I’m a ho for Jane Austen, which is why I finally finished reading all 7 of her completed novels last January. I tried my best to rank them–as one naturally does–but really didn’t know how to. I was stumped, because each book deals with a different theme, heroine, hero, and ensemble of characters that made each one its own rich experience.
So, in lieu of ranking all 7 novels, I analyzed what each one does best instead. Vox had already done a similar thing, but I have my own take on it.
Whether you’re planning to read a Jane Austen novel but don’t know where to start, or you’ve already read some and don’t know what to read next, this list is all for you.
RIOTOUS: Lady Susan
“He bears pain with such patience that I have not the common excuse for losing my temper.”
All Austen novels are funny and witty, but this one definitely tops the charts!
Lady Susan is an epistolary novel that chronicles the title character’s schemes as she connives to secure a wealthy second husband. This is estimated to be Austen’s first completed work and it shows; the elaborate plot, strategizing within the institution of marriage, and rigid observance of etiquette are all here.
The aunties here are the most delightful pair to read about too. Lady Susan and her best friend Alicia Johnson supported each other unconditionally to the extremes. No matter how bad Lady Susan was sabotaging those around her, Alicia still had her back. They’re definitely not role models, but reading about older ladies causing mischief and making fun of others was so delightful.
Even though this is only around 70 pages long, however, I don’t recommend this to be your first Austen novel. It doesn’t quite capture the magic of Austen’s sarcasm and wisdom because the novel is so short. You definitely shouldn’t overlook this though as you read more of her work.
FAMILY DYNAMICS: Sense and Sensibility
“After all that is bewitching in the idea of a single and constant attachment, and all that can be said of one’s happiness depending entirely on any particular person, it is not meant—it is not fit—it is not possible that it should be so.”
Sense and Sensibility follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate through suitors and living in the big city. Elinor is the very polite and emotionally restrained one while Marianne is the impulsive and assertive one, and they learn from each other.
This novel emphasizes the complex yet unwaveringly loyal bond between siblings. No matter how much Elinor and Marianne disagree and differ from each other, they ultimately always care for each other. They complement each other well, which is to say where one sister lacks in, the other makes up for. That’s why even though they’re strong alone, they’re even stronger together.
With that said, Sense and Sensibility is such a good study on which pairs of personalities get along well, which ones enhance each other, and which ones naturally have friction. It was fun to read about characters bringing out the best and worst out of each other, and very inspiring to see how they learn to be happy with others vastly different from themselves.
SASSY AND SPUNKY: Pride and Prejudice
“For what do we live, but to make sport of our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?”
The love surrounding this novel is absolutely real! Pride and Prejudice is such a funny and witty novel with so much personality. The story unfolds after the wealthy Mr. Bingley moves into the same neighborhood as the Bennetts, and elaborate tales of love, deceit, and maturity ensue.
It’s almost impossible not to love Elizabeth Bennett, our heroine here. She’s observant, sarcastic, and quick-witted. And even though Elizabeth doesn’t care about civility as much as she does speaking the truth, she knows the importance of remaining polite to others. She really reads like that cheeky, playful friend who’s smart but doesn’t take herself too seriously. I admire her so much!
The story may seem purely escapist, but it made me think a lot. I still think about what I’ve learned from it today. The main characters here, mainly out of pride and prejudice, are initially judgmental and make hasty conclusions that get in the way of their true happiness. Characters learn to empathize with and listen to each other in order to appreciate each other’s company and to be happy with each other. That’s something we can all learn from.
Pride and Prejudice will always have a special place in my heart because it was my entry into the world of classics. My younger sister reads way less than I do, but even this novel propelled her to read more of Austen’s novels.
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COMING OF AGE: Northanger Abbey
“She had nothing to do but to forgive herself and be happier than ever.”
Northanger Abbey follows the naive Catherine Morland as she leaves the countryside to join her aunt and uncle in Bath and enjoy the company of larger society. This novel is peak satire and absolutely hilarious! It makes fun of Gothic novels by having Catherine believe she’s smack dab in the middle of one (her imagination is wild).
The first line of the novel makes it clear that Catherine has no exceptional qualities to her; she’s just an average young lady. But this doesn’t make her boring at all; in fact, it makes her the most relatable out of all Austen heroines.
Catherine being an ordinary girl is empowering. Strong female leads are all the rage right now, and though important, they’re not always empowering. Hence, it’s comforting to know that someone as unremarkable as Catherine can still be an active protagonist in her own story—that she is worthy of great friends, a great life, and ultimately a great story dedicated to her.
Henry Tilney here is also hands-down the best Austen man! He’s witty, sarcastic, and is patient with Catherine’s uncomplicated mind. Instead of telling her what and how to think, he asks her questions so that she may be left to decide things for herself. He’s truly the model of a kind and humble man.
COMPLEX AND ENDEARING: Emma
“If I find him conversable, I shall be glad of his acquaintance; but if he is only a chattering coxcomb, he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts.”
You will get real second-hand embarrassment from reading about Emma’s ridiculous antics! Emma Woodhouse is confident about her matchmaking abilities, so she took Harriet Smith under her wing and groomed Harriet so that her friend could marry well and therefore advance in society.
Emma’s the Austen heroine that you either really love or really hate. She’s stubborn, bratty, and wills things to go her way. On the flip side of the same coin, however, she’s also headstrong, confident, and passionate. One may interpret her as snobbish and arrogant, but she can also be interpreted as someone who simply goes after what she wants. She has deep flaws but also highly admirable qualities, which is why I think her to be the most complicated Austen heroine.
The thing about Emma is that she’s well-meaning and has the assertiveness that makes a person a great leader. However, positions of power and consequential pursuits during that time were really only reserved for men. That’s why Emma, with no outlet to use her leadership abilities, resorts to making Harriet into her little project.
At the same time, Emma doesn’t realize that she too needs to improve her own character and it’s from this dissonance that we get so much comedy. Emma’s so endearing, but you’ll want to slap some sense into her sometimes.
CYNICAL: Mansfield Park
“We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.”
It’s been months since I read this book, but my heart still goes out to Fanny! Because the poverty of her family cannot sustain her anymore, Fanny Price moves in with her aunt, Lady Bertram, at Mansfield Park. Her inferior socio-economic position and birth, however, made almost everyone at Mansfield feel they have the license to treat her poorly.
Still, Fanny never actively fights with them; her sense of indebtedness to the Bertrams was just too strong. Along with her constant illnesses, shy disposition, and submissiveness, she really is not the most exciting Austen heroine to read about. Still, her deep-seated integrity and firm moral compass make her a great role model of what it means to have a robust inner strength.
Austen was her most cynical towards the institution of marriage in this novel. She had indeed satirized the institution of marriage as a numbers game in all her other works, but this one emphasized the economic nature of marriages the most. It’s the least romantic of all her works as a result.
LONGING: Persuasion
“Now they were strangers; nay, worse than strangers, for they could never become acquainted. It was a perpetual estrangement.”
Persuasion focuses on the emotional turbulence that one experiences when meeting a former lover again, and wanting to win them back. Once engaged to be married, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth meet each other again after seven years of separation. The way their eyes move, the way they don’t speak to each other yet anticipate each other–Persuasion’s just brimming with longing.
Anne’s character development is my favorite out of all Austen heroines. She went from being so easily persuaded at age 19 to having a firm character, in which she acts based on her morals alone, at age 27. I love that Austen made it clear that Anne desires to be with Wentworth again, because desire–especially during her time–was considered unladylike. Anne was just allowed to feel with no guilt or shame.
I also appreciated how the romance between Anne and Wentworth is not love at first sight, but one that developed over time. Characters here learn to love each other, and recognize that others’ greatest weaknesses are also their greatest strengths, and vice versa. Wentworth, for example, resented Anne for her prudence and wanted someone more adventurous. But when he did court someone more reckless, he began to respect what he once resented in Anne.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
I’m convinced that Jane Austen would’ve made a great anthropologist. It’s obvious in her novels that she was such a keen observer of how people behaved. Across all her novels, she depicted, criticized, and mocked the societal norms of her time and place.
I hope you give Jane Austen a read because while her romance and comedy are stunners, her understanding of human behavior and society is also profound. I love her stories because they focus on how people relate with each other within the constraints of their society. It also helps that her prose is one-of-a-kind wonderful; I was even able to pick up some colorful phrases such as “tranquilize your feelings,” which you bet I will insert into conversations whenever I can.
Pictures taken from:
De Wilde, A. (2020). Emma. United Kingdom.
Jones, J. (2007). Northanger Abbey. United Kingdom.
Lee, A. (1995). Sense and Sensibility. United States.
Rozema, P. (1999). Mansfield Park. United Kingdom.
Shergold, A. (2007). Persuasion. United Kingdom.
Stillman, W. (2016). Love & Friendship. United Kingdom.
Wright, J. (2005). Pride and Prejudice. United Kingdom.
