Emma (Stage Version) - by Jane Austen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A sharp, funny, and thoroughly modern rom-com filled with relatable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a heart that beats true to Austen's original themes." -All That Dazzles

Emma Woodhouse thinks she has it all figured out. Fresh from Oxford University and back in her hometown for the summer, she's ready to do what she does best: sort out everyone else's lives, whether they like it or not. Her closest friend Harriet is a total dating disaster, her father keeps disappearing on mysterious errands, and George Knightley refuses to stop pointing out the flaws in her flawless plans. But Emma knows best...right?

Emma is Jane Austen's timeless classic of romance, friendship, and the tricky business of figuring out what truly makes us happy. Ava Pickett's irresistible adaptation joyously pulls the story into the twenty-first century, swapping dance cards for DMs.

Review Quotes

"Downright hysterical...So joyous that maybe even Austen will be laughing in her grave."

-Evening Standard

"An exhilarating and clever take on a well-loved story."

-West End Best Friend

"A special piece of theatre...a treat to watch from start to finish."

-Theatre and Tonic

"Astute and laugh-a-minute funny."

-The Stage

"Riotously funny with an undertow of deep feeling...It is writing of the highest quality."

-WhatsOnStage

"A rip-roaring modern update from a rising star."

-Time Out

"Superb, achingly funny...simply glorious."

-LondonTheatre1

"Fun and relatable...Students can really engage with the fast pace and comedy of this modern take on a classic story."

-Drama and Theatre Magazine

About the Author

Ava Pickett is a writer for theatre, film, and television. Her plays include an adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma (Rose Theatre, Kingston, 2025) and 1536 (Almeida Theatre, London, 2025; winner of the 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize). Her work for television includes co-writing on The Great (Hulu/Channel 4), Brassic (Sky) and Ten Pound Poms (BBC One).

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction set among the landed gentry have earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature.