Jane Austen Books to Add to Your List

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Hailed as the best romance writer among classical authors, Jane Austen is a name you’re probably familiar with, either from her books or the numerous film and TV adaptations of her works.

One of the most popular TV adaptations is the Pride and Prejudice TV series by BBC, which starred Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and stayed true to the wit and sharp social commentary that Austen is known for.

Jane Austen Books to Add to Your Reading List 

Here is the rundown of her six novels so you can at least have the basic plot in mind when you choose your next book: 

1. Sense and Sensibility (1811) 

The first novel that Austen published, Sense and Sensibility is considered the most well-rounded of her works. The story follows sisters Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, right smack in the middle of a time period where marrying rich is all that matters to many families.

Marianne, full of sensibility, falls in love with John Willoughby, who seems to be a devoted lover but actually has mercenary aims and ends up leaving Marianne for an heiress. The older Elinor has a greater claim on “sense,” as she is more mature, with prudence and discretion and a commitment to her own lover, Edward Ferrars.

2. Northanger Abbey (1813) 

Considered Austen’s funniest work, Northanger Abbey was only published after her death in 1817, but it was apparently the first book she sold to a publisher way back in 1803. Fans will notice that it’s lighter than her other stories. 

This book follows Catherine Morland, the daughter of a parson in the country, who travels abroad. In Bath and at Northanger Abbey, she learns wisdom in the ways of the world, partly through her immersion in the world of Gothic thrillers. 

3. Pride and Prejudice (1813) 

With five daughters in their brood, the Bennet family wants to marry off their older girls into comfortable lives; plus, the birth of a grandson will ensure that they keep their estate. The eldest daughter, Jane, falls in love with Mr. Bingley, whose friend, Mr. Darcy, clashes with the hard-hearted prejudice of Jane’s sister Elizabeth. 

But despite the hate-at-first sight that these two characters harbor, Austen expertly weaves their story to construct a believable shift in opinion, enough to throw them into an unlikely love relationship! 

4. Mansfield Park (1814) 

Perhaps one of her most psychologically complex works, Mansfield Park follows the story of a neglected child named Fanny, who grabs hold onto the only person who was ever nice to her, a cousin named Edmund. But when he withdraws, she is greatly affected. 

Eventually, Fanny shows her true moral fortitude that wins her the acceptance of the Bertram family. It can be a disturbing read, but still full of the wise insights that Austen is known for. 

5. Emma (1815) 

In this book, which loosely inspired the box office hit Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone, Emma Woodhouse is a wealthy and self-satisfied woman who lives with her father.

The book opens with the Woodhouses saying goodbye to their longtime housekeeper, whom Emma found a husband for. Emma then sets her sights on a new friend, Harriet, whom she tries to find a match for, too. Emma is totally naive and doesn’t know that the man is in love with her, not with her friend! 

6. Persuasion (1818) 

In this novel, Austen develops the theme of second chances through the story of reawakened love between Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot. Seven years ago, Anne had turned down the Captain’s offer of marriage. 

But now he comes back from the Napoleonic Wars with a naval rank and prize money, making him an acceptable choice according to Anne’s father’s snobbish standards. 

What Is the Best Jane Austen Book to Start With? 

Jane Austen only has six novels published, and fans are always arguing about which book is the most popular, or about which book a novice should start with. 

Many fans recommend starting with Pride and Prejudice, partly because they may have become familiar with the story through the TV adaptation. 

I personally started with Pride and Prejudice, and can relate to some readers who feel lost in the swamp of characters that Austen is fond of using. I personally started with Pride and Prejudice, and can relate to some readers who feel lost in the swamp of characters that Austen is fond of using. For example, in this book, you have to get to know the Bennet sisters: Jane, Elizabeth, Lydia, and Kitty. Then there’s Mr. Bingley and his sister, Mr. Darcy and his sister.

Perhaps this is why people tend to fall in one of two extremes: they either greatly love or greatly hate Jane Austen’s writing! 

The good thing is that all six books are standalone novels, and anyone can pick up one of her books and jump in!

Length of Jane Austen Books  

If you’re in the mood for adding a few classic romance novels into your to-be-read list, Jane Austen is a good choice. Of course, her books tend to be on the long side, so you may want to carve out ample time to keep at it. 

To illustrate, literary fiction is already considered longer than regular genre fiction. But epic literary fiction novels, pegged at 110,000 words or more, are longer than regular literary fiction. Sense and Sensibility has a total word count of 126,194 words, and Emma has 163,514! 

To make it even more challenging, Emma is found to have an average of 67 words per paragraph. That’s some large block of text to wade through!

Jane Austen as a Novelist

Jane Austen is credited with artfully portraying ordinary people in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. She is also known for her comedic takes on the cultures and traditions of middle-class life in England during her time. 

Many of her works focus on a young woman’s growth to self-discovery, beginning with young love and moving her way to marriage, including the question of marrying for love or for practicality.

Her relatable themes provide a breath of fresh air, while also containing thought-provoking perspectives that help us understand the mindset of England during that era. 

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