Persuasion [Paperback]

 

 

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Persuasion is Austen's last completed and finest novel. A poignant story of quiet regret and a lament for missed opportunities, Persuasion tells of dutiful, neglected Anne Elliot and her heartbroken suitor Captain Wentworth as they reunite eight and a half years after she refused his marriage proposal. Excellent!!!!

Persuasion is Jane Austen's most sophisticated story and writing. She lovingly and incisively demonstrates the problems of being a well-bred sensitive person in a society that's more intrigued by social standing, money, and polite conversation than by good character.

Persuasion is Anne Elliot's story. The title's initial allusion is to Anne's brush with matrimony when a promising, but not rich, naval officer, Captain Wentworth, proposed and she fell in love with him at 19. But Anne's deceased mother's friend, Lady Russell, persuaded Anne not to make the match. Up until the time of the story, Anne hasn't had another suitor and she's now well past the usual age of marriage at 29 and "her bloom had vanish early." Her father's spendthrift ways mean that Anne could bring little money to a marriage so she's expecting not to marry.

While in her social class that lack of a husband is a drawback, in reality her family is a greater problem. Her father, Sir Walter Elliot, is a baronet who spends too much money, is obsessed by social rank, loves to be around the "beautiful people" and admire himself in a mirror, and keeps company with an unsuitable, scheming widow, Mrs. Clay, who is looking for a husband and has latched onto Elizabeth as friend. Anne's older sister, Elizabeth, is also unmarried and is as equally obsessed with social status as their father. Both Sir Walter and Elizabeth fail to value Anne and looked to her to suit their conveniences. The other daughter, Mary, is married but the connection doesn't thrill either Sir Walter or Elizabeth. Mary sees Anne as a virtual servant who should wait on her every beck and call when Anne is her guest.

Due to Sir Walter's over spending of his income, it is decided he will rent the family estate, Kellynch Hall, while he, Elizabeth, and Anne take up less expensive quarters and a reduced social life in Bath. This change sets lots of new events into motion, not the least of which is Anne being re-introduced to Captain Wentworth who now has a fortune and seems to be looking for a lively, young wife. Only their common commitment to being polite makes time in one another's company tolerable. What strong emotions burn under the surface? She's very embarrassed, but Captain Wentworth is hard to read.

In the course of the book, you'll find out a lot about social climbing in Regency England, the finances of the social elites and those who were up-and-coming, how marriage agreements were struck, and how the naval officers differed from the gentry. You'll also be impressed, I'm sure, by the patina of politeness that served as a social lubricant among people who often didn't care a trifle for one another.

In such a society, people mostly wore masks of being thoughtful, considerate people while in reality they were seldom thinking about very much and didn't care much for others. Anne Elliot is the exception in that her heart and mind are actually devoted to the service of others.

One of the most interesting parts of the story is how it was possible (mostly by accident) to sort out the phonies from among those with glittering manners.

Anne Elliot is one of the most memorable and admirable characters in English literature. Do read this book and find out about the other kinds of persuasion that took place during this year of her fictional life. You'll be delighted that you did.

I made a large purchase of cheap books, and this was one of them. I am so glad that I made this choice as it really is excellent. For $2.95, how can you justify missing out on this quality novel?

Since this was Jane Austen's last novel, and as it was written when she was near her deathbed, it is not nearly as well edited. There are some mistakes here and there that can be distinguished. Despite minor errors in the book, it truely an excellent read.

Persuasion centre's around a 28 year old Anne. When she was 19 she was engaged to a sailor named Wentworth, and the novel revolves around their relationship evolving and changing after an 8 year period of not seeing eachother. There are many unexepected twists and turns in this book, and although reading the back of the book reveals how the book is generally going to end (as one would likely have guessed while reading the book in its entirety anyway) you are never quite sure how exactly the ending is going to come about.

Jane Austen is a great author, and her works continue to endlessly impress me. Unfortunately, the book starts off quite slowly, and it did not really interest me until you learned more of Anne and her feelings. Despite a slow start, the book ended up really drawing my interest, and when I was nearing the end of the novel, I never wanted to put it down.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A second chance at love
In Jane Austen's time, young women were taught that it was practically their duty to "marry well" -- someone of at least equal social/financial standing. Read more

Published 9 months ago by E. A Solinas

4.0 out of 5 stars Persuasion
saw the BBC production of the movie, and was inspired to then read the book. should have done the reverse - found the movie rather insipid. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Dian Cromer

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite Austen novel
I don't think I can add much to the glittering collection of well written reviews here, so I will merely say that Persuasion is my favourite Austen book, by far. Read more

Published on Jan 14 2009 by CanadianMother

5.0 out of 5 stars Love's Barriers Delightfully Probed in Polite Conversation
Persuasion is Jane Austen's most sophisticated story and writing. She lovingly and incisively demonstrates the problems of being a well-bred sensitive person in a society that's... Read more

Published on Feb 22 2008 by Donald Mitchell

5.0 out of 5 stars Love's Barriers Delightfully Probed in Polite Conversation
Persuasion is Jane Austen's most sophisticated story and writing. She lovingly and incisively demonstrates the problems of being a well-bred sensitive person in a society that's... Read more

Published on Feb 22 2008 by Donald Mitchell

5.0 out of 5 stars Love's Barriers Delightfully Probed in Polite Conversation
Persuasion is Jane Austen's most sophisticated story and writing. She lovingly and incisively demonstrates the problems of being a well-bred sensitive person in a society that's... Read more

Published on Feb 22 2008 by Donald Mitchell

5.0 out of 5 stars The Thrill of the Gentle
I spent a weekend devouring Persuasion and can think of no better way to spend two days off. In fact, I'd gladly spend a fortnight with that set of characters and their scrupulous... Read more

Published on Aug 13 2007 by Susan W

5.0 out of 5 stars très instructifs en détails
Je me suis mise dans la peau du personnage principale et ce fut un régal de visiter en imagination par contre, le livre ne rentre pas dans le sujet vite plutôt en longueur... Read more

Published on April 6 2005 by Claude Greaves

4.0 out of 5 stars A Delicately Wrought Autumnal Minuet
Like all of her novels, Jane Austen's PERSUASION is essentially a comedy of manners--a work in which the characters must negotiate a complex code of conduct in order to survive,... Read more

Published on Jun 27 2004 by Gary F. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Book of All Time....
Over the years, I have read "Persuasion" by Jane Austen at LEAST 10 times. Simply put, it is my favorite book. Read more

Published on May 28 2004 by K. A. Stevenson

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