Emma is often described as a novel about observation, appearances and misreadings. This talk invites readers to become listeners by paying attention to the interplay of voice, silence and music. Although conversation dominates the novel, Austen creates a remarkably selective acoustic world, which we will explore together. Emma's greatest mistake is not simply that she often misjudges people, but that she frequently fails to listen to them. By contrast, Jane Fairfax's silences and her music suggest another way of communicating. Together, we will discover how listening to ‘Emma’ can enrich—and perhaps transform—our experience of reading one of Austen's most beloved novels.

Maddalena Pennacchia is Full Professor of English Literature at Roma Tre University. Her research focuses on Jane Austen, Shakespeare, literary intermediality, adaptation and performance. She is the author of Adattamento, appropriazione, condivisione di un classico: Pride and Prejudice di Jane Austen (2018), recipient of the 2022 ANDA Award. Her recent work explores listening as an aesthetic and relational practice, bringing together literary criticism, performance and sound studies

Cast of the movie ‘Emma’ (2020)