Emma book gift from Austen expected to fetch £100,000 at auction

The writer sent the book, shortly after it was published in 1815, to fellow novelist Maria Edgeworth whose family have put it up for sale.

The December 16 auction at Sotheby's also includes a Wedgwood dinner set that belonged to Austen's brother Edward which is expected to sell for around 70,000.

Peter Selley, from the auction house's Books and Manuscripts Department, said: "It is extremely rare for items with a Jane Austen association to be offered for sale and this is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a unique component of Austen family life."

Austen was a great admirer of Edgeworth who is regarded as one of the pioneers of the historical novel in English literature, but letters make it clear Edgeworth was not a fan of the book.

In a letter to her half-brother Charles Sneyd Edgeworth, she wrote: "There was no story in it, except that Miss Emma found that the man whom she designed for Harriet's lover was an admirer of her own & he was affronted at being refused by Emma & Harriet wore the willow and "smooth, thin, water-gruel" is according to Emma's father's opinion a very good thing & it is very difficult to make a cook understand what you mean by "smooth thin water gruel"!!"

The story of the spoiled young woman who fancies herself as a matchmaker has been adapted for film and television several times.

It also provided the basis for the 1995 film Clueless which starred Alicia Silverstone and was set in Beverly Hills.