Emma: Commercial facts
13 lenses on commercial facts for Emma by Jane Austen. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 L10 L11 L12 L13
L1. Total word count. Count
1815, 160,886 words. See the full lens on the book page.
L2. Chapter count and average length. Count
1815, 160,886 words. See the full lens on the book page.
L3. Length against modern norms for the genre. Both
160,886 words. Modern romance often runs 70,000 to 90,000 words, so this is long for the shelf today. These ranges are rough trade norms, not rules.
At 160,886 words, Emma is long for modern romance (typically 80,000 to 100,000 words). It is Austen's longest novel. The length allows for slow-burn romance, multiple subplots, and rich social observation. Modern readers accustomed to faster pacing may find it leisurely, but the length serves the novel's exploration of character and society.
L4. First published as a serial or a volume? Research
1815, 160,886 words. See the full lens on the book page.
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L5. Serial instalment breaks and how each ends. Both
The novel was not serialised. It was published as a complete three-volume work in 1815. If divided into serial instalments, natural breaks would occur at c15 (Elton's revelation), c30 (Frank's departure), c43 (Box Hill crisis), and c49 (proposal). Each would end with emotional or plot resolution, leaving readers eager for the next instalment.
Chapters: Ch 15, Ch 30, Ch 43, Ch 49
Mr. Elton actually making violent love to her: availing himself of the precious opportunity, declaring sentiments which must be already well known (Ch 15, para 25)
Of all horrid things, leave-taking is the worst. (Ch 30, para 13)
How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation? (Ch 43, para 56)
L6. Sales and reviews in its day. Research
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L7. Adaptations: film, TV, stage, count and type. Research
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L8. Sequels and series. Research
Facts from outside the text (sales, serial history, adaptations, sequels, most quoted lines). Coming in a later phase, with sources and dates.
L9. Modern books in the same mould (comps). AI
Modern comps: 'Bridgerton' (Regency romance with ensemble cast); 'Eligible' by Curtis Sittenfeld (modern Emma retelling); 'The Flatshare' by Sally Hepworth (character-driven, witty); 'People We Meet on Vacation' by Emily Henry (slow-burn romance with banter). Emma's blend of comedy, romance, and social observation fits contemporary romantic fiction with literary ambition.
L10. Who it would be shelved for today. AI
Today Emma would be shelved as: historical romance, literary fiction, women's fiction, or classic romance. It appeals to readers of Jane Austen, historical fiction, and character-driven romance. Fans of witty banter, slow-burn love stories, and social comedy would find it rewarding. It suits readers aged 16+ who enjoy thoughtful, dialogue-heavy narratives.
L11. Content notes. AI
Content notes: class anxiety and snobbery; illegitimacy treated as shameful (c55); governess servitude presented as inevitable hardship; mild cruelty (Emma's remark to Miss Bates); alcohol (Elton's drunken declaration); no sexual content; no violence. The novel is suitable for teen and adult readers; some may find the class attitudes uncomfortable.
Chapters: Ch 15, Ch 43, Ch 55
Mr. Elton actually making violent love to her: availing himself of the precious opportunity, declaring sentiments which must be already well known (Ch 15, para 25)
How could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How could you be so insolent in your wit to a woman of her character, age, and situation? (Ch 43, para 56)
The stain of illegitimacy, unbleached by nobility or wealth, would have been a stain indeed. (Ch 55, para 3)
L12. A modern pitch line and blurb. AI
Pitch: A witty, intelligent young woman must learn that love and genuine connection matter more than social management when she falls for the one man she cannot manipulate. Blurb: Emma Woodhouse is handsome, clever, and rich, and convinced she is an excellent judge of character. When her matchmaking schemes go spectacularly wrong, she discovers that the man she truly loves has been watching her all along.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 49
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence (Ch 1, para 1)
The real evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself (Ch 1, para 4)
She was his own Emma, by hand and word, when they returned into the house; and if he could have thought of Frank Churchill then, he might have deemed him a very good sort of fellow. (Ch 49, para 42)
L13. Title style against genre norms. AI
The title 'Emma' is simple and direct, naming the protagonist. It follows Austen's style: 'Pride and Prejudice,' 'Sense and Sensibility,' 'Persuasion' are all character or concept names. Single-word titles were common for literary fiction of the period. The simplicity emphasises the novel's focus on one woman's inner life and growth rather than plot mechanics.
Chapters: Ch 1
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence (Ch 1, para 1)
Ask Emma a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
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