romantic.

[KimJiMi]

My favourite book is Persuasion, then Mansfield Park and then Pride and prejudice 😁 I love them all. I started to read Jane Austen books with Pride and Prejudice and I think that was the best decision. It is easy to read, funny and relatable and relatively short so everyone can enjoy it ;)

[maluferreira]

I love MANSFIELD PARK!!! It's my favorite to reread of all Jane Austen's books. Pride and Prejudice is brilliant too, but for me is so easy to remember the story that I don't read it as much as Mansfield and Northanger.

[kcbramble]

I started with Emma, as it was lent by a friend. As we're talking 40 years ago, and I was young, and not too discerning, I seem to have taken the first description of her as gospel truth, and in my first reading I found no faults in Emma. She could do no wrong!

Once I was disabused of that notion (as supported much later by the movie "Clueless"), I found it fascinating. As a first book and with guidance, it helped me to understand societal norms of the time (why is the elder brother Mr. Knightley, and why is the younger brother Mr. John Knightley? And what is a "natural child", and what would that do to Harriet's prospects, and why was a yeoman so much above Emma's notice in one way, and so much below it in another? Why would being, or becoming, a governess be so frowned upon, or the prospect of it be such a horror? And what's up with the poverty of Miss Bates, and why would Emma think it necessary to show her any respect? And, what was the horror of Mrs. Elton's family having been "in trade"? I mean, hey, her brother has a barouche-landau, like a limousine!).

By the way, your videos clear up almost all of these doubts really well, and sorry you didn't exist 40 years ago! You are a treasure!

Anyway, with that cleared up by pre-YouTube research, it opened up another world! I loved all the books! I've even found some "murder mysteries", with Jane Austen as a character (Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor), that I didn't find terrible, as they dealt with the same society from a different viewpoint.

Side note from another video: trouble remembering the peerage? Do Men Ever Visit Boston?

[amdza]

I just reread pride and prejudice for the first time since high school and now I'm hooked. The only problem with this video is they all sound so good!

[YatsukiNoSei]

Three months ago, I read P&P just to try this e-book app advertised in the airport, and I absolutely loved it, so I was tempted to read more Regency era books, and this video just gave me the confidence I was lacking to go and buy this nice set of the full Austen collection because I have no control when it comes to collect books. I don't think I'll dislike any one of this. Thank you for your comments!

[lynnevetter]

Indeed! The "best book" is so subjective, and it changes. I used to love P&P over all, but now Persuasion is mine.

[michellecrocker]

I once had a book called “Jane Austen’s guide to etiquette “. I found it fascinating and no doubt gave a context for the social customs highlighted in her novels

[jessicaperry]

I love sense and sensibility the juxtaposition between the sisters is brilliant and then in the scene where elinor tells marianne what she has gone through is heart breaking

[joycarolin]

Personally, I started with pride and prejudice and can only say it was literally (haha) the best decision I have ever made. I did not grow up with classics - my parents still have no clue about them whatsoever - but I thought it did give me the best insight into literature and really made me fall in love with it (for heaven’s sake I’m a lit student now 😂). But all in all - it’s Jane Austen : you really can’t go wrong with whichever novel you choose