Opinions of Emma
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2020
Summary
Captn. Austen.—liked it extremely, observing that though there might be more Wit in P&P—& an higher Morality in MP—yet altogether, on account of it's peculiar air of Nature throughout, he preferred it to either.
Mrs. F. A.—liked & admired it very much indeed, but must still prefer P. & P.
Mrs. J. Bridges—preferred it to all the others.
Miss Sharp—better than MP.—but not so well as P.&P.— pleased with the Heroine for her Originality, delighted with Mr. K—& called Mrs. Elton beyond praise.— dissatisfied with Jane Fairfax.
Cassandra—better than P. & P.—but not so well as M. P.—
Fanny K.—not so well as either P. & P. or MP.—could not bear Emma herself.— Mr. Knightley delightful.—Should like J. F.—if she knew more of her —
Mr. & Mrs. J. A.—did not like it so well as either of the 3 others. Language different from the others; not so easily read.—
Edward—preferred it to MP.—only.—Mr.K. liked by every body.
Miss Bigg—not equal to either P & P.—or MP.—objected to the sameness of the subject (Match-making) all through.—Too much of Mr. Elton &H. Smith. Language superior to the others.—
My Mother—thought it more entertaining than MP. —but not so interesting as P. & P.—No characters in it equal to Ly Catherine & Mr. Collins.—
Miss Lloyd—thought it as clever as either of the others, but did not receive so much pleasure from it as from P. & P.—& MP.—
Mrs. & Miss Craven—liked it very much, but not so much as the others.—
Fanny Cage—liked it very much indeed & classed it between P & P.—&MP.—
Mr. Sherer—did not think it equal to either MP—(which he liked the best of all) or P & P.—Displeased with my pictures of Clergymen.—
Miss Bigg—on reading it a second time, liked Miss Bates much better than at first, & expressed herself as liking all the people of Highbury in general, except Harriet Smith— but cd. not help thinking her too silly in her Loves.
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- Later Manuscripts , pp. 235 - 240Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008