Ranking Jane Austen Books 📖 Austen’s Most Important Work

I may not be capable of ranking Jane Austen's seven classic novels and finished works of literature, but I *can* point you to what I feel is Jane Austen's most essential work, work that she herself and her characters undertook and work that she calls each of her readers to undertake as well.❤️ Are these unpopular opinions? I'll leave it to you to decide. 😉 I've enjoyed hearing lots of different thoughts about #JaneAusten books around booktube during #JaneAustenJuly this month and thought it'd be fun to share some of my own musings as well!

**FYI there are some observations, particularly in the second half of the video, which could be considered spoilers for Brideshead Revisited, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park.**

Welcome to the Bookish Kingdom! I’m so glad you stopped by. 😊 This channel is my hobby and my cinematic scrapbook. I love to create videos to share the fun of my vacations, favorite books, fashions, crafts, music, video games, and more. This video is not sponsored in any way. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in partnership with any brands or companies mentioned.

As always, thank you so much for watching!

💕 Emma

00:00 An Unanswerable Question
00:50 What I Love Most about Austen’s Novels
02:32 What Austen’s Protagonists Have in Common
03:32 Inner Fogs and a Brief Brideshead Discursion
06:03 What Austen’s Antagonists Have in Common
06:56 Can Characters Change their Selfish Habits?
08:25 How Austen’s Heroines Grow
09:33 Jane Austen’s Most Essential Work
10:26 Lessons Learned from Jane

[elizabethbrink]

This is so insightful, Emma. Thank you for crafting it and sharing it. I so agree with you on why it's impossible to rank Jane Austen's novels and why they are still such favorites in our world today.

[clarepotter]

So many people misjudge Austen because they are looking at her from a modern perspective. I think you understand her completely. I think it's why Fanny Price is so often overlooked. I have learned to appreciate her more as a heroine as I've got older. I have my couple of favourites novels but the quality of the writing is so good, through out her work and just because the hero of some books wouldn't be my choice doesn't mean that from that time period's perspective or Jane Austen's, it wasn't the best choice.

[marenlatham]

Thank you so much for this very thoughtful and loving look at Jane Austen. She is my favourite author too. Her books feel like home. It's a world I love to live in. And when people rank her books, I think they miss the point. My favourite Jane Austen book is whichever one I am reading.

[mcmhome]

Emma, I admire your extensive knowledge and thoughtful insight on the works of Jane Austen. She is my favorite author as well.

[rhondalehmann]

Isaiah 30 : 18 -20 supports the idea that He does patiently wait for us to listen and improve 🙏 and cooperate for our Benefit 🎉 such a lovely post Emma. 🍒 love your footage and dress and Cymbeline 🐈 😻I think I'll watch an Austen movie 🎬 tonight 😉 🍵 🎂

[DalainaRenee]

Loved it I need to read all her books 📚 I finally got one at a flea market I plan to read

[amusicalbookworm]

So good Emma! Loved the discussion of what separates the villains from the heroes, and Jane Austen’s faith throughout the books. Brilliant!

[beautifulminutiae]

Thank you for articulating so perfectly why I love Jane Austen ❤ I just started Mansfield Park (which is the only Austen I haven’t reread in the past few years) and I can’t wait to get to the quote you mentioned!

[amyofhearthridge]

Such a thoughtful piece, Emma! 😌♥️🌿 I feel sometimes I learn how NOT to act by seeing the harder to love characters interactions. Mrs. Norris comes to mind! 😡😂 However, uncomfortably, I see how I mirror some of the ways they react etc and it’s such a good thing to see the outcomes of unfortunate choices. Even just guarding my words so as not to hurt others deeply, for example like Miss Bates/Emma. There are SO many examples. It’s funny but the “villains” 🤪 teach me a bit more the Austen heroes/heroines. ♥️

[ismene]

I never could ever rank Jane's novels and I adore all her characters. I've learned so many things from her but the one lesson that stands out is that people are characters that are not always what they seem. Happy Jane Austen July Emma! 📚

[catherinepatterson]

Thank you for an insightful video. My favourite Jane Austen book is ‘Pride and Prejudice’ followed equally by ‘Northanger Abbey’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’. What I learned from Jane Austen’s books are: 1. how lucky I am to be a female in today’s society compared to the females in Jane’s novels 2. the love issues the female characters had in Jane’s novels appear to be no different to the love issues we hear about/experience ourselves in today’s society. Regarding your discussion about the struggles about God, I thought I’d mention that I’m currently three quarters of the way through ‘Robinson Crusoe’, which portrays this struggle (I think) very well. So far this has been an excellent book. I’m yet to read ‘Brideshead Revisited’, so I have put it on my to-be-read list. Look forward to your next video 📚

[reznaellis]

Thanks so much for these insightful thoughts, Emma. I learned a lot and it helped tie things together. It's also impossible for me to pick a favourite Austen book or even a heroine, although I haven't read Mansfield Park yet . . .

[miriamelizabethreads]

This was so insightful and beautifully articulated!

[patriciatolliver]

Patty-I am reminded of a character in Romeo and Juliet who exemplified the idea of pulling ourselves towards the direction God intends. While God isn't ourighyly mentioned, certainly the loss of so many characters one after another might be seen as his trying to get their attention. The prince steps forward and becomes accountable for his part in all of the deaths that had occurred in front of his people. Austen definitely gives her characters the opportunity to do the same as you pointed out. Great video.

[bucketoffrogz]

Lovely to hear your thoughts! I've tried Brideshead a few times and never quite jelled with the style, ultimately putting it aside for other classics instead, perhaps it was for the best! As for Austen I love each heroine for different moods (Emma for when I need a confidence boost, Fanny when I need hope), ....other than Anne Elliot....I don't know what it is, but I've always struggled with Persuasion! Maybe one day I will find my Anne Elliot moment....but alas...not yet :P

[faithbooks]

Love the insights! I remember loving Brideshead Revisited but I haven’t read it in decades. While I really love Jane Austen I have always struggled with Emma. Just not my favorite, even though I have read it several times trying to appreciate it more! Ranking is hard and the rest of the novels shift around in order depending on my mood.

[lorrainetaylor]

Great observations - I’m still a little surprised that you didn’t love Brideshead. It’s one of my favourites because he doesn’t gloss over the human condition and free will still determines our fate despite the twitch upon the thread. Just gives me so much to think about.

[SharonReads]

Beautiful thoughts, Emma! Lots to ponder on.

[rosea]

I love them all but Northanger Abbey is my favorite. ❤