Heather Wallace's story about Emma

You ask anyone what the greatest Jane Austen novel is and you'll receive the reply: Pride and Prejudice. I certainly won't disagree with that, P&P one of the best novels ever written and with a heroine most women want to be like. But it's the much more difficult heroine in Emma who changed my life.

I first attempted to read Emma when I was 19 and on holidays with my parents. Two chapters in and I gave up, what an unlikable, arrogant, meddlesome character Emma was, always in charge and imposing her ways. I had no sympathy for her and no wish to spend any more time in her company.

Fast forward a few years, as a 23 year old I was caring for a recently widowed parent who took refuge in ill health to hide from crippling grief. I was in charge of the household in a role reversal, imposing my ways on my parent and bending them to my will.

One morning I picked up Emma, where she had lain forgotten on my bookshelf for so long.

The more I read, the more of myself I saw and the character that I had once disdained had transformed into a deeply misunderstood character, and although she is not without fault, she was always trying her best for those around her.

I finished Emma in one sitting, and by the end realised where my path may take me unless I started to exercise a little more compassion and acceptance of those around me.

I still have real sympathy for Emma and enjoy the times I revisit her, I'm not sure though that we'd get on if we met in real life, we'd probably both want to be in charge.