Because the Internet Needs Another Jane Austen Ranking (It Doesn’t)
And yet here it is.
So I read all the Jane Austen complete novels (I will in the future be going into her juvenilia and other writings) and I will attempt to do what few have dared-rank them.
Now this is incredibly hard because I can’t even comprehend how someone writes that many amazing books and I go back and forth in my ranking all the time.
Still I will attempt do it and brace myself for the screams that may be heard by people when I put their favourites very low on the list (I really liked every single one of these so if your favourite is my last I still get it ok don’t put a bomb in my mailbox!).
Emma – I know I’m a stereotype. Emma is everyone’s and their aunt’s favourite Jane Austen novel... but there is a reason for that! And that reason is Emma herself, the rich pretty young daughter of the most well off gentleman in her area, she is an amazing character! She is nosy, arrogant and loves putting herself into other people’s business in very dramatic ways. We follow her as she attempts to match make the people around her. The book doesn’t shy away from showing both Emma and the reader how her behaviour negatively affects other people and by allowing a flawed character the space to actually be flawed it allows us to root for her and hope she finds a way to get out of the messes she puts herself into. The romance isn’t anything to write home about, and I wouldn’t suggest this as a starting point for Jane Austen novices. But everything else? Perfect.
Lady Susan – I know, I know, I can hear the screams from here. Lady Susan perhaps for her late publication date, perhaps for the fact that is written in epistolary form is not a very well-known or liked Jane Austen novel but I just loved this book so much! We follow evil Lady Susan who enjoys seducing gentlemen and mistreats her sweet only daughter. Lady Susan is chaotic, irredeemable, and endlessly fascinating. Watching her manipulate and mistreat those around her—while flaunting every societal rule—is an incredible ride. Seeing the perspective of what was considered a “seductress”, written by an actual 19th-century woman is fascinating to me. People don’t love the ending, but honestly, I think it’s the best part. So if you also enjoy watching someone wreak havoc for 100 glorious pages, come join me on the dark side.
Pride and Prejudice – If you’ve never read Jane Austen, start with Pride and Prejudice. It’s the happiest and most wish-fulfilling of all her novels, and its popularity is well deserved. We go along with Elizabeth Bennet, the oldest of five daughters, who will be left destitute after their father dies and a distant cousin inherits their house and properties. She meets a rich broody guy and well, you know how that story goes (although you only know how that story goes because of this book). It still has all the dry humour and social commentary that Austen is famous for but it is slightly muted. The romance is as good as it gets in Austen’s works, and Elizabeth Bennet is a fantastic protagonist.
Northanger Abbey – I absolutely loved Northanger Abbey! Honestly, if we’re ranking by pure enjoyment alone, this one might top the list. Our protagonist is Catherine Morlad who is seventeen years old, very naive, very kind hearted and also a fervent reader of gothic novels. This whole book is basically a parody of the gothic genre. We watch as Catherine, newly entering society as a woman, befriends two siblings who invite her to spend a while with them in their ancient home called Northanger Abbey with their scary father. Her imagination runs wild and we have a fun time! Catherine who considers herself in “training to become a heroine” is very fun to read and I have to shootout Henry Tilney, who is the only one of all Austen’s love interest that Regency-era me would actually have a crush on.
Persuasion – Anne Eliot is 27 years old and on the brink of spinsterhood. She was once engaged and in love but as he was poor and of no consequence she was persuaded to give him up. Years later, they come across again and it turns out he is now rich and important. So... problems all around. Look the romance is great, the letter is amazing and the only reason this one is so low is that Anne Eliot doesn’t draw me in, she’s a bit... dull. There, I said it. I know she is some people’s favourite Austen heroine but she never got to me. That being said Persuasion is still a great book.
Mansfield Park – The social commentary is great, the romance is dreadful, the main character is there. More needs to be said? I think it does, so let me introduce you to Fanny Price, Jane Austen’s most controversial protagonist. Fanny Price is sent from her impoverish family to live with her rich relatives when she is only ten years old. She is mistreated by them, and as a consequence, develops as a shy girl terrified of causing trouble or offense. When her uncle goes away, she and her four cousins (two boys, two girls) are left alone, along with their laudanum-addicted aunt, who couldn’t care less what anyone is doing, and the whole thing explodes into chaos. A friend from university comes to stay, the two problematic neighbours sibling duo come every day for shenanigans and basically everyone is going around behaving very morally wrong (for 19th century Britain) and having crushes on everyone else. Except Fanny who remains committed to her morals and principles, even with her people pleasing instincts. I think of all Jane Austen novels this is the one that has aged the worst. You do have to keep reminding yourself that this is the 19th century but gosh Fanny's prudish behaviour annoys me so much.
Sense and Sensibility – After their father’s death, Elinor Dashwood, her two sisters Marianne and Margaret, and their mother are left destitute and dependent on their half-brother’s charity. I found the social commentary on the situation of the sisters due to the bad behaviour of their brother (who helps nothing as he is too worried with his wife and son and frankly with himself) appropriate. But the main point of this novel is restraint and self-denial. Basically saying we shouldn’t act on impulse even if we are young and madly in love. Elinor is sense, Marianne is sensibility the whole thing goes how it goes. I found both the romance and indeed the characters not noteworthy and though it was a great piece of writing with some interesting and well expressed ideas and not much more. I know however that this one has fervent admirers so I would love to hear it.
It’s obvious that my preference for main characters with a bit of spunk and chaos heavily influenced this ranking. But hey, that’s the fun part!
If you’ve made it this far props to you. I clearly can’t write a short post to save my life. Let me know how wrong I am—and share your own rankings!
