I really need to read the rest of Jane Austen’s books. I read Pride and Prejudice in two weeks years ago and loved it so much, then I moved on to other classics and forgot how much I adored it! Thank you for getting me excited about them again!
When I was in high school, I was told that we would read Pride and Prejudice in college and we read Persuasion instead. In college, I was told in two classes that we would read Persuasion because everyone reads Pride and Prejudice in high school. That’s how I have read Persuasion 3 times (good thing I love it) but never read any of her more famous works.
My favourite books by Austen are in order: 1. Pride and Prejudice (ofc), it´s just greatly ironically written and has such lovely characters like Elizabeth, Jane, Mr Bennet or Mr Darcy and such really unique ones like Mr Collins or Lady Catherine. Also I think that the couples at the end of the books are the best fitting ones in any of her books even though the author´s main point certainly wasn´t romance but a critique of society. 2. Sense and Sensibility, Elinor and Marianne are lovely and I don´t know which one I like more. I also love the beginning of the book where Fanny convinces her husband step by step to completely get around his father´s wishes. Also we have no idea where the story´s going just because there are so many plot twists. 3. Emma, just a funny story with a stubborn flawed main character seeing everything the way she likes and plot twists that aren´t necessarily surprising to the reader but to Emma indeed. She´s a snob until the end but we still love her. The writing is as great as we could expect from such an amazing writer. If you find any grammatical or spelling mistakes, please correct me! I´m not from the US or the UK, so I always wanna improve my language skills.
Giiiirl.... good ranking! I was just thinking when I started the video that I don't really have a ranking past 3rd place but our top 3 are the same! Some days I love Emma even more than P&P but P&P will forever be my favourite romance. I've read and seen dozens of adaptations, both modern and period drama, musicals, plays, fantasy retellings.... P&P adaptations are like sex and pizza - even if bad, they are still pretty good :D As for Emma, I can't get over how amazing the 2009 TV mini series was! It reminded me how much I love the character development! anyway, I am rambling. thank you for making Jane Austen videos. If you ever want a recommendation for any kind of P&P-inspired book, I'm your man... or lady, whatever :D
Ikr!! People throw unjustified hate on her character calling her a spoilt brat when in reality we all have a bit of Emma in us. Sometimes We see what we want to see. We're not all perfectly rational all the time!!
After I finished panto one year, I went to the DSM's house for a few days in Derbyshire and she sat me down and made me watch the entire BBC Pride and Prejudice series (and also Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!) After I got back I bought the book and it's been one of my favourite books since! I used to put on the BBC series when I was feeling ill, it just has this comforting feeling to it and the portrayal of the characters are fantastic!
Merphy Napier Well, my quarantine just got a whole lot better! I was just joking, I like the book reviews. But yeah, TLA is legit one of the best shows of all time and it’s fans really love hearing new fans talk about it, and you’ve been knocking them out of the park with your thoughts. Thanks a lot for all you do
I will start reading my first Jane Austin book. I bought sense and sensibility some months ago and I am ready to start. Also, would be really cool if you made a video showing your bookshelf. It looks so pretty!
ok I love Austen but I've only read Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion, and that a few years ago... Now I wanna go anr rear them all! Btw I'm currently reading Rebecca because I saw your review and it is amazing :D
To give a good ranking I would have to reread, but I think it goes: 1Pride and Prejudice 2Persuasion 3Northanger Abbey=Sense and Sensibility 4 5Emma 6Mansfield Park As for main “Janes”, I think it really goes in order of my favorite list, though Catherine comes in below Elinor. Perhaps because I read most of the books in my late 20s, I feel like I related better to the second chance romance girls, Elinor and Anne. So, each seems to have a sidekick? How would you rank Jane Bennet, Marianne, or Miss Smith?
Good video! I just finished re-reading Pride and Prejudice! I like Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey as well. I haven't read Persuasion in a while, but I want to read it again sometime.
Gotta remember with Jane Austen novels that a lot of authors at the time were writing for serial publications (can't say if she was the rule or the exception), and they were paid either by the word or by the chapter. Hence why there's a lot of bloat in them; they needed that paycheck. Sorta why I couldn't get into Great Expectations. Not much happens in the middle and it was a slog to get through.
Woodenfan Actually, Jane Austen was writing a little before the time of serialization! :) Her novels were published all at once and not by word count. Dickens on the other hand is serialized, and I love him so much, though it provides a different reading experience. The most satisfying part is all of the interweaving plots all coming together absolutely masterfully at the end!
@@DanielFletcherFlute Thank you! My initial comment had her as one of the serialized authors, and I wanted to change that, wasn't sure if I was being accurate to the times or not. Thank you for the correction!
I completely agree with you about Fanny. I have only read P&P (multiple times) and Mansfield Park, but I love both the novels. And the quiet inner strength of Fanny is something that I admire and I think it shows her maturity. I loved her moral fabric, books nowadays glorify morally grey characters too much to the point that nowadays moral integrity is underrated. Also (Potential Spoiler) I like how Austen didn't transform her into a feisty person- which I thought she would and was waiting for it to happen as I was initially annoyed by her passiveness as well - but then I realized just like everyone else around her that she didn't need to change but instead should be recognized for her inner strength. At least that was what I took from the book and It was cool that it was me that changed my perspective about Fanny instead of the character undergoing any change herself. Obviously, other characters were entertaining enough for the drama and entertainment factor. I am excited to read Emma as I never had any desire to be in a romantic relationship myself despite being in my 20's so I guess I'll enjoy Emma's character and I love nonsensical characters anyways.
I’m actually re-reading pride and prejudice right now. I’m loving it way more than I did when I first read it 10 years ago. I need to give the others a try now!
Just finished reading Emma and had so much. So much that now I'm listening to an Audible abridged adaptation of it and it's really good. I recommend you try it out. I think I'll read Northanger Abbey next, and then a reread of P&P. 💕
1. Persuasion 2. Mansfield Park 3. P & P 4. Emma & Northanger Abbey 5. S& S Characters: Emma (coz i need that kinda growth right now), Anne Elliott and Dashwood sisters. Also, I like Lizzy but the more think about it, I love Mary, Charlotte and Jane more than her. I'd not want to be close friends with Lizzy.
Because I generally dislike being spoiled which book is an author's worst, I skipped the beginning and went to the end to see what her best works are, according to u. I'll check her out
(Okay this is not relevant to the video, but is that picture over your head the tardis exploding van gogh style, or am i just seeing what i want to see?)
Are you still in that mood? I'm having a blast reading Can You Forgive Her? by Anthony Trollope - a deliciousss read - I love it so far, I think it may prove to be my first 5* read this year. And I adored his The Way We Live Now, too. I am also reading Longbourn, by Jo Baker, which is a bit of a Gosford Park/Downton Abbey story, in the sense that it follows the servants working for the Bennet family. So... you may find it of interest, even though the perspective is quite different. You may be more interested in Longbourn after reading so many Austen novels, but I do recommend Trollope over Baker. His characters are amazing. And that is quite a feat, given the fact that Can You Forgive Her? surpasses Abercrombie's characters in the way they're created. And Abercrombie is, after all, (almost) all about the characters. George Eliot's Middlemarch and The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins, are not quite so easy to read, but you may like those stories, too.
My list for the Love interest from least to favorite: Edward Ferrars Edmund Bertram Mr Knightly Colonel Brandon Mr Darsey I have only read pride and prejudice, Emma, sense and sensibility and Mansfield Park, so I can't rate all of them.
:P She sort of said that Jane and Elizabeth are based on her and her sister Cassandra and their relationship. Except Jane is Elizabeth and Cassandra is Jane. :D
Interestingly, just as Jane Austen named her sweetest characters after herself, Fyodor Dostoevsky names his worst characters after himself (and his best characters after his son who sadly died as a child Alyosha). I guess this probably says something about their psychology but I don't know enough about psychology to say anything more than the obvious. 🤔
In defense of Mansfield Park (my favourite Jane Austen) -All the women do what they like in this novel. None of them care about what society thinks of them; they are all unapologetically themselves, like the men, for better or for worse -It's hilarious! Mary is SUCH a laugh. She makes the dirtiest joke in the whole Austen cannon, for no reason at all. And everyone else is so ridiculous it's amazing. -Fanny is the strongest protagonist in any Austen novel. She just carries on, tries to think kindly of everyone, and even when she finds she cannot, she is never cruel. -The romance is heart-breaking. She just listens and tries to be happy for Edmund, even though she likes him, and knows Mary is not a good idea, because she's his friend, and wants him to be happy. -She refuses Henry. Wooooo! -The book is not a romance. Fanny gets her happy ending - ie, personal acceptance, and the romance is an afterthought. Her happiness is not dependant on her man. It's refreshing.
Now I need you ranking the love interests. You could also include some of the other guys who ended up with supporting characters, like Bingley for instance.
Pride and prejudice is such a masterpiece. When I reread it I realised how intricately it was crafted (one of the best crafted novels) and the subtly with which story continues. And the best part was... There was a time when I would laugh or widely smile every page because of Austen's characters' wit, sarcasm and stupidity (Mr. Collin.) This novel is a masterpiece indeed. I haven't read her other novels...but now I will soon. Thanks for video merphy 😊
Interesting! I actually have grown to love Persuasion the most as I have gotten older. The more mature heroine and the themes around regret hit differently ten years after I read it the first time.
Fanny as your favorite character totally caught me by surprise, but it was such a nice surprise. I love Fanny and her resilience and she's just a lovely person overall. But I totally agree with them being tied :)
It's great that you’ve celebrated how funny Austen is! Sometimes I think humour is too easily overlooked (especially in women writers) in classic novels. As Lizzy Bennet says, "I dearly love a laugh".
I’ve never seen stars in your eyes while talking about books. But Jane Austen brings out the charm in you. ✨💫 Also, i’ve only read Pride and Prejudice and plan to read more of Austen soon.
I wish you would rank the love intrests as well. I really fell in love with Emmas love intrest at the end of the book (not spoiling who it is), because of one certain Thing that he does. But my favourite lead is probalby Anne from Persuation and my favourite book is Northanger Abbey. The charm and humor of this book is just so perfect.
Spoiler I am talking about how he not only offers to live with Emma's father but to leave his house and move in with her. Considering the time and society Jane Austen writes about, for me this is the ultimative prove of love and it actually his idea :)
I think Elinor is more reserved rather than shy. She thought that her sister was inappropriate in her expressions a lot but she admired it. She was a bit shy during the romance scenes in the book but not throughout as a character
I love Fanny! I recently ranked Austen's protagonists and she was right at the top of my list. I do find her easy to relate to, but more than that I liked her quiet strength and the fact that she did hold such strong convictions. She's wonderful.
Have you watched the new Emma movie? I watched it before reading the book (oops) and thought it was amazing! The casting choice for Emma herself is perfect! After reading the book I realise how much the movie leaves out, but thats kind of a given for movies, and it's still really good
Sense and Sensibility is my favorite. I loved the sisters' dynamic and I feel that introverted/stoic female characters like Elinor are underrated an underrepresented in fiction.
I haven't read Persuasion in about 10 years. You have convinced me to go back and read it again. (Honestly I can barely remember what happens and I'm so excited to re-discover this gem.)
I’m so happy to see how much love you’re sending Emma’s way - one of my very very favorites, in all her exaggerated glory! Also, Persuasion melted my heart.... that letter
I love Pride and Prejudice. For me it is always the best because the characters grow and change and admit where they have gone wrong. I also love Sense and Sensibility and they grow and learn that sometimes the smooth one is the one you want to avoid the most!
I have some Austen books on my shelf and I've been wanting to read them. I'm even more excited now! Once my semester is over, I'm definitely going to read Austen
Disagree here. For me, Persuasion and Anne Elliot are both, clearly number 1. Anne is the only lead character who is older than 20/1. She's far more mature than the others. She's utterly beaten down by her obnoxious family, yet her goodness shines through. Definitely my favorite!
I am LOVING all the Jane Austen content!! I love her books so much and not enough people know how great they are!! Pride and Prejudice definitely has to be my favorite, but mostly because it’s the one I have loved the longest! Emma is probably my second favorite, and I can’t wait to see the movie!!
My favorite is almost no one else's favorite - Northanger Abbey! 😊 Because I love the Gothic parody, witty satire, it's Jane Austen at her most comically unhinged!
Favourite Austen Book 1. Emma 2. Northanger Abbey 3. Pride and Prejudice 4. Persuasion 5. Mansfield Park 6. Sense and Sensibility Favourite Austen Heroine 1. Emma 2. Lizzy 3. Fanny 4. Catherine 5. Anne 6. Elinor Favourite Austen Love Interest 1. George Knightley 2. Henry Tilney 3. Fitzwilliam Darcy 4. Captain Wentworth 5. Edward Ferrars 6. Edmund Bertram
Possibly controversial Austen ranking: 1. Persuasion 2. Pride and Prejudice 3. Northanger Abbey 4. Sense and Sensibility 5. Mansfield Park 6. Emma Gosh I wish I had someone near me who loved books as much as I do so we could just sit and chat and argue about our Austen ranking and other things like that.
I've been waiting for this one! I'm also finally going to watch the Mansfield Park movie you recommended today. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books of all-time, and it's also my favorite Jane Austen novel. If I ranked them, mine would probably go: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Emma, and then Mansfield Park. The protagonists fall in a similar order, but I'm going to do a re-read all of them later in the year so I'll be interested to see how the books and protagonists measure up now vs. when I last read them.
I feel like your ranking is so different from mine, but we have three books in the same placement, so it’s really not. And you don‘t sound basic for putting Pride and Prejudice first. There’s a reason it’s at the top of everyone’s lists 😁
Your comment about the romantic 'interest' in Northanger Abbey strikes a bell with me. Henry Tilney is a wonderful character - my favourite male creation from JA - but the rest of the novel is weaker than her other major works. The whole Gothic pastiche doesn't quite work for me.
Favourites for me are Mansfield Park, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. Emma especially like Little Women (I know different author) are comfort books for me, I can go back and read them over and over again and just swoon.
I probably need to re-read these, but I always feel reading Jane Austen is like taking a literary bubble bath. She takes her time pacing-wise, but in a way that feels almost luxurious? While I'm not sure how I'd rank these today, in my 30s, when I read them in my 20s I loved how weird Catherine Moreland was in comparison to the other protagonists. Fanny Price was probably my least favorite just because of how stodgy she felt to me at the time, though given her circumstances it's totally understandable why she is the way she is. Elizabeth Bennet is an iconic character for a reason, and I really enjoyed how she stood up for herself and refused to back down, even in a society where being a headstrong young woman was definitely not respected or encouraged (not that it necessarily is now, but it's more accepted). Eleanor Dashwood was really interesting to me, and I loved her pairing with Marianne. I felt like that relationship did a lot to explain why Eleanor acted the way she did, and why she had become this person who was a bit more cautious, but still shady AF when she felt like it. Anne Elliott was probably my favorite because she felt the most mature of these women, she wasn't as starry-eyed as some of them when it came to romance, but the way that story ended felt so earned and exciting. In all honesty, the only one I haven't actually finished is Emma because every time I start to read it something seems to happen, and I love Austen so much that there's something almost exciting about the idea that I still have one of her books left to read, but I have a truly beautiful set of them and I know I'll get around to it one of these days. Plus I've seen Clueless like 50 times, so that's close, right? Lol. Persuasion is still my favorite, but I'll be interested to see if that changes now that I'm older. As always, I love getting to hear your perspectives and opinions, and thank you so much for all the free entertainment. You're amazing.
I’ve read four of Austen’s books so I’m only gonna rank the four I’ve read: 1) Pride and Prejudice - one of my favorite books of all time. There’s nothing I dislike about it. It’s perfect. 2) Emma - I love Emma (the mc) so much, and the story is charming and sweet. 3) Persuasion - even though the story isn’t all that thrilling, it’s one of the best romances I’ve ever read 4) I stopped reading Sense and Sensibility half way through so obviously it’s at the bottom lol It just wasn’t catching my interest. Maybe I’ll give it a second shot.
I'm reading Emma for the first time right now and it's soooo funny! All of the characters are so ridiculous- every time Mr. Woodhouse says anything I die laughing.
Merphy, did you watch the Severus Snape and the Marauders fan film by Broad Strokes?? If yes, could you tell me what do you think about it? (If you havent watched it, here is the link to it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EmsntGGjxiw.html )
There's an adaptation of Persuasion that has Anne Elliot sprinting around Bath at the end! I wasn't sure whether to throw up or laugh. And this wasn't a Parody. Utterly Horrible!
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