Join us the third Tuesday of every month for an in-depth discussion of quality best-selling fiction and nonfiction books including biographies.

While Pride and Prejudice is widely considered Jane Austen's most popular novel (thank you, shirtless Colin Firth), Emma is regarded as the more superior novel in terms of language, construction, character development, plot - and humor. It's consistantly ranked as the best of Jane Austen's six novels.

Emma's plucky protagonist, Emma Woodhouse, envisions herself a matchmaker, and is Austen’s most interesting leading character, exhibiting a nuanced complexity and growth. As a novel, Emma is considered to be one of the earliest detective mystery novels ever written, full of suspicions, curiosity, suspense and red herrings - but no murder. Austen plants many surprises and clues for the reader, keeping us in a state of puzzlement and moderate anxiety while matching our wits to unravel the plot, including:

• Why has Frank Churchill not visited his father Mr. Weston for years?
• What is his relationship to Jane Fairfax?
• What is Mr. Dixon’s relationship to Jane Fairfax?
• Who are Harriet Smith’s parents?
• Who gifts Jane Fairfax the extravagant piano forte? And, many more…

Join us as we answer these questions during our discussion, preceded by a potluck luncheon (including an English trifle and tea) and a viewing of the 2020 film Emma, directed by Autumn de Wilde and starring Anna Taylor-Joy in the titular role.

Registration requested. Please email Vicky at tech@rodgerslibrary.org with your dish.