I'm surprise and happy that Mansfield Park is your number 2 that's not common in the "Jane Austen community" and to hear you are rooting for Fanny! a lot of people hate Fanny Price I think is a very underrated novel with a very underrated main character
Have you read Lady Susan? It’s part of Austen’s juvenilia and an epistolary novel, and I absolutely adore it. And I love that you love Fanny! She is infamously unloved, especially by screenwriters adapting Mansfield Park.
Loved your ranking! If you haven’t seen the film version of Northanger Abbey (with Felicity Jones), I thought it brought the latter half of the story to life in ways my imagination couldn’t when reading it.
I’m so glad your order isn’t the same as everyone else’s! It always seems to be P&P, Emma and S&S in the top 3 spots. So very refreshing. My order is.. 1. Persuasion 2. Pride & Prejudice 3. Mansfield Park 4. Sense & Sensibility 5. Emma 6. Northangar Abbey
📚 My order is exactly the same as yours. 😀 When reading "Northanger abbey" (abbey abbey) I may have been in the "wrong mood" for it ... I will give it another go at some point. N.B. English is not my first language, and I read all Jane Austen novels in English... 🥵
Loved this! The description of Persuasion’s drama as “oh no, she’s hit her head” is perfect. I also think Mary Elliott is my favourite of Austen’s awful snobby characters
So the idea behind those covers is they take an object to represent a pivotal moment or important theme in the book, but not one that people usually think of. So for Emma I think it's meant to represent the dance where Knightly rescues Harriet and dances with Emma Persuasion it's a quill to represent the letter Sense and Sensibility it's the flowers for Maryanne Really not sure about P&P though
We agree on 1, 5 and 6. I think the videos had an influence on me for the ranking. I will not re-read our #6 - I just can't but do enjoy. Thank you for reading them. Looking forward to watching all of your videos.
Hilarious but also helpful. (Never would have checked out the Emma Bunton video, otherwise!) I haven't yet read all of the Austen novels (but I've seen most of the movies/series). Austen's use of language and the subtly of her character development are the big draws for the novels. Good work, Ben!
Interesting that you put Mansfield Park at number 2 as that's quite unusual! I'm going to make a video soon trying to make a case for Mansfield Park not being as 'boring' as people think and for Fanny not being a one dimensional 'perfect' heroine as many people see her! So I'm glad you were rooting for Fanny, I think she's more interesting than she's given credit for! Also the idea of Mansfield Park being about 'sticking to your guns' is basically what I just discussed in my video on the concept of duty in Austen. 😊
I enjoyed your rambling ranking! I have read the 6 novels 3 times each over the last year and now rank them: 1. Emma 2. Persuasion 3. Mansfield Park 4. Sense & Sensibility 5. Pride & Prejudice 6. Northanger Abbey Please understand I love them all and the ranking is not based on quality, as each book is so entirely its own and equally well executed (with perhaps the exception of Northanger Abbey) but for the shere pleasure I have in the reading and with what relish I find myself devouring them, this is the ranking. I adore the little pond in which Emma is such on overpowered fish, and Mr Knightley is my favourite Austen hero. I can see that Lizzie Bennet is a sparkling little firebrand, but I am not as interested in her problems or Arsey Darcy as I am in the characters in other books. In fact on my last reading I found Jane Bennet a more appealing person. Controversial? Northanger Abbey is by far my least favourite. Austen herself did not consider it ready for publication. I wonder how she would have reworked it.
Just finished & loved "Mansfield Park." My 2nd Austen. You're right about the things that set it apart. One thing I feel like I never hear about it though is....it's SO steamy! Not the least of which is because of the whole subplot around "Lover's Vows." It felt so unique. From boredom & undercurrents of desire, these people decide to put on the raunchiest play ever while Papa is away...? and upstanding Edmund the clergy-to-be is weirdly roped in? I just loved that, and Fanny's reactions to it all. I also think it's interesting that Austen was herself the daughter of a clergyman & the novel is certainly about what is the authentic moral life.
The Classics intimidate me due to English being my second language. However, after hearing your interesting explanation of it, I've been persuaded to try reading Persuation.
Hi Ben, having just watched Kate's (Books and Things) video on Jane Austen, in which she vehemently declared that Jane Austen is not just for women, the algorithm offered me your video - which I very much enjoyed watching. I have tried really hard with Jane Austen over the years, not wanting to give in to the trope that they are 'just for women'. I have read several books on Jane Austen so that I could better understand the historical and literary context. However, I have to confess that I struggled to the end of each of her books out of a sense of literary obligation rather that out of any enjoyment I got out of reading them.......but great to hear that you did actually enjoy them!
Thanks so much for watching! Yeah if she's not for you then life's too short to read out of obligation haha, but who knows, maybe later on you might respond differently to them!
ah we have a veryyy similar list! Excluding Northanger Abbey Abbey Abbey being more at the tiptop of my list! Strangely I think the most affecting of her work I've read is Mansfield Park, probably because of that insight into more focus on the lower class and Fanny's plight between separating Portsmouth and Mansfield Park. As always, a lovely video!
I can't possibly get through Emma without sleeping through chapters or gaining a headache. I'm so surprised to find someone who also doesn't think Emma is the best book to have been printed. So refreshing.
Fun video, even though my own personal ranking is completely different to yours (except for our number one). I'd say give Northanger Abbey another chance at some point. It's not as well developed as the other novels, but I really liked the humour and snark of it, and Henry Tilney is one of the most interesting Austen heroes. I really love that Sense and Sensibility adaptation, and weirdly I didn't mind the wrong-aged cast, which is something that usually bothers me a lot more. Anyway, great video, I particularly enjoyed your reenactment of your favourite scenes in the books 😂
if you still haven't but want to fall in love with Persuasion, I highly recommend (next to rereading the book) to watch the 1971 adaptation, if you can get your hands on it. seriously, it's an absolute delight and good fun all around, you won't regret it. 😊
The Emma movie was my first exposure to Jane Austen and I loved her language construction. As a middle aged American I find it complex and delightful. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam brought it to life for me. It's my #2. Follows P & P of course!!
I’ve only read three so far (and I’m halfway through Emma) but I loved your descriptions of Mansfield Park and Persuasion, both of which I’ve read this year. Those two are my favourites so far and I very much enjoyed the “oh no she’s hit her head” drama which livened up that book no end.
When you re-read Emma, do it as a mystery! Obviously you know the twists now but you'll be shocked how many clues there are, I find more every time I reread it. It really is a masterpiece
Interesting views and interesting list! Very entertaining to watch. I was surprised Northanger Abbey was so much down the list as it's probably my second favourite! [after P&P] I think Henry Tilney is an absolute blast to be with, he's so funny and outrageous. And I also think that Morland is sweet and shy albeit a bit naïve and dramatic, haha. but yeahm great video!
My wife and I are going to be reading Pride and Prejudice alongside each other soon. She read Sense and Sensibility and didn’t love it but I hope P&P will change that.
Enjoyed your analysis. I had a more positive reading of Northanger Abbey and a less positive reading of Mansfield Park, so I think I would swap those. I’d love to see you rank Dickens… 😘
Mansfield park is, I feel, the anti pride and prejudice. The character who is quite and bookish is the protagonist and the person who is lively is the antagonist.
Awesome vlog! I am also an Austen noob because I find her language to be quite difficult to understand and I have ADHD and dyslexia so comprehending what I read is a bit hard for me. But thanks to your video I might just give them a chance and read the Jane Austen books.
Another fun vid! I had to switch my brain to a particular mode for Northanger Abbey. I started reading and disliked it, until someone mentioned it's completely satirical, then I loved it and was laughing aloud in many parts, particularly stuff Catherine said. I reckon it might be 2nd to my 1st which is P&P, of course! 😊
My faves are: 1. Persuasion 2. P&P 3. Sense & Sensibility 4. Emma 5. Northanger Abby 6. Mansfield Park I like Persuasion because I feel as if Austen gives as a look into her life. Austen reputedly also turned down a proposal. I don't think Anne = Jane, but that Jane thought about that and what it might mean to a different woman. ALso, Capatan Wentworth, hands down, writes the best letter in Austen fiction. I couldnt' warm to Fanny Price, plus her Edmund is such an idiot.
This video is over a year old, but I've only now found it. I quite like your rankings, although I might not rank all of the novels from 2 to 5 in the same order. I myself have never been able to make it through Northanger Abbey, even in audiobook form--I just hate those Thorpes so much I imagine horrible fates for them, the description of which would get you and me both demonetized!
i loved your video!! the only thing i have to disagree is with mainsfield park😭😭 i read it after pride and prejudice and i was oh noooo where is the flavourrrr, and it was a bit boring for me. but yeah for the rest i agree with you! a nice ranking!
Hi there, Ben. I just came over from Leo’s channel. I first encountered Jane Austen in an undergraduate seminar in which we read all of the novels and were fortunate to have a professor who gave us a lot of social and historical context. Anyway, I’ve since read and reread them all several times and while I do love them all, my opinions have changed concerning favorites several times over. When I first read Emma I didn’t like it at all. I’m not sold on Emma and Knightly, but I’ve grown to love the novel overall. Mr. Woodhouse is one of my absolute favorite Austen characters. P&P will always be my #1, followed closely by Persuasion (the letter!), and Emma. Then come Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and my least favorite, Sense and Sensibility. Like you, I’m not on board with Colonel Brandon and Marianne and I just have no idea what in the world Elinor sees in Edward. I would have preferred that Elinor forget about Edward because I think she and Colonel Brandon were better suited. Anyway, I quite enjoyed this video. I love it when readers discover and appreciate Austen.
Interesting ranking! Yeah I'm pretty sure my favourites will change over time too. Really interested in rereading Northanger Abbey again as a few people have said it's their favourite... thanks so much for watching!
Thanks so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed Emma, I did really like it a lot despite it being number 5 on my list. I can def understand why its some peoples favourite austen :)
Sorry for the very late comment! I am a big fan of Mansfield Park and Persuasion, both. Because I relate to those heroines and I feel like those types of women are underrepresented in literature, with their quiet strength and conviction. ❤
My ranking is all over the place buuut I have one more book to go...Mansfield Park. I love Fanny so far. Btw YOU are HILARIOUS 😂 I very much enjoyed your impressions!! I subscribed ✌️
Emma is my favourite - love all the characters- the snobbishness. The fussy father. Miss Bates. Emma’s know it all interfering. And the way she realises that ,of course, it always was and can only be Mr Knightley.
Hi. Thanks for that, I really enjoyed your presentation. Fun, but also insightful without being in any way pretentious. I totally agreed with much of what you said. I usually say that Persuasion is my favourite, it was the novel I found most moving on first reading. However, on subsequent readings my reaction was more muted, and of course it doesn’t have the wonderful comic moments of most of the others, or the moment where the heroine stands up for herself, or the moment where the awful (usually female) character gets their comeuppance. It’s gentle and steady, but I think the heroine’s internal struggles are really well written - especially considering when it was written. The novel that (for me) improved on rereading was Emma. Once you realise what is going on, it is fascinating to see how JA lays out all the clues and how “clueless” Emma really is - I assume you’re familiar with that film? P&P and S&S are both so self-evidently good books that it is hard to fault them. Northanger Abbey has some great moments, but I just don’t get Catherine Moorland, and the construction of the novel feels clunky. I put off reading Mansfield Park because when I was at school it was an A level set text (I didn’t take English) and all my English A level friends absolutely hated it. I can sort of see why. Of all of them it feels rather worthy. The Hero doesn’t easily come to life, the immoral characters are actually the ones we like and the author seems to be using a much heavier moral tone which seems very of-it’s-period, and rather jars with modern morality. The other novels seem rather more free and easy within certain restrictions. I’ve listened to a few Austen book reviews, and I’m really struck by how absolutely rubbish all the parents are. Even Mr Bennett, whilst being rather lovely in some ways is a shockingly bad parent. Does JA have something against parents, or is it just that all her novels focus on the younger generation as the protagonists and the oldies are used for comedy and drama? Can you think of any examples of good parenting? Looking forward to seeing more of your reviews etc.
Thanks so much for watching! I'm gonna look forward to revisit Emma, I watched the recent film which I think didn't quite capture the book but was still fairly enjoyable. I need to reread Northanger Abby as lots of people seem to love it, but then I need to reread all of them! Hadn't thought of bad parents as a recurringtheme, gonna have to think about that. Thanks again!
YES..since I was 12! That's when I read my first, S & S, and was disappointed with the ending. I picked up P & P at age 14, and it just kept getting better from there. To pick up on the things you missed in NA, try reading Janine Barchas' book "Matters of Fact in Jane Austen" where she spends quite a bit of time explaining all the 'in' jokes about Bath, the Allens, follys, and other very illuminating things that will give you a whole new veiwpoint o NA! Another writer on JA you should check if you haven't come across him yet is John Mullan....he has a wonderful knack for bringing her work alive, and is a great advocate of her genius. His newest book "What Matters in Jane Austen" is enlightening and all too short. He also has quite a few videos on Yt; here's one of my favorites: th-cam.com/video/mP8dllTkpEg/w-d-xo.html
I have a working hypothesis that the evilness of Jane Austen's villains/rakes is inversely related to the goodness of her heroines...thoughts? Eleanor Dashwood or Fanny Price being the most pure heroine, Catherine being the most flawed.
I’ve never been able to get into Northanger Abbey, even though I know it’s satirical. I’m not crazy about Mansfield Park either, but that’s mostly because I cannot stand Edmund. The Crawfords do keep me coming back anyway. Weirdly, Emma and Persuasion are my two favorites, despite being so different. I always joke that Emma Woodhouse and Anne Elliot represent the opposite ends of my personality. Both novels also have my favorite secondary characters. 😄 I really enjoyed the “noob” perspective.
You made my day! I am going through all her novels this month and this has been SO helpful to sort the order! 🙏🏻🙏🏻 can i ask which one you would say it is her wittiest novel? (Current reading mood) have started with pride and prejudice atm!
Yey, thanks! Wittiest, probably Pride and Prejudice I would say, else Emma. All of them have characters who are funny to an extent (either deliberately or through no self awareness) but you can't go wrong with P&P :)
doomantidote i had also heard Northanger Abbey was her funniest lets see if it also ranks low in my list..! Thanks again! Love all your content, so great to see fresh original voices on booktube! ♥️
Such interesting video :) I think Emma's cover should have arrows instead of chairs, as she likes archery and letting arrows fly like she's Cupido matching people. Although Pride and Prejudice is my favourite one as well, my ranking is different. In deed, Mansfield Park is my least one, I think I didn't really connect with the story, should read it again. Thanks for the video :)
Man, that music video used to be on TV like all the time back in 2004? (I think). Nice ranking, I love Mansfield Park and I'm glad that it's not at the bottom of your list, it's such an underrated and misunderstood novel. Sad about Northanger Abbey, I hope you get more into it with a reread. Nice video, you made laugh a lot! :)
Emma is my favorite. It's so witty and a pure comedy. Try listen to the BBC 4 Podcast episode - Emma Woodhouse. It's available on TH-cam. It might change your mind.
When it comes to classic literature I prefer hard cover. Mansfield Park is my hands down favorite on par with Dickens. Pride and Prejudice is too girly with its histrionic worries about getting married in time. Persuasion leaves me cold. Missed opportunity is a cliche premise for a novel. Northanger Abbey is fun but uneven. My least favorite is Sense and Sensibility that doesn't even have fun to redeem it. Emma is elegantly written and my second favorite.
I'm surprise and happy that Mansfield Park is your number 2 that's not common in the "Jane Austen community" and to hear you are rooting for Fanny! a lot of people hate Fanny Price I think is a very underrated novel with a very underrated main character
Came here to comment the exact same thing! Nice to see there are other fans who appreciate Mansfield Park and Miss Price ❤
Have you read Lady Susan? It’s part of Austen’s juvenilia and an epistolary novel, and I absolutely adore it. And I love that you love Fanny! She is infamously unloved, especially by screenwriters adapting Mansfield Park.
I would love a Dickensian style adaptation of all the Austen characters together since they are in a shared universe.
Loved your ranking! If you haven’t seen the film version of Northanger Abbey (with Felicity Jones), I thought it brought the latter half of the story to life in ways my imagination couldn’t when reading it.
The feathers on persuasion's cover : i think it's because of the famous scene where Captain Wentworth writes the letter.
So glad you enjoyed Mansfield Park so much, it is a great book and Fanny is fascinating.
I’m so glad your order isn’t the same as everyone else’s! It always seems to be P&P, Emma and S&S in the top 3 spots. So very refreshing. My order is..
1. Persuasion
2. Pride & Prejudice
3. Mansfield Park
4. Sense & Sensibility
5. Emma
6. Northangar Abbey
📚 My order is exactly the same as yours. 😀
When reading "Northanger abbey" (abbey abbey) I may have been in the "wrong mood" for it ...
I will give it another go at some point.
N.B. English is not my first language, and I read all Jane Austen novels in English... 🥵
Loved this! The description of Persuasion’s drama as “oh no, she’s hit her head” is perfect. I also think Mary Elliott is my favourite of Austen’s awful snobby characters
Thank you! Yeah, I'm definitely excited to reread it soon :D
instablaster...
So the idea behind those covers is they take an object to represent a pivotal moment or important theme in the book, but not one that people usually think of.
So for Emma I think it's meant to represent the dance where Knightly rescues Harriet and dances with Emma
Persuasion it's a quill to represent the letter
Sense and Sensibility it's the flowers for Maryanne
Really not sure about P&P though
We agree on 1, 5 and 6. I think the videos had an influence on me for the ranking. I will not re-read our #6 - I just can't but do enjoy. Thank you for reading them. Looking forward to watching all of your videos.
Hilarious but also helpful. (Never would have checked out the Emma Bunton video, otherwise!) I haven't yet read all of the Austen novels (but I've seen most of the movies/series).
Austen's use of language and the subtly of her character development are the big draws for the novels.
Good work, Ben!
Love this! 😍 Great ranking. I was surprised though. Persuasion is my absolute favorite of my favorites
Interesting that you put Mansfield Park at number 2 as that's quite unusual! I'm going to make a video soon trying to make a case for Mansfield Park not being as 'boring' as people think and for Fanny not being a one dimensional 'perfect' heroine as many people see her! So I'm glad you were rooting for Fanny, I think she's more interesting than she's given credit for!
Also the idea of Mansfield Park being about 'sticking to your guns' is basically what I just discussed in my video on the concept of duty in Austen. 😊
I enjoyed your rambling ranking! I have read the 6 novels 3 times each over the last year and now rank them:
1. Emma
2. Persuasion
3. Mansfield Park
4. Sense & Sensibility
5. Pride & Prejudice
6. Northanger Abbey
Please understand I love them all and the ranking is not based on quality, as each book is so entirely its own and equally well executed (with perhaps the exception of Northanger Abbey) but for the shere pleasure I have in the reading and with what relish I find myself devouring them, this is the ranking. I adore the little pond in which Emma is such on overpowered fish, and Mr Knightley is my favourite Austen hero. I can see that Lizzie Bennet is a sparkling little firebrand, but I am not as interested in her problems or Arsey Darcy as I am in the characters in other books. In fact on my last reading I found Jane Bennet a more appealing person. Controversial? Northanger Abbey is by far my least favourite. Austen herself did not consider it ready for publication. I wonder how she would have reworked it.
Just finished & loved "Mansfield Park." My 2nd Austen. You're right about the things that set it apart. One thing I feel like I never hear about it though is....it's SO steamy! Not the least of which is because of the whole subplot around "Lover's Vows." It felt so unique. From boredom & undercurrents of desire, these people decide to put on the raunchiest play ever while Papa is away...? and upstanding Edmund the clergy-to-be is weirdly roped in? I just loved that, and Fanny's reactions to it all. I also think it's interesting that Austen was herself the daughter of a clergyman & the novel is certainly about what is the authentic moral life.
The Classics intimidate me due to English being my second language. However, after hearing your interesting explanation of it, I've been persuaded to try reading Persuation.
I find Austen's language to sometimes be difficult but once you get used to it the stories and characters are great to read :)
Hi Ben, having just watched Kate's (Books and Things) video on Jane Austen, in which she vehemently declared that Jane Austen is not just for women, the algorithm offered me your video - which I very much enjoyed watching. I have tried really hard with Jane Austen over the years, not wanting to give in to the trope that they are 'just for women'. I have read several books on Jane Austen so that I could better understand the historical and literary context. However, I have to confess that I struggled to the end of each of her books out of a sense of literary obligation rather that out of any enjoyment I got out of reading them.......but great to hear that you did actually enjoy them!
Thanks so much for watching! Yeah if she's not for you then life's too short to read out of obligation haha, but who knows, maybe later on you might respond differently to them!
ah we have a veryyy similar list! Excluding Northanger Abbey Abbey Abbey being more at the tiptop of my list! Strangely I think the most affecting of her work I've read is Mansfield Park, probably because of that insight into more focus on the lower class and Fanny's plight between separating Portsmouth and Mansfield Park.
As always, a lovely video!
Thanks Alex! Yeah I think I definitely need to reread Northanger abbey abbey abbey (as well as all the rest of them haha)
All right, you talked me into it, I will try Mansfield Park.
reading Persuasion atm and loving it.
I definitely want to pick that up again soon
I can't possibly get through Emma without sleeping through chapters or gaining a headache. I'm so surprised to find someone who also doesn't think Emma is the best book to have been printed. So refreshing.
Fun video, even though my own personal ranking is completely different to yours (except for our number one). I'd say give Northanger Abbey another chance at some point. It's not as well developed as the other novels, but I really liked the humour and snark of it, and Henry Tilney is one of the most interesting Austen heroes. I really love that Sense and Sensibility adaptation, and weirdly I didn't mind the wrong-aged cast, which is something that usually bothers me a lot more. Anyway, great video, I particularly enjoyed your reenactment of your favourite scenes in the books 😂
Thank you! 😄 Yes definitely giving NA another go very soon as by all accounts I did sleep on it. Glad you enjoyed the silliness!
Yessss, Mr. Tilney is so amusing! I listened to NA as an audiobook and literally laughed out loud at times because of the humour in it.
if you still haven't but want to fall in love with Persuasion, I highly recommend (next to rereading the book) to watch the 1971 adaptation, if you can get your hands on it. seriously, it's an absolute delight and good fun all around, you won't regret it. 😊
The Emma movie was my first exposure to Jane Austen and I loved her language construction. As a middle aged American I find it complex and delightful. Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam brought it to life for me. It's my #2. Follows P & P of course!!
I’ve only read three so far (and I’m halfway through Emma) but I loved your descriptions of Mansfield Park and Persuasion, both of which I’ve read this year. Those two are my favourites so far and I very much enjoyed the “oh no she’s hit her head” drama which livened up that book no end.
The chair is Knightley's chair, the one his always sitting in :)
I'm so I found you today Oct 10/24..I agree with you on the order..😊
When you re-read Emma, do it as a mystery! Obviously you know the twists now but you'll be shocked how many clues there are, I find more every time I reread it. It really is a masterpiece
love the callback to your lady catherine video
Thanks! haha I couldn't stop myself 😄
Interesting views and interesting list! Very entertaining to watch.
I was surprised Northanger Abbey was so much down the list as it's probably my second favourite! [after P&P]
I think Henry Tilney is an absolute blast to be with, he's so funny and outrageous. And I also think that Morland is sweet and shy albeit a bit naïve and dramatic, haha.
but yeahm great video!
Thank you!
My wife and I are going to be reading Pride and Prejudice alongside each other soon. She read Sense and Sensibility and didn’t love it but I hope P&P will change that.
Enjoyed your analysis. I had a more positive reading of Northanger Abbey and a less positive reading of Mansfield Park, so I think I would swap those. I’d love to see you rank Dickens… 😘
Thank you!
He's back! Great video for Jane Austen July. It will help deciding which one to start reading her.🍻
Thanks! They're all fab 📚 I'd recommend all of them ha
Mansfield park is, I feel, the anti pride and prejudice. The character who is quite and bookish is the protagonist and the person who is lively is the antagonist.
What a great voice you have-have only ever seen you lip-synch to P&P. Please read them to us!!!
Northanger Abbey is also at the bottom of my ranking list. I did a video about it just the other day!
Ooo thanks, will have a look :)
Awesome vlog! I am also an Austen noob because I find her language to be quite difficult to understand and I have ADHD and dyslexia so comprehending what I read is a bit hard for me. But thanks to your video I might just give them a chance and read the Jane Austen books.
Thank you 😊
Another fun vid! I had to switch my brain to a particular mode for Northanger Abbey. I started reading and disliked it, until someone mentioned it's completely satirical, then I loved it and was laughing aloud in many parts, particularly stuff Catherine said. I reckon it might be 2nd to my 1st which is P&P, of course! 😊
My faves are:
1. Persuasion
2. P&P
3. Sense & Sensibility
4. Emma
5. Northanger Abby
6. Mansfield Park
I like Persuasion because I feel as if Austen gives as a look into her life. Austen reputedly also turned down a proposal. I don't think Anne = Jane, but that Jane thought about that and what it might mean to a different woman. ALso, Capatan Wentworth, hands down, writes the best letter in Austen fiction. I couldnt' warm to Fanny Price, plus her Edmund is such an idiot.
This video is over a year old, but I've only now found it. I quite like your rankings, although I might not rank all of the novels from 2 to 5 in the same order. I myself have never been able to make it through Northanger Abbey, even in audiobook form--I just hate those Thorpes so much I imagine horrible fates for them, the description of which would get you and me both demonetized!
😄😄 I definitely need to reread NA soon and see if I want to throw them into dantes Inferno too haha
@@somebenfen I’m now enjoying your other videos and have subbed.
i loved your video!! the only thing i have to disagree is with mainsfield park😭😭 i read it after pride and prejudice and i was oh noooo where is the flavourrrr, and it was a bit boring for me. but yeah for the rest i agree with you! a nice ranking!
Haha yeah MP is definitely a slow slow burner and nowhere near as sparky as P&P so I don't blame you!
Thank you for showing up in my suggestions and for giving me the giggles. Your humor....well....you get the proverbial “it.”
Thanks so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed 😄
Hi there, Ben. I just came over from Leo’s channel. I first encountered Jane Austen in an undergraduate seminar in which we read all of the novels and were fortunate to have a professor who gave us a lot of social and historical context. Anyway, I’ve since read and reread them all several times and while I do love them all, my opinions have changed concerning favorites several times over. When I first read Emma I didn’t like it at all. I’m not sold on Emma and Knightly, but I’ve grown to love the novel overall. Mr. Woodhouse is one of my absolute favorite Austen characters. P&P will always be my #1, followed closely by Persuasion (the letter!), and Emma. Then come Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and my least favorite, Sense and Sensibility. Like you, I’m not on board with Colonel Brandon and Marianne and I just have no idea what in the world Elinor sees in Edward. I would have preferred that Elinor forget about Edward because I think she and Colonel Brandon were better suited.
Anyway, I quite enjoyed this video. I love it when readers discover and appreciate Austen.
Interesting ranking! Yeah I'm pretty sure my favourites will change over time too. Really interested in rereading Northanger Abbey again as a few people have said it's their favourite... thanks so much for watching!
This is my first read of Jane Austen. I've read Emma and was pleasantly surprised with it. Your video was enjoyable. Thank you.
Thanks so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed Emma, I did really like it a lot despite it being number 5 on my list. I can def understand why its some peoples favourite austen :)
Interesting choice. There is more to find every time you do it.
@ doomantidote: would love to hear your lol summaries of more/all classics! Thanks!
Sorry for the very late comment! I am a big fan of Mansfield Park and Persuasion, both. Because I relate to those heroines and I feel like those types of women are underrepresented in literature, with their quiet strength and conviction. ❤
I think my ranking might be the same as yours. Top three are the same for sure
My ranking is all over the place buuut I have one more book to go...Mansfield Park. I love Fanny so far. Btw YOU are HILARIOUS 😂 I very much enjoyed your impressions!! I subscribed ✌️
Thanks so much! I'm a big fan of Mansfield Park as you can tell haha. Glad you enjoyed! :D
Just found your channel. Your sense of humour is hilarious XD
Also Im currently reading Mansfield Park.
Thank you! :D
Emma is my favourite - love all the characters- the snobbishness. The fussy father. Miss Bates. Emma’s know it all interfering. And the way she realises that ,of course, it always was and can only be Mr Knightley.
Haha, good point about aunt Norris 😄
😄
Upon watching this video again, I find I really want to hear Anna Russell talk about Catherine Morland.
Hi. Thanks for that, I really enjoyed your presentation. Fun, but also insightful without being in any way pretentious. I totally agreed with much of what you said. I usually say that Persuasion is my favourite, it was the novel I found most moving on first reading. However, on subsequent readings my reaction was more muted, and of course it doesn’t have the wonderful comic moments of most of the others, or the moment where the heroine stands up for herself, or the moment where the awful (usually female) character gets their comeuppance. It’s gentle and steady, but I think the heroine’s internal struggles are really well written - especially considering when it was written. The novel that (for me) improved on rereading was Emma. Once you realise what is going on, it is fascinating to see how JA lays out all the clues and how “clueless” Emma really is - I assume you’re familiar with that film? P&P and S&S are both so self-evidently good books that it is hard to fault them. Northanger Abbey has some great moments, but I just don’t get Catherine Moorland, and the construction of the novel feels clunky. I put off reading Mansfield Park because when I was at school it was an A level set text (I didn’t take English) and all my English A level friends absolutely hated it. I can sort of see why. Of all of them it feels rather worthy. The Hero doesn’t easily come to life, the immoral characters are actually the ones we like and the author seems to be using a much heavier moral tone which seems very of-it’s-period, and rather jars with modern morality. The other novels seem rather more free and easy within certain restrictions. I’ve listened to a few Austen book reviews, and I’m really struck by how absolutely rubbish all the parents are. Even Mr Bennett, whilst being rather lovely in some ways is a shockingly bad parent. Does JA have something against parents, or is it just that all her novels focus on the younger generation as the protagonists and the oldies are used for comedy and drama? Can you think of any examples of good parenting? Looking forward to seeing more of your reviews etc.
Thanks so much for watching! I'm gonna look forward to revisit Emma, I watched the recent film which I think didn't quite capture the book but was still fairly enjoyable. I need to reread Northanger Abby as lots of people seem to love it, but then I need to reread all of them! Hadn't thought of bad parents as a recurringtheme, gonna have to think about that. Thanks again!
YES..since I was 12! That's when I read my first, S & S, and was disappointed with the ending. I picked up P & P at age 14, and it just kept getting better from there. To pick up on the things you missed in NA, try reading Janine Barchas' book "Matters of Fact in Jane Austen" where she spends quite a bit of time explaining all the 'in' jokes about Bath, the Allens, follys, and other very illuminating things that will give you a whole new veiwpoint o NA! Another writer on JA you should check if you haven't come across him yet is John Mullan....he has a wonderful knack for bringing her work alive, and is a great advocate of her genius. His newest book "What Matters in Jane Austen" is enlightening and all too short. He also has quite a few videos on Yt; here's one of my favorites: th-cam.com/video/mP8dllTkpEg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you! I'll check these out :)
I have a working hypothesis that the evilness of Jane Austen's villains/rakes is inversely related to the goodness of her heroines...thoughts? Eleanor Dashwood or Fanny Price being the most pure heroine, Catherine being the most flawed.
I’ve never been able to get into Northanger Abbey, even though I know it’s satirical.
I’m not crazy about Mansfield Park either, but that’s mostly because I cannot stand Edmund. The Crawfords do keep me coming back anyway.
Weirdly, Emma and Persuasion are my two favorites, despite being so different. I always joke that Emma Woodhouse and Anne Elliot represent the opposite ends of my personality. Both novels also have my favorite secondary characters. 😄
I really enjoyed the “noob” perspective.
You made my day! I am going through all her novels this month and this has been SO helpful to sort the order! 🙏🏻🙏🏻 can i ask which one you would say it is her wittiest novel? (Current reading mood) have started with pride and prejudice atm!
Yey, thanks! Wittiest, probably Pride and Prejudice I would say, else Emma. All of them have characters who are funny to an extent (either deliberately or through no self awareness) but you can't go wrong with P&P :)
doomantidote i had also heard Northanger Abbey was her funniest lets see if it also ranks low in my list..! Thanks again! Love all your content, so great to see fresh original voices on booktube! ♥️
@@ify11boo thank you, appreciate it :)
Such interesting video :)
I think Emma's cover should have arrows instead of chairs, as she likes archery and letting arrows fly like she's Cupido matching people.
Although Pride and Prejudice is my favourite one as well, my ranking is different. In deed, Mansfield Park is my least one, I think I didn't really connect with the story, should read it again.
Thanks for the video :)
Thanks for watching! Arrows would've been a much better idea i agree! 😄
After watching this video I went to go watch Emma Bunton Maybe. And now I’ve got it stuck in my head, ba da da da da.
I like the covers .. simple
emma : mr knightley chair I think
Love thisss
Thanks Laura!
Which Jane Austen book would you recommend to start with ?
I think straight to Pride and Prejudice! Either that or possibly Northanger Abbey as its the shortest and gives a good idea at her style.
Maaaybeeee, maaybeee Im iin llLLAAUUUUUUVVVVHHHHHH
😂😂
Man, that music video used to be on TV like all the time back in 2004? (I think). Nice ranking, I love Mansfield Park and I'm glad that it's not at the bottom of your list, it's such an underrated and misunderstood novel. Sad about Northanger Abbey, I hope you get more into it with a reread. Nice video, you made laugh a lot! :)
Emma is my favorite. It's so witty and a pure comedy. Try listen to the BBC 4 Podcast episode - Emma Woodhouse. It's available on TH-cam. It might change your mind.
I'm def looking forward to revisiting Emma!
Emma has be read more than once in order to really appreciate it.
Mansfield Park #2 and Persuasion #3 ?! This is an outrage, I would put Persuasion at #1 and Manny below her doodles
Haha sorry! I can't wait to reread Persuasion again so who knows I might think differently afterwards... 😄
Kind of weird to hear your actual voice and not that of Jennifer Ehle or David Bamber! Weird, but definitely not unpleasant
When it comes to classic literature I prefer hard cover. Mansfield Park is my hands down favorite on par with Dickens. Pride and Prejudice is too girly with its histrionic worries about getting married in time. Persuasion leaves me cold. Missed opportunity is a cliche premise for a novel. Northanger Abbey is fun but uneven. My least favorite is Sense and Sensibility that doesn't even have fun to redeem it. Emma is elegantly written and my second favorite.