A literary gem: Emma. A novel. In three volumes

Why Emma stands out

Jane Austen famously claimed she would craft a heroine “whom no one but myself will much like.” And along came Emma Woodhouse, a handsome, clever, and rich, yet spoiled and meddlesome young woman. Very unlike her other heroines such as Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and prejudice. Her well-meant matchmaking nearly wreaks havoc on her social circle, offering a tale as delightful as it is nuanced.

Austen’s nephew wrote about Emma in his biography A Memoir of Jane Austen, published in 1869, that;

'there are no stirring incidents; there is no change of scene. The heroine, whose society we enjoy throughout, never sleeps away from home, ... no character in the book is ill, no one is ruined, there is no villain, and no paragon. On the other hand, the plot is admirably contrived and never halts; ...' (James Edward Austen-Leigh p.306-7)

Reading by candlelight

The book was released in three compact, lightweight volumes, each small enough to tuck into a bag or comfortably hold up to the flicker of a candle.

Its pages feature crisp, clear type with just a few words per page, making it easy on the eyes. At the bottom of each page, a "catchword" appears, hinting at the first word on the next page. This thoughtful detail wasn’t just for show, it made reading aloud smoother and helped readers keep their place, even in the dim light of a candle or the glow of a fireplace.

In the early 19th century, this publishing style wasn’t unusual. Catchwords also served a practical purpose during book production, guiding printers and bookbinders to arrange pages correctly. So, whether read aloud in a cozy parlor or enjoyed in the quiet of a fireside evening, Jane Austen's first edition was designed for both convenience and charm. 

The beauty of early editions

Our copy remains in its original plain binding, just as it was when first sold. While wealthier buyers of the time often opted for luxurious custom bindings, this simple presentation makes the edition all the more authentic and a direct link to Austen’s world.

A State Library staff member called this gem ‘a plain but delightful edition’ that captures the spirit of reading Austen as her contemporaries would have.

Written by Laura Wolfe, Digital Engagement Coordinator and Sara Stodart, Published Collections Librarian.

More to explore

Special collections - from rare books and the Symon library to the Paul McGuire maritime library and more.

Treasures of the State Library - features items that have been displayed in the Treasures Wall over the years.

Books in the collection

These books are available to read at the State Library:

• The friendly Jane Austen: a well-mannered introduction to a lady of sense and sensibility  
• Jane Austen, a family record  
• Jane Austen's cults and cultures 
• The real Jane Austen: a life in small things 
• Jane Austen's England  
• Jane Austen and the fiction of her time 
• Bitches in bonnets: life lessons from Jane Austen's mean girls 
• Where's where in Jane Austen - and what happens there 
• In the steps of Jane Austen 
• Jane Austen and Adlestrop: her other family : a new perspective on Jane Austen and her novels 
• Dress in the age of Jane Austen : Regency fashion 
• A Jane Austen Christmas: celebrating the season of romance, ribbons and mistletoe 

eBooks in the collection

These books are available to read with a State Library membership, join now!

• Letters of Jane Austen
• Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen 
• Jane Austen and Her Times 
• Five letters from Jane Austen to her niece, Fanny Knight; printed in facsimile 

Books by local authors

These books are available to read in the State Library are are part of the National eDeposit (NED) collection:

• Crime and prejudice 
• Persuading outback Angie 
• No time for sensibility: a retelling of sense and sensibility 
• Darcy’s pride: a modern retelling of pride and prejudice 
• The pride and prejudice equation