Tonight I asked the girls if they wanted to listen to a story while they were going to sleep (I’d already read them one, but I often let them listen to an audiobook, too). My five year old requested Emma, and her ten year old sister agreed. Awwww.
The version we have is the one read by Prunella Scales, and it’s just perfect! I highly recommend it. I suppose I should get Austen’s other book on audio, for the further improvement of little minds.








We listened to Austen’s books on tape and then CD while we traveled for vacations each summer.
Oh I hope my daughter is so enthused for Austen at a young age! At almost eight months, I’ve only tried the Little Miss Austen counting primer on her so far, but it can’t belong before I break down and start trying to read her the real McCoy. At what age did you introduce your girls to Austen, and how did you go about it?
Alexa, how lovely to picture you with your sweet daughter cuddling with books. Enjoy every moment with her.
All the children have watched the Austen adaptions along with me whenever I put them on–just part of life.
We don’t watch a whole lot of TV around here, so whatever is on (even the old BBC productions from the 70′s) seems interesting!
And they’re well used to recorded books as they have quiet room time (we homeschool, so that’s part of the day as well) or bedtime, so I suppose it was natural to want to listen to Emma.
I’m sure your daughter will grow up with Austen, too.
That’s sweet that the girls want to read Emma. My mom started reading Jane Austen to me when I was eight.
I have no daughters, alas. But all of my sons(now adults) drink tea with milk and sugar — in proper tea cups, no less. (I take my victories wherever I find them!) When I brought home the 1995 Pride and Prejudice (on videotape, ages ago!), my second son (then age 11) was quickly enthralled with the story. He watched each of the videotapes with me — repeatedly!
We love books on CD, especially for our marathon drive to California. It’s my sneaky way of introducing new (old) authors.
My elder was fourteen and my younger one was four when we started watching the BBC miniseries repeatedly. I had already read of the Austen books several times, so I started explaining what had been left out, changed, or added (the fencing scene and the swimming scene). My elder started reading Austen at that point. The younger was probably about twelve or thirteen when she started reading Austen.
And one of your daughters writes. Way to pass the baton, Robin!
Check out Mandy Helm’s The Gifted.
Thanks so much for posting a link to my daughter’s book, Laura. She’s working on a JAFF about Anne de Bourgh now. I may post excerpts later.
My eight year old niece Emma got a tablet for Christmas and when she showed me all the books she’d downloaded on it, I was so pleased. One of those books was Austen’s Emma (chosen because they share the name). I told her that the language then was very different and she might not understand it, but she’s determined to read it anyway, right after she finishes Little Women. She watched Emma Thompson’s S&S with me and Willoughby didn’t fool her for a minute. She said “he looks sneaky to me.” Lol
Out of the mouths of babes! Good for your little Emma. Her heart’s in the right place!
I’m fairly confident she isn’t ready for matchmaking yet, at least. She still covers her eyes at “gross” kissing scenes.