Close Menu
  • News
  • Anime Expo 2025
  • Features
  • Guides
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Gaming News
  • Entertainment News
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
X (Twitter) YouTube RSS
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
The OuterhavenThe Outerhaven
  • News
  • Anime Expo 2025
  • Features
  • Guides
  • Previews
  • Reviews
    • Video Game Reviews
    • Anime & Animation Reviews
    • Comic Book & Manga Reviews
    • Films & TV Reviews
    • Tech Reviews
    • Tabletop and Card Game Reviews
    • Toy Reviews
  • Gaming
    • PlayStation
    • Nintendo
    • Xbox
    • PC Gaming
    • Retro Gaming
    • Tabletop
    • Virtual Reality
  • Entertainment
    • Anime & Animation
    • Comic Books & Manga
    • Films & TV
    • Original English Light Novels DB
    • OELN DB
    • Culture
    • Books
    • Toys
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
    • A-01 Podcast
    • Nintendo Entertainment Podcast
    • Spectator Mode Podcast
The OuterhavenThe Outerhaven
Home»News»Entertainment News»Comic Book & Manga»Manga Review: Emma Volume 1

Manga Review: Emma Volume 1

By LizLizAugust 30, 2015
indexTitle: Emma Volume 1
Author: Kaoru Mari
Publisher: Yen Press
Language: English
Format: Hardback
Page count: 388
Genre: Historical Romance
Publication Date:
May 19, 2015
 
Emma is exactly as it sounds. It tells the story of a Victorian maid who has a forbidden romance with a member of the leisure class. This elegant story was originally published in 2006 and gained an anime adaptation called Emma: A Victorian Romance. Kaoru Mari is a self-professed Anglophile and I must admit, with my own scholarly background based in 18th and 19th century literature, I had a very difficult time finding fault in this story. In fact, I fell absolutely in love with Emma and her plight.
 
Volume 1 tells the story of Emma, a young maid who lives with a retired governess. One day the governess’s former Master, now a young man, visits her unannounced. He spots Emma and her bespectacled eyes and immediately falls in love. Kelly, the retired governess, notices this and subtly encourages Emma’s interest in their guest. Kelly is completely aware that marriage laws and English customs forbid a marriage between the classes but does nothing to discourage the romance. She knows a woman in Victorian London is nothing without a man’s protection. Of course if the young Master thinks Emma will be easy to catch, he is very wrong. Apparently men all over London have fallen in love with Emma from a single glance. William also learns that Emma has turned down every marriage offer.  The story is not without some laughs – the Master William has a guest from India who is a prince… and the prince brings along an elephant and three women. By the way, he too, falls in love with Emma. When circumstances change for Emma, the young maid has to make an important decision that will change her life. 

Final Word:

 This is not an often visited subject area for manga or anime. It doesn’t contain the sci-fi fantasy elements of Black Butler nor does it contain ridiculous and over the top comedic elements like in Tora Dora. That is what makes Emma so special. This is a traditional love story written within a society with strict rules of conduct. Reading a lot like Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte, Emma shows a ethnographic perspective on how vast socio-economic boundaries negatively effect both the rich and the poor in England.

When I say I am in love with this manga, words can’t describe how much I want to read every single volume of this series.

I should also note that this comes packaged as a large hardcover in a double-sided dust jacket with different illustrations of Emma.

 

You can also check out other The Outerhaven reviews on your favorite social media networks:

Subscribe to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theouterhaven
Subscribe to us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOuterHaven
Subscribe to us on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/theouterhavennet

**This item was provided for review.

Emma Kaoru Mori Yen Press
Avatar photo
LizLiz
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Elizabeth is an avid reader of manga and enjoys attending conventions in cosplay. Please follow me on social media to keep up with my latest reviews and cosplay progress.

Related Posts

Manga Review: I Made Friends with the 2nd Prettiest Girl in My Class Vol. 1

Manga Review: My Special One Vol. 10

Anime Expo 2025: Azuki Announces Our Aimless Nights Print Edition

Anime Expo 2025: TOKYOPOP Announces Seven New Licenses

Anime Expo 2025: Denpa, Kuma Announce Six New Releases

Anime Expo 2025: Square Enix Announces Eight New Manga & Book Licenses

Latest Posts

Anime First Reaction: GaCen Shoujo to Ibunka Kouryuu

July 6, 2025

Manga Review: I Made Friends with the 2nd Prettiest Girl in My Class Vol. 1

July 6, 2025

Manga Review: My Special One Vol. 10

July 6, 2025

Anime Expo 2025: Azuki Announces Our Aimless Nights Print Edition

July 6, 2025

Anime Expo 2025: Solo Leveling: Karma Game Announces for PC and Mobile

July 6, 2025

Anime Expo 2025: TOKYOPOP Announces Seven New Licenses

July 6, 2025

Anime Expo 2025: Denpa, Kuma Announce Six New Releases

July 5, 2025
About Us • Our Team • Contact Us • Privacy Policy • Review Policy • Ethics Policy 
Work With Us • Reviews on Open Critic • Reviews on CriticDB
Copyright @2025 The Outerhaven Productions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.