Jane began writing Emma in January 1814 and finished the novel in March 1815. The novel was first published in December 1815 by John Murray. The novel was her fourth and the last to be published in her lifetime. 

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Jane's nephew James Edward Austen-Leigh quoted her in his memoir from when she started writing the novel: "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like". 2,000 copies of the novel were printed and 563 were still unsold after four years. However, the novel still remains popular today. 

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By this time of her life, her works were admired by the Prince Regent, who kept a copy of all of her novels in each of his residences. Jane's novels were published anonymously but through her brother Henry, her identity was revealed to one of the Prince Regent's doctors. He recognised her as the author of Pride and Prejudice, and she was later contacted by James Stanier Clarke, the librarian of Carlton House, one of the Prince Regent's residences. He sent her an invitation to visit the library, which she did on 13th November 1815.

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Jane dedicated her novel Emma to the Prince Regent after a invitation to, though in her letters it is apparent that she did not have a high opinion of him and the invitation was more of a royal command which could not be avoided.

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Emma can be read for free on Project Gutenberg.