[Austen, Jane] | First edition of Emma—the author's "perfect" novel

[Austen, Jane]

Emma: A Novel. In Three Volumes. By the Author of "Pride and Prejudice", &C. &C. London: Printed for John Murray, 1816

12mo, 3 volumes (185 x 110 mm). Half-titles; some scattered and faint foxing, occasional browning and offsetting, one or two gatherings and leaves possibly supplied from another copy. Early half calf and marbled paper-covered boards, bound by R.P. Costey, spines with raised bands, gilt lettering pieces in second and fourth, others decoratively tooled in blind and gilt, edges marbled blue; some rubbing to extremities. Custom clamshell case.

First edition of one of the finest realist novels in the English language.

"I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like."

Jane Austen wrote her fourth novel, and the last to be published in her lifetime, between January 1814 and March 1815. Unlike her previous novels, Austen chose to publish with John Murray. Because of the popularity of her previous novels, a large print run of 2,000 was decided upon. It was published in December 1815 (though 1816 is given on the title), and Jane Austen dedicated it to the Price Regent, George IV, who had expressed an admiration for her novels. A presentation copy of the work was sent to Carlton House.

The comedy of manners had sold 1,248 copies by the following October, and Austen expressed worry at the public regard for the novel: "I am very strongly haunted by the idea that to those Readers who have preferred P&P. it will appear inferior in Wit, & to those who have preferred MP. very inferior in good Sense." The novel has since been revered as Austen's literary masterwork, with Emma being a complex, intelligent and captivatingly imperfect protagonist.

Of Emma, the prolific collector A. Edward Newton commented: "Between 1749, the year of 'Tom Jones,' and 1816, when a perfect novel. 'Emma,' appeared, no advance had been made in telling a story. I have called 'Emma' a 'perfect' novel: I think it is. Jane Austen used a small palette, but her colors were faultless."

REFERENCES

Garside and Schowerling 1816:16; Gilson A8; Keynes 8; Sadleir 62d