Very enjoyable

This is my favourite Jane Austen novel, and anyone who is only familiar with Pride and Prejudice should definitely give this a try too. This version is well read by Juliet Stevenson, as her voice is easy to listen to and she uses different voices for different characters. I don't always like it when narrators do this, as sometimes the voices are silly, but I think Juliet Stevenson pulls it off. Recommended.

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4 people found this helpful

A brilliant story - brilliantly read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've listened to Juliet Stevenson's narration of this story once before, and loved it so much I chose to listen to it again - all 16+ hours! The story is Austen at her best - great characterisation and witty story line. But Juliet Stevenson really brings this story to life. Her interpretation of the characters and her choice of accents and 'voice' are brilliant. Give it a few months, and I'm sure I'll want to listen to it all over again!

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4 people found this helpful

Emma excelled

Adore Jane Austen so to hear her wonderful writing read so well and unabridged was heaven

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2 people found this helpful

The power of love

This is a wonderfully told story of how a headstrong and opiniated young girl comes, through various tribulations, to see the error of her ways and to fall in love with her (loving) critic. Written with wit and insight.

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Another Excellent Juliet Stevenson Narration

I first tried reading this book on my return to College at the beginning of the 1980-1981 year, having finished Pride And Prejudice and gave up at the end of the first chapter by which I was sick of the constant "poor Miss Taylor" refrain. However, in 2006 I tried it again with Richard Baker as narrator. What a difference! An excellent narrator turned a hitherto boring book into an enjoyable one. I always thought Emma was going to learn the error of her ways after the episode between her and \Mr Elton during their return journey from Mr and Mrs Weston's home but realised it was going to take some considerable time after she did realise how much she'd messed up.

With Juliet Stevenson you just can't go wrong with a Jane Austen novel. In this book, whether it's Elton's angry reaction to her as they drive towards their respective residences, Mr Knightly's heart to hearts, especially at Box Hill or his kind concern for her, Mrs Elton's speeches, the talkative but well-meaning Miss Bates or the continuously annoying Mr Woodhouse, Stevenson's got each character just right. When you have to finish reading for the present, you'll look forward to the next episode even if it's just conversation or get-togethers at different locations. One or two reviewers have felt that it's either a bit rushed at the end or feel it ends far too quickly. Once you get to the final chapter you'll find that everything has been rounded off perfectly and that all Austen felt the need to do was just end with a chapter which would tell of the lead-up to the ceremony. Actually it's a book which both begins and ends on a wedding day.

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Perfect narrator

I found this book a weaker work than Austen's other titles, as the characters are less differentiated between each other than, say, in "Pride and Prejudice" and Emma is frankly, a bit of a bitch, but Stevenson narrates this supremely, as she does all the other Austen novels. She is a wonderful character actress and it translates into her audio work as well. She especially shines in conveying Austen's dry humour and acerbic observations of seemingly mundane small town life.

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Austen's finest excellently read

The narration was fantastic - wonderfully expressive, clear and varied. The novel, of course, is a must read. Superior to P&P IMO!

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Wonderful

Perfectly read by the wonderful Juliet Stevenson. An absolute joy to listen to. If you love Jane Austen do not bypass this audio version.

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Briiliant. Wonderful reading by Juliet Stevenson.

Juliet Stevenson 's voices for different characters and feelings = awesome. v enjoyable. Created atmosphere and humour.

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Exelent

Loved it. Juliet Stevenson narrated it beautifully. A must listen for all Jane Austen fans.

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