Emma by Alexander McCall Smith was published in 2015 as part of the Austen Project series. The series was launched by Harper Collins in 2013 and features contemporary authors reimagining Austen’s classic stories in a modern context. Other authors include Joanna Trollope, Curtis Sittenfeld and Val McDermid.
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Book Blurb
The summer after university, Emma Woodhouse returns home to the village of Highbury to prepare for the launch of her interior design business. As she cultivates grand plans for the future, she re-enters the household of her hypochondriac father, who has been living alone on a steady diet of vegetables and vitamin supplements. Soon Emma befriends Harriet Smith, the naïve but charming young teacher’s assistant at an English-language school run by the hippie-ish Mrs. Goddard. Harriet is Emma’s inspiration to do the two things she does best: offer guidance to those less wise in the ways of the world and put her matchmaking skills to good use.
Happily, this summer presents abundant opportunities for her to do just that, as many friends, both old and new, are drawn into the sphere of Emma’s occasionally injudicious counsel: Frank Churchill, the attractive stepson of Emma’s former governess; George Knightley, Emma’s brother-in-law and dear friend; the charming yet self-important Philip Elton; and, of course, the perfect (and perfectly vexing) Jane Fairfax.
Alexander McCall Smith’s gentle satire and cozy, old-fashioned sensibility prove to be the perfect match for Jane Austen’s wit and characters. Though carriages have been replaced by Mini Coopers and cups of tea with cappuccinos, Emma’s story is wonderfully timeless.
About the Author
Alexander McCall Smith is a beloved Scottish author known for his gentle humour and heartwarming stories. His most famous creation is the wise and compassionate detective Precious Ramotswe, who heads the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in Botswana.
McCall Smith’s novels often celebrate the simple pleasures of life, the importance of human connection, and the beauty of everyday moments. With his distinctive writing style, he has captured the hearts of millions of readers worldwide.
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