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Introduction Part 1: The 1816 Philadelphia Emma and Its Readers Chapter One The Origins of the First Austen Novel Printed in America What did it mean to reprint Emma? Who was M. Carey, and why did he choose Emma ? When in 1816 was Carey's Emma published, and how many copies were issued? How did the Philadelphia Emma compare to the London edition, and why have so few copies of the American edition survived? How did readers first become aware of Carey's Emma ? How did Americans first learn of Austen's authorship? Chapter Two Tales of Three Copies: Books, Owners, and Readers Lovers of books, if not of Austen: the du Pont sisters of Delaware A careful and curious reader: Jeremiah Smith of New Hampshire Unimpressed by Emma : subscribers to a Rhode Island circulating library Chapter Three An Accomplished Scotswoman Reads Austen Abroad: Christian, Countess of Dalhousie in British North America Plants, drawing, reading, riddles: girlhood education A literary marriage Encounters with Austen's novels during a transatlantic life Reading tastes and book acquisition Part 2: Transatlantic Austen Conversations Chapter Four Enthusiasts Connected Through the Electric Telegraph of Genius: The Quincy Sisters of Boston and the Francis W. Austen family of Portsmouth Recommended reading and fertile imaginations Admirers, rewarded with a relic, envision a society of devotees Two families meet during Anna's literary pilgrimage Americans contribute to Austen's international fame Chapter Five Collectors and Bibliographers: Alberta H. Burke of Baltimore and David J. Gilson of Oxford Unusual approaches to collecting Austen Balancing erudition with enthusiasm Appendix: Census of Surviving Copies of the 1816 Philadelphia Emma Bibliography