📚 What Is the Best Order to Read Jane Austen’s Novels?

Jane Austen’s six completed novels (plus her novella Lady Susan) have delighted readers for over two centuries. But if you're new to her work, the question often arises: Where should I begin? While all her books are rich in wit, romance, and social insight, some are more accessible than others. Let’s explore the best starting point—and how to read your way through Austen’s literary world.

🥇 Start with Pride and Prejudice

Most readers, and many Austen scholars, agree: the best place to begin is Pride and Prejudice. Why?

• It's Austen’s most popular and widely adapted novel.
  
  
• The plot is fast-paced and accessible, featuring one of literature’s most beloved heroines, Elizabeth Bennet.
  
  
• Its themes—love, status, pride, self-awareness, are engaging for modern readers.
  
  
• Familiarity from films and TV versions makes it easier to ease into Austen’s early 19th-century prose.
  
  

Starting here gives you the most fun introduction to Austen's tone, characters, and signature style.

🗂 Recommended Reading Orders

Once you’ve read Pride and Prejudice, how should you proceed? There are two well-regarded reading paths:

1. Chronological Publication Order

This route shows Austen’s literary evolution and the context of her writing:

1. Sense and Sensibility (1811)
   
   
2. Pride and Prejudice (1813)
   
   
3. Mansfield Park (1814)
   
   
4. Emma (1815)
   
   
5. Northanger Abbey (1818, posthumous)
   
   
6. Persuasion (1818, posthumous)
   
   

2. Accessible/Interest-Based Order

This method alternates between light and serious tones, keeping the experience fresh:

1. Pride and Prejudice
   
   
2. Sense and Sensibility
   
   
3. Lady Susan (short novella)
   
   
4. Mansfield Park
   
   
5. Northanger Abbey
   
   
6. Emma
   
   
7. Persuasion
   
   

This approach lets you enjoy a balance of tone, character types, and themes while saving Austen’s most reflective novel, Persuasion, for last.

🌟 Other Strong Starting Points

If Pride and Prejudice doesn’t appeal to you, consider these:

• Emma – A witty, self-contained story about a well-meaning but flawed matchmaker. Great for fans of comedy and character growth.
  
  
• Sense and Sensibility – Features contrasting sisters and is often praised for its emotional depth and clean structure.
  
  
• Northanger Abbey – A parody of Gothic novels, full of humor, ideal for those who enjoy satire and light suspense.
  
  

🔚 Summary: Your Best Path Through Austen

• Best first book: Pride and Prejudice
  
  
• For literary progression: Follow the publication order
  
  
• For variety and fun: Mix lighter and deeper works
  
  
• Don’t skip: Persuasion—often considered her most mature and emotionally resonant novel
  
  

With only six full-length novels, it’s entirely doable to read all of Austen’s works. Whether you go by chronology or whim, you’re in for a timeless treat.

LINK TO JANE AUSTEN COLLECTION

❓ FAQs

1. What Jane Austen book should I read first?
Pride and Prejudice is widely considered the best starting point due to its popularity, humor, and accessibility.

2. What is Jane Austen’s most difficult novel?
Mansfield Park is often regarded as the most complex and morally dense of her works, with a more serious tone.

3. Is it important to read Jane Austen’s books in order?
Not necessarily. They are standalone novels, so you can read them in any order, though publication or thematic order can enhance the experience.

4. Which Jane Austen novel is the shortest?
Lady Susan, a lesser-known novella written in letters, is the shortest and quickest read.

5. What should I read after Pride and Prejudice?
Most readers follow with Sense and Sensibility or Emma, depending on whether they prefer emotion-driven or humor-driven plots.