Emma and the Vampires (Jane Austen Undead Novels) [Paperback]

Wayne Josephson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2010 | Series: Jane Austen Undead Novels

What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires?

In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she's the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart-his (literal) undying love for her... A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead.

(20100726)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two conflicting concepts and a poor sense of period manners and terminology prevent the latest Jane Austen mash-up from fulfilling its comedic potential. Dangerous bands of vagrant vampires prove a constant threat to the stake-wielding young ladies of Highbury, so it is less than credible that the clever but occasionally oblivious Miss Emma Woodhouse and her friends would still be unable to recognize that local gentlemen possessed of pale skin, a fear of sunlight, and drooling fangs are, in fact, blood-drinkers. The joke of romantic lead Mr. Knightley and his fellows as ravenous but proper gentlemen vampires is well-conceived and occasionally combined very cleverly with Austen's original prose and characters, such as Emma's father's dislike of eating. However, calling the wild vampires vulgar is an unconvincing distinction when the supposed gentlemen scream and bellow, the respectable Emma discusses lust, and a matronly schoolteacher shouts, "Kill the bastards!" While Austen's tale has been effectively trimmed, the added passages are often poorly integrated, and the tonal shifts from the vampires-in-the-gentry sections to the gentry-as-vampire-slayers moments are disconcerting. The latter seem to belong to a different mash-up altogether, and in pursuing both jokes at once, the tale succeeds at neither.
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Review

Emma and the Vampires is full of wonderful little witty remarks that have you chuckling to yourself if not outright laughing out loud at Emma's 'cluelessness', Harriet's sweet trusting nature and the ridiculousness of fighting off hoards of vampires that seem to follow the upper set around town on their outings.

Emma's best and most heart fluttering scenes are still intact if not slightly blood enhanced for the horror thirsty. I would recommend giving this to your teen as an introduction to Austen if she wouldn't give her the time of day otherwise.
(Examiner.com 20100801)

The language, settings, and plot of the original Emma are all preserved well, although the language is made much easier to read by Mr. Josephson, who originally rewrote this title for his daughter, who suggested that he add the vampires. (Mrs. Yingling Read 20100804)

By reading this book, people may be more willing to give the original version of Emma a try and and anything that gets readers excited about the classics is definitely worthwhile. (Reading with Tequila 20100803)

Over all, this book was an excellent read. It pulls you in from the beginning and holds you tightly in it's grip. Characters are alive and wrought with scandal. It's difficult to put down and easy to pick back up. The lightheartedness with which it's written allows the reader to hold fast to the original feel of Jane's writing, while keeping it upbeat for today's reader. (Literary Litter 20100803)

With a nod to Steve Hockensmith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and a wink at Jane Austen, Wayne Josephson converts Emma into a vampire thriller with stakes and tea. Although everyone knows vampires exist, Emma is terrific as she goes from totally clueless to Regency Buffy like slayer. (Merry Genre Go Round Reviews 20100802)

More vampires in our Austen coming our way. This time, its Austen's handsome, clever, and rich Emma Woodhouse, with a comfortable home and happy disposition with very little to distress or vex her except her vampire neighbors. (Austenprose 20100803)

Throwing vampires into the life of no-it-all Emma makes for a fun read. (Michelle's Book Blog 20100809)

I think that fans of the Jane Austen Mash Ups will love this book, and I love that there is still so much interest in Jane Austens books. (A Buckeye Girl Reads 20100810)

I did like the new depth it gave Mr. Knightley, making him a vampire. It added a layer of understanding that you always felt was missing in the original character. As well, with Mr. Elton and Mrs. Elton being of the undead variety, their natural rudeness came across more appealing then ever their original characters did. (Pencil-Pusher and Ink-Splotches 20100810)

Emma and the Vampires adds some knew witty dialogue to the original Emma that will keep readers smiling and entertained. Well worth the read, Emma and the Vampires is sure to be well liked by young adults. (Suite101.com 20100810)

A great read and I loved the author's note about how he wanted young adult readers to like this book--as a teacher, I think this is a great way to get students to read some of the classics that they otherwise might be hesitant to read. I enjoyed this book greatly. (Palmer's Picks for Reading 20100810)

Mindbogglingly awesome...Overall, this book surprised me on a level that I was not expecting. I was giggling throughout and found myself really engrossed. (Books Like Breathing 20100810)

Mr Josephson put a definite spin and freshness to an old story and made it really pop for me. (Seriously Reviewed 20100814)

Vampires works so well here because he keeps it witty and a comedy of manners. The book is hilarious...For readers who love mash-ups, don't forget this one, and for those that haven't try one, just plunge in, and don't be horrified that Austen's works are being turned into something else. I am pretty sure she would have gotten a few laughs from it too.
(Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell 20100815)

Since the original is much unchanged here, maybe new readers unwilling to try the Austen classic would get a chance to read the story here. (In The Hammock 20100821)

It had me laughing at a lot of sections where Emma says and does the oddest things. She has this unique ability to stay completely clueless yet manages to get things done. (IndiePride 20100823)

I loved reading Emma and the Vampires because Mr. Josephson used the paranormal twist in a humorous way. A fun read and a great excuse to revisit Emma, my new favorite Austen character. (Bookfoolery and Babble 20100831)

Emma and the Vampires might be the perfect book to use to introduce your teenage daughters to Jane Austen...a great book for mothers and daughters to share and connect over.
(Connect With Your Teens 20100908)

If you put it up next to Jane Austen's work, you can easily see the parallels and Emma still has her most memorable moments in Josephson's adaptation. I was happy to see that the spirit of the novel is intact, however changed (Debbie's Book Bag 20100907)

EMMA AND THE VAMPIRES is Wayne Josephson's first novel and an engaging froth of a read. It never takes itself too seriously and is entertaining in the same way as a good long gossip with a clever and cutting maiden aunt. It's the perfect book to pair with hot tea and biscuits on a rainy afternoon. I hope there are plenty more of Josephson's books to come! (Fresh Fiction 20100915)

A highly enjoyable romp (BookLoons 20101018)

I was smitten with Emma and the Vampires. Mr. Knightley as a vampire is most swoon-worthy and the heart of the story remains intact. The writing is also quite good, and stays true to form of the work. (Long and Short Reviews 20101010)

I remember loving the original and I equally loved this version. There were a number of times I roared with laughter at the turn of events...I absolutely loved this book. (Books and Quilts 20101013)

Just a few pages in, I was giggling like crazy. By the time I put the book down to go to bed, I had forgotten the stress of the day. I'm a fan of the recent trend of paranormal and classic mashups. And Emma transfers perfectly into this version. (First For Women 20101015)

I enjoyed this novel for what it was. This book certainly has a different take on vampires. If it is true that it is geared toward a younger audience, then it has found its niche. While it would not appeal to die-hard fans of True Blood and Ann Rice novels, it does have a charm of its own. (Jane Austen's World 20101107)

I would recommend giving this book to your teen as an introduction to Jane Austen. It has the paranormal flare of today's literature, while keeping in tact the beauty and poise of yesterday's storytelling.
(Writers' Ally 20101118)

If you are a fan of fun loving romance with a paranormal twist, sink your teeth in Emma's funny, yet sometimes disastrous matchmaking skills! You won't be disappointed (My Overstuffed Bookshelf 20110114)

Her [Emma] delightful and witty personality was a perfect match for the vampire situation. Her easy dismissal of dire circumstances was quite amusing and I found myself laughing often at her random remarks on the situation. Overall it was an easy and comical read. (Muse in the Fog )

This book is a great read for any Austen fan, as well as anyone looking for a humorous love story with a copius dose of vampire gore.

(Sacramento Book Review )

One of the new wave of horror-minded mashups of Austen's works; this one (by Wayne Josephson) brings fresh meaning to the notion of undying love. (San Diego Union Tribune )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (August 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402241348
• ISBN-13: 978-1402241345
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #999,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 2.5 stars! Emma Reduction with the Occasional Vampire Attack, August 23, 2010

By 

Meredith "Austenesque Reviews" (Wilmington , NC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Emma and the Vampires (Jane Austen Undead Novels) (Paperback)

Do not be alarmed... but it seems like the good gentlefolk of Highbury having been living amongst... vampires! It is true, a band of savage vampires have recently attacked citizens of Highbury to drink some aristocratic blood! But what everyone doesn't know is that some of the esteemed gentlemen of the neighborhood are vampires as well...

In Emma and the Vampires, there are two classes of vampires: one consists of hideous, wild vampires that come out and attack at night, the other includes gentlemen such as Mr. Knightley, Mr. Elton, and Mr. Weston. Vampires like Mr. Knightley and Mr. Elton do not breath or have heartbeats and they never sleep or eat. Moreover, when they do drink blood - which is very seldom - it is usually from someone with whom they are acquainted. They are amongst the class of "good" vampires and are involved with vanquishing the wild vampire vagrants of Highbury.

In the Acknowledgements of this novel it is mentioned that one of Wayne Josephson's goals when writing Emma and the Vampires was to make Jane Austen's "delightful novel accessible to modern readers, especially young adults." This he most certainly accomplishes. His retelling uses simpler syntax and more comprehensible language that will make it easily understood by young adult readers. It seems Mr. Josephson has developed an interest in retelling classics as he has published four other novel retellings in a series titled Readable Classics. These novels include: The Scarlet Letter, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and Moby Dick.

Mr. Josephson's retelling of Emma corresponds and parallels Jane Austen's Emma beautifully. Both books have fifty-five chapters and all plot events occur in coinciding chapters. Mr. Elton declares himself in both chapter fifteen of Jane Austen's and Wayne Josephson's novels. This type of retelling would be suitable for readers who did not understand or like Jane Austen's Emma the first time they read it. Furthermore, even though it isn't labeled as such, this book is most definitely geared towards young adult readers. If you have read and enjoyed Jane Austen's Emma, this novel may not be for you. You might find yourself asking: "Why am I reading a reduction of Emma when I can read the novel itself?"

I wasn't too fond of the vampire aspect in the novel. I greatly anticipated reading this novel when I found out that Mr. Knightley was to be a vampire. I thought it would add a sense of danger and capability to his already excellent character and that the story would be more about him. However, this did not occur. Besides not eating and sleeping, the only vampire activity in this novel is slaying other vampires. I was disappointed that there was no explanation of how they became vampires or references to their vampire activities. I am very curious to know what Mr. Knightley does with his nights since he cannot sleep! Furthermore, I would like to know the story behind the two classes of vampires and why they don't associate with each other.

One aspect I found perplexing was whether or not the citizens of Highbury knew people like Mr. Elton, Mr. Knightley, and Mr. Weston were vampires. They seemed aware of their eating and sleeping habits, commented about their fangs and pale skin, and observed their quick speed and super strength. Did they really not know they were in the company of vampires? When Mr. Elton's eyes turned from black to red, were they oblivious to the fact that it was because he recently drank blood? My other quibble is that I felt the ending was a little ambiguous, instead of ending on a happy note the story ends with the sense of impending peril. Perhaps there will be a second book to follow this one...

While there were moments of vampire humor such as: Emma and Harriet becoming vampire slayers akin to Buffy and Robert Martin, with his remarkable strength, pitching a cow over a fence, I overall felt this vampire mash-up unsuccessful. However, despite my criticisms I do hope that Emma and the Vampires achieves Mr. Josephson's goal of making Emma more accessible to modern audiences. Introducing new readers to the world of Jane Austen is always a most praiseworthy and admirable accomplishment!

Austenesque Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun jocular biting of clueless Emma, August 4, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Emma and the Vampires (Jane Austen Undead Novels) (Paperback)

In Highbury, England blue blooded vampires live among the human residents with the latter unaware that some of local gentry are Undead. Daughter of an affluent widower, Emma is especially clueless even though she notices weird dental bites and black curtains, but never puts together another thought as to what that denotes. Instead Emma plays the town's matchmaker until her BFF Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightly. Emma wants him unaware that his fangs are not due to poor teeth.

Everything changes when the vampires begin stalking and attacking the town's girls. Not one to remain a spectator, Emma grabs a stake that she ties to her thigh and stalks the Undead.

With a nod to Steve Hockensmith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and a wink at Jane Austen, Wayne Josephson converts Emma into a vampire thriller with stakes and tea. Although everyone knows vampires exist, Emma is terrific as she goes from totally clueless to Regency Buffy like slayer. Although how the Highbury citizens failed to know the bluebloods were Undead is mindful of Los unable to see past Clark's glasses (hypnotic glamour must be super powerful), readers will enjoy Mr. Josephus' jocular biting of Emma.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A retelling of a classic that had good intensions, September 3, 2010

By 

Laurel Ann "Austenprose" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Emma and the Vampires (Jane Austen Undead Novels) (Paperback)

Austen and vampires. Two powerhouse pop culture juggernauts. Mash them up and they are irresistible to publishers eager to feed on the TWILIGHT & Trueblood craze. Here is a new novel that transforms EMMA, Austen's masterpiece of astute characterization and social reproof into a tale of Undead matchmaking blunders and vampire battles. Will Miss Woodhouse continue to be a nonsensical girl or morph into Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

Once upon a time, long, long ago in Regency times there was a handsome, clever and rich young lady named Emma Woodhouse who had lived close to twenty-one years of her life with very little to vex her. She lived with her kindly old father in a big castle named Hartfield near the village of Highbury. The Woodhouses' were the first family of consequence in the surrounding neighborhood filled with gentleman vampires. Their particular friend was Mr. Knightley whose pale skin, black eyes and fear of sunlight were attributed to his lack of sleep and dull appetite.

Miss Woodhouse was clueless that anything was amiss though the telltale signs of the Undead were apparent throughout their social sphere. The other ladies of Highbury were also un-mindful accepting the attentions and marriage proposals of the gentleman vampires without concern. Not even their children's pallid skin and need to hunt for small animals in the nearby forest alarmed them to any measure. However, in the dark forest also lived wild vampires totally lacking in social graces who feasted upon the young ladies in Mrs. Goddard's school or anyone else careless enough to walk too close to the shrubberies.

Oblivious to the real evils within Highbury, Emma proceeds to match make her friends to unsuitable vampires with disastrous results. Even though she has never had the discipline to apply herself to reading or drawing, or the desire to marry, she discovers quite suddenly that she is a skilled vampire slayer and proceeds to rid the neighborhood of the fiendish Undead while winning the approval and heart of the one gentleman vampire who she discovers she truly loves. And then, with all the evil vampires vanquished and her desire to be a misapplying match maker renounced, they lived happily ever after.

If this synopsis sounds like a charming fairytale of EMMA with vampires added in, that was my intention. It was the novel that I wished I had read, but sadly did not. I am exceedingly puzzled by what was attempted. A retelling of Austen's EMMA for young children, or adults that need a dumbed down version laced with vampires to understand the original story?

There is an inherent challenge in retelling a classic; how much to leave in and what to take away. Wayne Josephson has used Austen's characters and followed the plot faithfully. However, he completely rewrote 99% of the text in his own words. His choice of language is very simple and modern taking away the flavor of Austen's beautiful prose. Even her famous quotes were axed, removing any grounding to the original text and absolutely all humor.

The vampires have been added for excitement and there were moments of surprise and occasional smiles. This dumbing down of the language and doping up with vampires could have worked beautifully if he had not taken the middle road and either made the story a fractured fairytale parodying EMMA and vampires, or gone all out campy and outrageous presenting EMMA a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even though this novel has been classified as adult fiction, I think that it appeals more to the young reader in middle school who will be glamoured into reading an Austen retelling by the mention of romance and vampires.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose