Many Jane Austen fans have a particular favorite among her titles. Those who claim Emma as their preferred work--oh, the clever matchmaking premise, the accomplished narrative, the bright wit!--can further their adulation with this edition annotated by Bharat Tandon (Jane Austen and the Morality of Conversation).
In his introduction, Tandon notes that he wants "only to shed enough light on Austen's details to enable individual readers to make their own informed decisions regarding exactly how the details connect with those contexts that time has rendered less manifest." And so he does. His notes include definitions, historical information and commentary; all are highly readable and always elucidating. He also purposefully avoids over-interpretation of Austen's text, allowing the reader to experience the joy of the original work while benefiting from his insight. The extensive annotations are accompanied by a lavish collection of illustrations, many in color, that serve to better define the novel's setting.
For die-hard fans of Emma, this annotated edition is a must-have. For readers new to Jane Austen's work, it's the perfect way to start what might likely turn out to be a lifelong love affair with her work. --Roni K. Devlin, owner, Literary Life Bookstore