Emma

A BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: full cast

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

BBC Audio presents Emma, Jane Austen's engaging and infuriating tale. Austen famously challenged her readers with 'heroine whom no one but myself will much like', yet this dramatisation brings Emma to life with romantic meddling, social climbing and perfect happiness.

Emma Woodhouse is equal parts witty, spoilt and vain, and sets her mind on matchmaking. She coaches her long suffering friend Harriet through social interactions and proposals, with disastrous consequences. Can Emma fix her flaws in time to mend her relationships?

Starring Angharad Rees.

©1996, 2001 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)1996, 2001 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

another great bbc dramatisation

although emma is not my favorite austen novel, this adapation was very entertaining. i actually own this on cassettes which i purchased years ago. i enjoyed it so much i wanted it on my mp3 player to listened to at any time. if only bbc would adapt pride & prejudice into a radio dramatisation i would be in heaven.

Uncertain as to the quality of sound in dialogue

Any additional comments?

The story is fine, as Jane Austen novels are. The various dialogues though, seem to lack a certain something, in the way that they are delivered. There is an absence of “energy” or “spark” in the voice acting. Sort of like, everyone’s a little uninterested in the whole affair. It confuses me, because a part of me thinks they are all fine actors here. To each his own, I suppose. Might agree with you. A bit of a miss for me.

Appreciating Austen through an Engaging Emma

This one is easy to review - totally loved it!
Characterisation and period brought to life - a good story which didn't lose much (as is inevitable) in the editing to achieve the dramatisation.

Very Enjoyable & As it Should Be

There is nothing to dislike about this splendid production of one of Jane Austen’s most memorable of plays.

Well thought out with professional actor,s who as per the Austen script, presides overt outlandish character’s who even for me (an Austen devotee) find over the top but as is written by the great lady.

There are many hours of fun & great literature to devour as I did in one evening, making for a fabulous nights entertainment.

Austen wrote with great sarcasm & intellectual wit as she saw the society before her; which is not lost in this excellent performance. This is how Jane Austen expected her work to be portrayed, not the modern BBC way. So we are lucky to have this as it was intended. Pure theatre. This is one we all enjoy listening to over the years.

Accessible and witty

One of the more widely accessible of the classics, Emma is both intellectual, witty, and plain funny. This recoding really brings it to life

An excellent read

Absolutely loved it.. I'm looking forward to listening to the recording again. Well done cast.

excellent drama

I love this novel and it was delightful to hear it so well done as a drama. A relaxing and enjoyable listen that takes you into the wonderful world of Jane Austen

lovely recording i enjoyed every minute of it

Would you consider the audio edition of Emma to be better than the print version?

i enjoy the book..but find the audio more relaxing

What was one of the most memorable moments of Emma?

when she realizes she made a mistake about Mr Eltons intentions towards her friend Harriet Smith

Which scene did you most enjoy?

the picnic at Box hill

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes.. but i listened to it in three days..and ready to listen again!

Any additional comments?

thanks for a wonderful service İ'm so glad to have discovered you

A classic performance of a classic

A book very familiar to me as a Jane Austen fan I specially enjoyed this performance where it is presented as a play performed as part of the BBC Audio collection. As a much loved text the performance was very faithful to the original and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Her observations on contemporary society are witty and astute and it provides an insight into the social conventions of the day and respective roles of men and women which is fascinating. I would highly recommend this to other listeners, both those already familiar with Jane Austen and those new to her writing.