Jane Austen is one of the most famous and beloved authors ever. Throughout her short life, she wrote six iconic novels. They have stood the test of time and are considered literary classics. What makes Austen’s timeless writing stand out is her quick wit, social commentary, and ability to create realistic characters. This was unheard of before Austen. Because of this, Austen made a significant impact on the literary world.
I was first introduced to Jane Austen in high school when I read Pride and Prejudice. Immediately after finishing Pride and Prejudice for the first time, I knew I couldn’t get enough. I made it my goal to read every single (completed) Jane Austen novel. As a writer and bookworm, Austen has greatly impacted my life. To me, she didn’t just write romance books. She wrote stories about human nature.
I have recently finished all of her books! There is no such thing as a bad Jane Austen book. After having read them all, this is my ranking of each of her novels from my least to my absolute favorite.
- Mansfield Park
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While this book wasn’t bad, it was not as good as her other books. Out of all Austen’s books, this one is the most tragic of the six novels. Mansfield Park focuses on the main character, Fanny Price. As her parents struggle to make ends meet, Fanny moves to Mansfield Park to live with her rich and abusive aunt and uncle.
This book could have been faster, especially at the beginning. I was also not the biggest fan of the romantic interest in the book. Despite this, what I liked most about this book is Fanny. She is quite a complex character because of her tragic past. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book. Though this is my least favorite of Austen’s works, I still think this is a fantastic novel.
- Sense and Sensibility
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Sense and Sensibility is about two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. As the older sister, Elinor has sense and reason. Marianne is the opposite; she often gets carried away by her emotions. Throughout this book, Austen follows the two sisters and their challenges as women during the 19th century.
I thought this was a great and well-rounded book. As an older sister, I appreciate the dynamic of the two sisters and how they would do anything to help one another. However, while I went into this book with high expectations because of its popularity, unfortunately, I felt bored. Because this is Austen’s first published book, I could tell that the writing wasn’t as good as her other novels.
- EMMA
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Emma follows the “handsome, clever, and rich” Emma Woodhouse. She believes herself to be an expert matchmaker. But as she tries to meddle in all her friends’ love lives, things get complicated, and feelings get hurt.
I loved this book because it is humorous, more so than other Austen novels. I also liked the matchmaker concept because it was entertaining. But I couldn’t stand Emma Woodhouse; Austen purposely made her unlikeable. She famously remarked that Emma is “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” Because of this, I found the book hard to get into. I do appreciate that Emma became more likable at the end of the story.
If you love the movie Clueless, you will like this book. Clueless is a retelling of Emma!
- NORTHANGER ABBEY
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Calling all fall and dark academia girlies, this book is for you! Northanger Abbey is a gothic coming-of-age story about the naïve Catherine Morland, who has a strong imagination and loves reading gothic romance novels. Austen follows Catherine as she visits Bath and Northanger Abbey, where her imagination leads her to investigate the dark secrets within the Abbey.
As someone who also loves reading gothic novels, I loved this book! I wish this novel was longer and was more gothic. Catherine is my favorite Austen heroine because she is relatable. Unlike other Austen heroines, she isn’t extremely good-looking, witty, or wealthy. She is often described in the book as an unlikely heroine. But what makes her relatable is her naïvete and her tendency to get caught up in her fantasies, like many of us. This book serves as a reminder for all of us that it is okay to romanticize your life. However, just don’t get so caught up in this “fantasy” that you don’t know what reality is.
- Persuasion
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Persuasion is Austen’s last completed novel. Her brother published Persuasion and Northanger Abbey together after she died. This is a second-chance lovers’ story focusing on Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth. Before the events of the book, Anne and Wentworth were in love, but Anne was persuaded not to marry him because he was poor. Eight years later, Anne reencounters Wentworth, now a wealthy and successful naval officer. This leads Anne to navigate her newfound feelings of love, regret, and second chances.
To me, this is Austen’s most romantic book. I love how even though Anne and Captain Wentworth’s relationship is rocky, they still care for one another. I loved seeing how, throughout the novel, they couldn’t resist each other. I also really enjoyed the humor displayed throughout the book. Finally, this quote especially is everything to me: “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope…I have loved none but you.” How can you resist?
- Pride and Prejudice
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Unsurprisingly, Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Jane Austen novel. If you don’t already know, Pride and Prejudice is the original enemies-to-lovers story about the intelligent and strong-willed Elizabeth Bennet and the wealthy but aloof Mr. Darcy. This story explores the themes of love, reputation, and social class.
There are so many things to love about this classic love story, and not just because I love Mr. Darcy. I think why I love this story so much is because of its timeliness. The story reminds all of us of the importance of overcoming our judgments with others. I also love Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennet as a character. Most main characters are described as having no flaws. But with Lizzy, she has flaws, which makes her more likable. She also makes it okay to appreciate wisdom and books.
For those who want to start reading Austen’s books, I would suggest reading Pride and Prejudice or Emma first. This is because they are a great introduction to what to expect with Austen’s writing style and humor. Reading Jane Austen can be intimidating because of the old-timey language. But Austen’s wicked sense of humor makes reading her stories entertaining, even for modern readers.