Ranking Jane Austen’s Completed Novels

I have finished my binge of Jane Austen’s completed novels, and I am delighted to say I was never disappointed by the prolific author’s genius. She completed seven novels, and all of them were enjoyable to read; cast with relatable, complex characters; and delightfully satirical. Her gentle mockery of most of her characters and their ridiculous narrow-mindedness was “excessively diverting.” While I highly recommend all of Jane Austen’s novels, because all of them are valuable reads and each delivers something new, they must be ranked. But don’t let a low ranking dissuade you from reading the novel. Reading all of them gives a more complete picture of Austen’s time period and the characters that graced her world. 

In case this has affected my rankings, I will note that this was my second time reading all of her novels except for Sense and Sensibility and Lady Susan. Spoiler alert: these two novels are ranked last in my list. But I think this has more to do with the fact that they are two of Austen’s earliest pieces rather than the lack of repetition. 

7. Lady Susan

This was Austen’s first attempt at a novel, written before she had developed her style of narration that is present in her later novels and that everyone loves. Instead, it is an epistolary novel, which does not provide the narrator’s gentle mocking or humorous wit; there also isn’t that deep dive into the characters. Nevertheless, it was an interesting look inside a heartless coquette, entirely different from Austen’s other heroines. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat wondering if Lady Susan would permanently ensnare Reginald, but I was invested and rooting for Reginald’s better sense. 

6. Sense and Sensibility

While I don’t think it’s possible to dislike reading a Jane Austen novel, I didn’t find this one particularly memorable. I enjoyed reading it, but I don’t feel an affinity towards the novel itself or any of the characters. I liked the contrast between Elinor and Marianne, and I liked the point that Austen was trying to make: balancing sense and sensibility. But I still despised Marianne, I didn’t feel like Colonel Brandon was a good match for her, and I didn’t understand why he was attracted to her. Marianne didn’t become tolerable until just before the novel ended, which was kind of the point Austen was trying to make, as Marianne was learning to appreciate and gain sense. But that doesn’t mean she was an enjoyable character. Also, what was the point of Margaret? She’s so inconsequential, Austen could have left her out of the novel. Elinor was definitely the saving grace of the novel, but I also felt Anne of Persuasion was a better portrayal of the practical, caring, and self-denying heroine.

5. Northanger Abbey

This was the novel I was in the most need of re-reading, because I didn’t remember it very well compared to her other novels. I think I didn’t find it memorable because I didn’t know how to fully appreciate it. It is Austen’s most satirical work, in which she satirizes the Gothic romance novel. I appreciate satire and the thought behind it, but I’ve never been particularly drawn to the genre. I applaud writers of pure satire, but it usually has a cringey tinge or ridiculous nature that doesn’t qualify it for my favorites list. While Northanger Abbey is definitely an Austen novel, and not ridiculous at all, it does have the cringey tinge in Catherine’s dramatic ideations. I also didn’t truly understand why Henry Tilney fell in love with Catherine. Henry Tilney is Austen’s funniest hero, and has too much sense for Catherine as a partner. Austen said that Tilney’s appreciation and gratitude for Catherine’s attentions grew into love, which didn’t strike me as very romantic. The novel just didn’t come to life for me the way Austen’s other works did. So I watched the 2007 movie to see if that would help, which did help me appreciate Austen’s novel, because the movie portrayed it so awfully. The movie didn’t have Austen’s subtlety or her realistic (though satirical) characters. 

4. Emma

This novel was the hardest to rank. It has a delightful cast of secondary characters, and Austen’s intentionally most unlikable heroine (although I personally only dislike Marianne out of all Austen’s main ladies). Emma is a busybody, and you kind of want to smack her over the head, but you also want to hug and comfort her afterwards. And Mr. Knightley is a fantastically written character; I loved watching his jealousy show itself before any of the characters had a hint that it was, in fact, jealousy. The age difference is a little wonky, and along with Sense and Sensibility, the couple are related (BUT not by blood like in Mansfield Park!), and to make it worse than S&S, Mr. Knightley is kind of like Emma’s older brother in manner and background. But I have to make allowances for the time period, and I do love Emma and Mr. Knightley as characters. That being said, this novel isn’t as endearing to me as the novels in the top three. 

3. Mansfield Park

Like I said above, Edmund and Fanny are related by blood, which makes their romance the most incestuous out of all Jane Austen’s novels. And I didn’t quite like Edmund picking Fanny as a suitable second option to Mary Crawford. Edmund appreciated Fanny’s superior qualities—or at least appreciated the qualities he had taught her—but I’m not quite convinced he loved her as he should love his wife. The ending of this novel seemed really rushed, anyways, so perhaps if it was extended a bit more, I would understand Edmund’s feelings better. But as it is, the romance of this novel is subpar. The reason Mansfield Park is ranked so highly is all due to its heroine. Poor Fanny is considered insipid by many Austen readers, and therefore the novel is probably the least liked. I don’t know if my tendency to defend the underdog is kicking in, or if Fanny is endearing to me because she is painfully shy like I am, but Fanny is far from Austen’s worst heroine in my eyes. Some may say she lacks agency, but I think she’s written perfectly. Austen chose not to sacrifice character integrity for a more proactive protagonist. And so much happened in this novel to suit Fanny’s quiet observations. She’s a darling and I admire her, despite her bad reputation among Austen fans.

2. Pride and Prejudice

P&P is Austen’s most beloved, most durable novel, and for good reason. It is the best display of Austen’s wit, and intentionally has the most unreliable narration to set off the complex characters and display the narrow-mindedness behind social decorum. It is also the most accessible, so I would recommend this novel as an introduction to Jane Austen. It is perhaps the most hooking of all of her novels. Perfection itself.

1. Persuasion

If Pride and Prejudice is perfection itself, Persuasion is a deeper felt, more emphatic, multifaceted, and emotional perfection. It is not as lighthearted as P&P, and displays even more heart wrenching regret. It has the same subtly satirical characters, the same wit, the same imperfect and complex characters, but it has more layers of emotions. Dare I say it is more angsty? I adore Anne Elliot, our most commendable heroine, rational and self-denying, considerate and perceptive. Captain Wentworth is a self-made man, a hard worker, and… not related to Anne! There is absolutely no objection to the romance, and the maturity of Austen’s writing definitely shows in the maturity of the novel.