Finished: Emma (Austen) A wonderful book where the assumptions are delightful and the revelations more so. :-) I love Jane Austen books and Emma was no exception. Emma, the 21 year old, independent, witty, match-making heroine of the story loves to put people together who she thinks will be good for each other. She herself, of course, vows to never marry. She will live with her father, Mr. Woodhouse, at their estate forever. She's happy to just be the aunt and that her sister, Isabella, has married Mr. John Knightley and they already have five children. She's also very happy to have as a dear friend, next-door-neighbor, constant visitor, and at times, unwelcome conscience for her behavior, John's brother, Mr. Knightley. He owns the estate next door. Mr. Woodhouse, Emma, Mr. Knightley, along with Mrs. Weston (Emma's dear friend and governess who helped raise her from the time of her mother's death), and her new husband, Mr. Weston, are all good friends and gather quite frequently for socializing. Also privy to the circle are Mrs. Bates, her daughter, Miss Bates, and her granddaughter, Jane Fairfax, newly come to town and also Emma's age. Rounding out the tete-a-tete group are the clergyman, Mr. Elton, and the younger friend of Emma's, Harriet Smith, who is of a lower "station" than Emma, and Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston's son from a first marriage who was taken to live with his mother's sister's wealthy family as an infant when his mother passed suddenly.

The characters are endearing, and annoying at times, but lovely characters, as usual by Jane Austen. The heart of the book is about family, friends, feelings, falling in love, and the misunderstandings and deliberate misconceptions that eventually lead everyone to find the true love they're meant to have. As I said, Emma is determined never to marry, but she has no problem trying to help other people along the way. And here is the synopsis of the book's love stories as briefly as I can put it. Robert Martin, a local farmer/businessman, loves Harriet Smith. Harriet loves Robert. On Emma's advice, Harriet refuses Robert's proposal. Mr. Elton loves Harriet (or so Emma thinks). Harriet soon loves Mr. Elton. Revelation...Mr. Elton really loves Emma! Heartbreak ensues. Jane Fairfax comes to town. Mr. Elton leaves town for awhile. Frank Churchill comes to town. Frank loves Emma (or so everyone thinks). Emma loves Frank (for a few weeks). Jane Fairfax is forlorn. Did she love her best friend's husband and come to town to get over it? Mr. Knightley sympathizes with Jane Fairfax. Mrs. Weston tells Emma that Mr. Knightly loves Jane Fairfax. Emma protests vehemently. Mr. Knightly can never get married!! My nephews are his heirs. Hmmppfff! Mr. Elton gets married and brings his new, rich, very snobby wife back to town. A ball is held. Frank Churchill dances with Emma. Mrs. Elton dances with Mr. Weston. All people are employed dancing except for Mr. Elton, Harriet and Mr. Knightly. It is suggested that Mr. Elton dance with Harriet, and within earshot he cruelly refuses (for a clergyman he turns out to be rather mean). Mr. Knightley gallantly saves the day and asks Harriet to dance. Frank Churchill leaves town to go back to his aunt and uncle. Emma falls out of love with Frank. Frank comes back and no longer loves Emma either. Frank rescues Harriet from some thieving gypsies. Frank leaves town again. Harriet confesses to Emma that she is over Mr. Elton and now loves someone who is far above her "station" who came to her rescue. Emma thinks Harriet loves Frank and Frank loves Harriet. Frank comes back into town and it is revealed that he and Jane Fairfax have been secretly engaged all along! Only the recent death of his snobby rich aunt made them capable of revealing their misleading everyone. Emma goes to comfort Harriet who must be crushed at a second heartbreak. Aghast, Harriet claims it's not Frank who she loves, but Mr. Knightley. Does Mr. Knightley love Harriet too? They've spent some recent time together! At this confession, Emma instantly knows in her heart what she's never been able to admit....SHE loves Mr. Knightley and always has. Miserable, Emma waits for Mr. Knightley to come back into town. He has gone to visit his brother and her sister in London. Mr. Knightley arrives back and immediately goes to see Emma. He looks pained and tells her he has a confession to make. She thinks he's going to tell her he loves Harriet. She tells him to stop. He thinks she doesn't want to hear his true feelings and can guess that he's about to confess his love to her and he is shamed. Fortunately, they only walk for a few more minutes when he persists and confesses his love for Emma! She confesses her love as well. :-) Now, to just break the news to her father and to poor Harriet. Father soon gives in to the idea and Harriet is already back in love with Robert Martin who has been patient and proposed to her again. Mr. and Mrs. Weston have a new baby girl. Frank and Jane are engaged to be married. Harriet and Robert get married...by Mr. Elton, no less. Mrs. Elton continues to be a snobby p.i.a. And...Emma and Mr. Knightley get married with Isabella and John there for the happy event. :-)

Now, imagine all that in Jane Austen's incomparable lovely writing and you've got quite a book! Just one small snippet of example that I love about her writing. When Mr. and Mrs. Weston are trying to plan the ball, they ask the advice of their close friends and try to decide if their home is big enough for the full supper that should accompany the fete:

    Mrs. Weston proposed having no regular supper; merely sandwiches, etc., set out in the little room; but that was scouted as a wretched suggestion. A private dance without sitting down to supper, was pronounced an infamous fraud upon the rights of men and women; and Mrs Weston must not speak of it again.

I just loved that! :-)