A Guide to Jane Austen [CC] 

Me: I’m not a fan of rivals to lover, it’s not a great trope. Also me: Pride and Prejudice. That’s the best romance I’ve ever heard. Nothing tops it. Darcy and Elizabeth are OTP. Best book ever.

"Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Northanger Abbey have very outgoing, bold......" and dare we say "AUSTENtatious" protagonists! lol

I bought a single book that included every one of her novels and just read it straight through. It was by publication order. My favorite is pride and prejudice.

A guide to Jane Austen, from a fan: read everything she wrote... Lol

Pride and Prejudice was my first introduction and always held a special place for me

Jane Austin isn’t a universe builder so start anywhere, as long as it’s Pride and Prejudice because it’s the best. And Mrs Bennett is very funny in a feme covert sort of way.

The movie Clueless is based off of Emma and it's hilarious 😂

I don't think Persuasion gets enough credit for how good it is. It's a simple story about simple people with a simple life, and I love it. It's about rediscovering an old love and amending your mistakes. It feels so grounded because you feel it could happen to you. It's also quite short, no more than 300 pages, so everyone should give it a go.

I was told by people that pride and prejudice was a romance like a book totally focused on romance. So when I read it I was surprised of the commentary of the society and well it was my first Jane Austen and also one of my first classics which wasn't a children's book. I am going to read Northanger Abbey next as my second jane Austen. It sounds hilarious 😂.

I went from "duh Austen is an author for women" to "Austen is right there in my top 5 authors ever" in about the time between the first and last page of Pride and prejudice.

I just realized that Daniel Greene is talking about Murphy when he says he doesn’t understand why youtubers hold the book next to their head through the whole video 😂 never noticed it before but now I can’t unsee it lol

I love all of Austen's novels and it's great seeing someone talk about them so enthusiastically! Regarding her unfinished novels and novellas: Lady Susan is told in the style of letters which is different to her other stories but still absolutely hilarious. Lady Susan is such a manipulative character (but also brilliant!) The Watsons was just the beginning of a story when she abandoned it. Not much in itself, but it's fun to see ideas and names that she took from this and used in her other works. Sanditon. Oh I'm so sad that she was never able to finish Sandition! It had the makings of being another brilliant novel. Hilarious over the top characters, intrigue, courageous heroine and potential love interests. Definitely recommend it but be prepared for feeling robbed of an ending.

Persuasion was my first Austen book and I was hooked, I loved it so much and kept reeding her books since then, for me it was a good place to start 🤗

I read Pride and Prejudice first, and then Emma for class. I loved P&P and hated Emma on the first read, but then the teacher made us reread Emma and I appreciate it so much more on the reread, its just like so cleverly constructed

Northanger Abbey has always been my favorite Austen novel. It's hilarious.

This made me want to re-binge Austen.... My favorite is a constant bounce between Emma, Persuasion and P&P, interested to see your ranking 🙃

Love how your channel has a large variety of genres from both classic and contemporary writers and your ability to get me to watch videos on books I'll probably never read.

I’ve read Pride and Prejudice, thinking about starting Emma next

When going through an author's works I always like to actually read them in order they were written in so I can see how the author grows which probably explains why Persuasion is my favourite Austen, I felt it the most mature and heartfelt of Austen's works especially the theme of second chances as it was written during the last years of her life.

I love that you're making Jane Austen related videos! I just finished persuasion and that was the last Austen book I had left so this is helping me cope with the fact that I finished all of her novels :( (and makes me want to reread them haha)

I read the books in publication order (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion) and it worked pretty well for me. It was interesting to watch Austen’s themes and style evolve. Plus you just happen to (more or less) alternate between serious and lighthearted books when you do this, so that’s nice!

I’ve never read Jane Austen and I’m only starting to get into classics so this was such a good video! I’m been waiting for this to come up ever since you mentioned it. Definitely going to delve into Jane Austen now! A few minutes later- I’ve ordered Sense and Sensibility ☺️

I just wanted to say thank you, Murphy. Without your channel and classic videos, I probably never would have read LOTR, Peter Pan, Pride and Predudise, Little Women, and all the other classics that I have come to love so much. I'm looking forward to reading more so keep the recommendations coming. 💛

I had completely written off Austen as an author that just wasn't for me, but you have half convinced me to give her another try... Don't know whether to thank you yet 😂

Yay! I've been waiting for your Jane Austen videos. I've decided to start with Emma because I feel like I'm in the mood for something light-hearted and funny.

Yes, I'm definitely sticking around for an analysis of these books! I tend to miss a lot of intricacies while I'm reading , so I'd love to see your ideas on them. This video made me kinda hoping that we might also see a Brontë Sisters Guide someday 😂

I started with persuasion...😂 It was such a torment - in a good, engaging way. May favourites so far are persuasion, pride & prejudice, and northanger abbey.

I got halfway through Pride and Prejudice years ago and I finished Emma by listening to the audiobook so I really need to step up my game! I can be pretty impatient when reading "slower" books or classics, and I always just find it easier to breeze through Juvenile fiction books. I'm 19 btw. Loved this video, and I'll have to get started on one of these soon!

I read my first Austen novel last month, which just happened to be Persuasion. I completely agree with your comments about the book! It was ultimately a three star read for me but THAT LETTER at the end did things to my emotions and was the saving grace for the story, in my opinion.

I have only read "pride and prejudice" so this differently will help me to decide which one to read next.

I love Austin. Emma is my favorite. The interaction between Mr. Knightley and Emma is at times a hoot. "Badly done Emma, badly done."

I'm so excited you are doing more Jane Austen content! Her books are amazing.

I only have to read Mansfield PARK before I finish all her books! Happy you Made this video!

Jane Austen is amazing and I love all of the novels so far. I've watched the costume dramas for all of them, but actually reading the works is such a treat. I started with Pride and Prejudice, and then Mansfield Park right after. I think my favorite so far has been Persuasion, I've only got two more to read, and I already know I'll love them :)

I just watched a bunch of Austen movies despite not having read any of her books. My absolute favorite was Pride and Prejudice (1995). I have since finally started reading the book. I knew I could count on you to help me navigate this new-to-me author! 😊

I watched the BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries during lockdown and absolutely adored it, so once libraries open I'm definitely buying the book as my first Austen read.

I love Jane Austen. Also... Those dust covers!!! 🤤 🤤 🤤 😍 OMG! I would love for that collection to sit on my bookshelf.

I took a whole course in uni about Jane Austen (I’m studyimg general literature) and it was such a great time - we also watched a whole lot of adaptations ☺️ My favs are Emma, Northanger Abbey and Pride&Prejudice

Ohh, I love Jane Austen. I've read her every novel, including unfinished works and teenage writings, and right now I'm on Austen's second biography. I feel like Pride and Prejudice is the best book to get acquainted with her style. My second favorite is Persuasion, and I'm one of those people who don't like Emma very much. Northanger Abbey is such a fun book, especially when you don't know anything about the plot! It took me a while though to understand some of the aspects of society during the Regency era (English is my second language), but after a while I could appreciate witty Austen's writing so much more.

Your video came just at the right time! Been wanting to read Austen's works for a while now, and this just got me even more excited to read her books

I’m going to start reading this!

OMG! I cannot WAIT to hear your take on Lady Susan! It is so short, but so funny!

I love the way you get excited about an author/book you enjoy. It makes me want to rediscover or try it out for the first time. I've read 3 Austen books (Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey) and loved them all. It's been awhile since I've read them, so I've decided to just read them all over the rest of this year. Will be starting Sense & Sensibility later this month. Keep up the great content, Merphy. You are by far my favorite booktuber.

I've also been on a guilty Jane Austen binge, so having all this Austen content put out by you has been absolutely lovely. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on books and protagonists. P&P is almost always the one to be recommended as a starter to Austen because it's the most well-known, but each of her works has its moments and delights, so it probably does depend on the person/their mood.

I am already a huge fan of Jane Austen, and I loved your comments and the way you grouped the books into a few categories, so that everyone could choose what they would like to read first. Very good indeed!

OMGGGG what an amazing video merphy!!! i think i'll start with persuasion!! ive always been so scared to read austen, but now i feel inspired and braver

What timing! I, too, am in the middle of a Jane Austen binge and it is most peculiar to see that you would upload in such time of day, in such coincidental timing.

Yes!! Just what I needed, I have been planning on picking up her books for agesssss. Thank you!

Pride and Prejudice was my first Jane Austen book and also one of the first classics I read

Merphy is like Shire I feel like coming home everytime she uploads

I started Emma a couple of days ago. She is definitely a character I love to hate and the book is so funny.

I’ve been waiting for this video, then you go and say you have TWO Austen videos 🙌 I agree with your assessment about how it can be difficult to recommend where to start because Austen does something different in each novel so it depends on the reader.

Merphy would look good in a classic bonnet ;)

I would love to see you review Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I am so tiered of hearing people talk about it as a romance when its a flat out tragedy with a dash of gothic horror.

My introduction to Jane Austin was Pride & Prejudice my Senior High School year when we studied British Literature. Such a great novel!

Oh! Finally some love for Northanger abbey! That's my favourite after pride and prejudice. Usually when booktubers rate J.A. novels Northanger gets rated real low and my heart always breaks a little

Pride and prejudice is the book that got me into reading 💜

I found reading an anotated version of Pride and Prejudice really helped me get the nuances within the text, so I enjoyed reading it a lot on this reading

I literally started Persuasion this morning afyer finishing Pride and Prejudice....Love the Video!!!

Excited to see the ranking video!!

Hi ,just started reading Jane Austen again and it's great to rediscovering her writing again and will be reading more literature this year ,thanks for sharing ,love books and reading ,

Would love an updated bookshelf tour! Some beautifull books behind you on those shelves💓

That is such an awesome set! I have thought about starting her books in the past. Now, I might just do that!

I had the opportunity to study Jane Austen when I studied abroad in Oxford. Reading Austen in England was a dream. I love all of her novels, for different reasons. I appreciate you recommending Persuasion because it is often underrated over the more popular Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility.

Thank you for this video! This was exactly what I needed to start Jane Austin

I just started sense and sensibility. Great timing for this video💕

Haven't read "Persuasion" yet, but I absolutely agree with everything you said. "Emma" and "Northanger Abby" are definitely the funniest ones, "P&P" and "S&S" are amazing classics, and just like you I think "Manfield Park" is an overlooked fantastic book. Fanny Price may seem like a very passive hero, but kinda like Rey from Star Wars or Harry from Harry Potter there are unbelieviabal strengths to her. I`m also new to your channel and I really like your stuff. Keep going!

Imp persuasion doesn't get the love it deserve its amazing and i love anne so much

Well this is a coincidence. I just finished watching Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey to find this video in my feed. My family being going on an Austen binge since quarantine. I absolutely love the novel Pride and prejudice, but i forgot how funny northanger abby is. Im exited to read that but i need finish Jane Eyre first. As someone with an overactive imagination, i feel i will relate greatly to Catherine

I didn't realise how badly I wanted this video till it came! Very insiteful and helpful as I haven't read any of her books but have wanted to for a long time. I'm torn between starting with either Emma or Sense and Sensibility as I really enjoyed their adaptations and then working my way through the rest. I guess seeing which one comes first in the mail will decide which one I start with 😊 x

i'm so excited to get to her books!

If you read about Jane Austen’s life and then read her books in the order she wrote them (not the order of publication, which is slightly different) the books pretty much track her life and her growth as a writer. Lady Susan and Northanger Abbey were written when she was young and having fun with writing. Sense and Sensibility was written when she was trying to find herself as a serious writer. Pride and Prejudice was written when she was a lot more confident in herself. Mansfield Park was written following the lowest point in her life (the unexpected death of her father and her forced relocation to a city she hated). Emma was written when things had seriously picked up for her (a nice new home, previous works published for the first time, earning money). Persuasion was written when she was middle aged and a confirmed spinster. It’s very interesting.

Thanks for this video,it helped a lot!I’m currently reading Jane Austen,but I was unsure of where to start. My favorite has been Pride and Prejudice so far..anyway,love your videos,Merphy!Keep up the good work!:)

Thanks for the descriptions, particularly Northanger Abbey which i knew nothing about, but now must read!

Oh thank God that I heard this! I have always needed a guide to my first Austen and this helped SOOOOO much. Although I'm still not sure which to read, but this definitely pared down the best to start with!

I have been admiring those editions in your recent videos and trying to figure out which books they are. So gorgeous! Apparently I’ll be making space on my shelves for new Austen...

I love the way she laughs for some reason.

I love Pride and Prejudice. It is one of two books that I have read multiple times and loved as much every time. I loved Sense and Sensibility as well. I could not finish Mansfield Park, it was too much for me. I have the collection though so I'm going to try to finish all of them. That includes a collection with Love and Friendship.

great video Merphy, if I think of your early videos talking about some mediocre YA books, this channel has grown massively in quality and depth

The music at the end of your videos is 🔥

I already had Sense and Sensibility on my tbr for this month but now I’m even more excited to read it!!

Thank you for not divulging the endings of each book 😄 I couldn't get into Emma cos it just felt like too much effort. But I've watched some of the webseries based on Jane Austen novels. Just finished the Northanger Abbey one. First I watched The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, then Emma Approved, both produced by Pemberley Digital. I think they tried doing Persuasion but couldn't get enough money for it. They've done Sanditon, which I haven't watched. The Northanger Abbey one, The Cate Morland Chronicles, is so funny 😄 I love the characters in there. I'm grateful for Emma Approved cos otherwise I wouldn't have known how much of a gem those characters are. Audio books are the best. Currently listening to Northanger Abbey. The love interest there is easily my favourite 🥰 When I first heard him speak, I thought, "Ah yes... That's why I love him so much." Aaaand... Breathe

I've been reading through Jane Austen's books and have read Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility. In the process of reading Emma, which is wonderfully cringey (for lack of a better word) at times. Emma is just so sure that she's right when she consistently gets it so wrong and I just love it so much.

This is the exact video I need right now. Thank you!

What I absolutely love about Austen's work is that yeah, she writes Romance, but it's SO MUCH MORE THAN ROMANCE. When I first picked up Pride & Prejudice (before reading it about 5 more times) I never would have expected to read a story so funny and full of sarcasm. Austen manages to write in a way that makes the world in her books seem both dreamy and a satire of the time she lived in. They are so full of subtle and not so subtle critique about past society and its rules and people... I just think she's awesome and i love her.

I didn't know I needed this video. I have read just Pride and prejudice and loved it ☺️

I would love more content like this, this video was a great idea! Amazing content as always!! :) stay safe everyone

I have never read any Jane Austen, but have always wanted to. I just bought Emma, so thinking I'll start there. Thank you for the guide.

I've never really delved into Austen that much but I have read the stellar "Northanger Abbey". While it does work a pretty neat satire and parody of some Victorian Gothic horror tropes; speaking of the Gothic I think Austen's description of The Red Room in "Jane Eyre" from Jane's youth is genuinely quite disturbing. But the one moment that stuck out to my from "Northanger" comes in the first volume, I can't remember the exact chapter, but Austen just pauses the narrative completely to talk about the nature of women as writers and their place in literature. Also the discussion with the lead characters about how they love utterly spine-tingling horror is pretty wittly written

Mansfield Park gives me that "reading the set texts" feeling. Reading it because you have to read it. I enjoy all Austen's other books, but Mansfield Park doesn't hook me at all. Emma is my favourite, I love the character studies.

The mini series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle was my first induction into Jane Austen and I’ve never looked back. I relate the most to Emma, tbh

I just bought all of her novels especially the Sanditon and Lady Susan. I'm now ready to binge read it all!

A historical fiction book that I think you would enjoy is Johnny Tremaine. It takes place during the Civil War, and is very interesting. The main character, Johnny Tremaine, begins as a proud character, but has a super big character arc. It’s really just fun to read, but it does deal with big topics as well.

Thank you a lot for this video. I just wanted to start reading Jane Austen's books and I wasn't sure where to start. I love outgoing characters and I'm really in the mood for comedy at the moment so Emma is the way to go. :)

So happy you love Austen, she's great

Really enjoyed this video! My favourites are Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. As a historian spezialising in the (long) eighteenth century, I also love her incredibly detailed descriptions of everyday life and her social criticism/satire.

Thank you for this video. Was very helpful. I’m going to start with persuasion.

A beautiful analysis and comparison giving an insight into each of the novels. Having read all of them, I would have given a little more credit to Mansfield Park.

You inspired me to finally pick up a Jane Austen and I'm in the middle of Emma now and having so much fun!

I now want to see how you like some of the adaptions of her books, and a recommendation of mine is The Lizzie Bennett Diaries- which is a web series here on youtube adapted from Pride and Prejudice- and I'm currently binge watching Emma Approved (Another web series here adapted from Emma)