"Indeed, I am very sorry to be right in this instance. I would much rather have been merry than wise." 
 After a singular success in playing cupid for her beloved governess, Emma fancies herself an adept matchmaker who is herself immune to falling in love. These presumptions are then followed by a series of delusional events. Emma ignores the warnings of her friend and verbal sparring partner, Mr. Knightly, and sets about trying to pair her new friend (of lower social station)Harriet, to the local vicar, Mr. Elton. 
 She first has to convince Harriet to reject the proposal of Robert Martin, a young farmer whom Emma has deemed unworthy--despite his genuine affection for her friend. Though Harriet rebuffs Martin, Mr. Elton takes a shine to Emma rather than Harriet. And when Emma turns him down, he leaves for the city and returns with a snobby new wife. 
 Unfortunately, it'll take being proven very wrong more than once before Emma gains the maturity she doesn't know she needs.... 
 Though this book is as consistent in its critical social commentary as Austen's other works, it perhaps contains the strongest message of personal and internal evolution. The prose is all but dripping with demonstrative sarcasm. And the interpersonal relationships that are re-evaluated throughout prove more of a drive than the plot itself. 
 One highlight for many readers will be the candor between Knightly and Emma. They openly chastise and pick at each other, and generally fail to recognize how much they enjoy that particular dynamic between them until later on in the story: 
 In terms of Emma's prim, spoiled, impetuous characterization, Austen gamely admitted to making her heroine unlikeable to most outside of herself. Personally, I kind of wanted to smack Emma--especially through the first half of the book. But all the while, I somehow couldn't find her -completely- repellent. She's a judgmental busybody who thinks too much of herself, to be sure... (When one briefly examines her ludicrous, self-indulgent father, we realize she's come by her flaws quite honestly and perhaps through no true fault of her own.) But she also genuinely cares about others, in her own well intentioned but grossly misguided way. 
 So I was rooting for her in a way I don't think she would have ever rooted for herself--hoping for a mental and emotional growth payoff. By any means necessary. 
 And the payoff didn't disappoint! Talk about well-rounded character development... 
 Well done, Ms. Austen. You take your sweet time getting where you're going, but once you arrive, you really deliver. 
 I wouldn't call this my favorite of Austen's works. I'd actually place it somewhere in the middle--behind P&P and S & S, but ahead of Northanger Abby and Persuasion. A little slow at times, but ultimately quite satisfying. 
 Favorite Quotes: 
 "I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control." 
 "I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other." 
 "There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves."