Persuasion: With a Memoir of Jane Austen
by Jane Austen
On This Page
Description
In her final novel, as in her earlier ones, Jane Austen uses a love story to explore and gently satirize social pretensions and emotional confusion. Persuasion follows the romance of Anne Elliot and naval officer Frederick Wentworth. They were happily engaged until Anne's friend, Lady Russell, persuaded her that Frederick was "unworthy." Now, eight years later, Frederick returns, a wealthy captain in the navy, while Anne's family teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. They still love each other, show more but their past mistakes threaten to keep them apart. Austen may seem to paint on a small canvas, but her characters contain the full range of human passion and moral complexity, and the author's generous spirit renders them all with understanding, compassion, and humor. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
This is a book that was recommended to me by a friend after I told her that I found Emma annoying. And, it was good recommendation. A quiet book - Anne is unmarried, finds herself over shadowed by her family and her friends. Anne does not have much agency in her life. She regrets her decision to not marry the man who proposed to her when she was much younger, at 19. But when that man comes back into her life, it sends her into a tentative hopefullness.
I found that the characters in this book a lot more grounded than in Emma or even Pride and Prejudice - however, at times, I just wanted to shout at Anne to stand up for yourself! but of course, in this world, that is impossible for a well bred woman to do. As for Mr. Wentworth and Mr. show more Elliot, the two different men who woo Anne (one by flattery, the other by simple respect) make for an interesting comparison. As for Anne's decision at the end, it was a good one, but I think it would have been better story if Mr. Elliot wasn't so immoral, and his intent was honorable, even if he didn't quite love Anne the way Wentworth did. show less
I found that the characters in this book a lot more grounded than in Emma or even Pride and Prejudice - however, at times, I just wanted to shout at Anne to stand up for yourself! but of course, in this world, that is impossible for a well bred woman to do. As for Mr. Wentworth and Mr. show more Elliot, the two different men who woo Anne (one by flattery, the other by simple respect) make for an interesting comparison. As for Anne's decision at the end, it was a good one, but I think it would have been better story if Mr. Elliot wasn't so immoral, and his intent was honorable, even if he didn't quite love Anne the way Wentworth did. show less
While other Austen novels concern first love, Persuasion is about second chances, and is a slighter darker, more adult affair than her other works. Yet like other Austen novels, nothing really happens in Persuasion, and yet the story is momentous. At once a satire of the confined world of early 19th century domesticity and comportment, the book is also a moving romance that still readily applies to anyone lucky enough to fall in love. This is the genius of Austen, to plumb the depths of our strongest emotions while seemingly remaining on the glittering surface of drawling room gossip. Austen is an unparallel stylist, her sentences wither and forgive her subjects with dazzling strokes.
One of my favourite books of all time; on a recent re-read, probably one of the best stories ever written. Perhaps because Miss Austen knew she had not long to live, the writing is much more concentrated and swiftly paced; Emma seemed so long on re-reading that I began to lose interest in her and Mr K, and was bored stiff by Frank Churchill, Jane, and especially Harriet. The gradual changes in the feelings of Anne and Captain Wentworth are beautifully modulated. I kept finding myself about to weep, the writing is so moving.
Not an Austen fan, but I enjoyed the read thanks to the enjoyment of 1book140. The hypocrasy was finely mocked, as was ostentation and pretention. Should have read it when I was younger.
Despite its poor reviews, I enjoyed the playful, cheeky Persuasion, the Netflix film. I read this book in preparation to watch it. I am not a fan of novels, generally, so maybe I am not the best to judge this Cinderella story but I enjoyed it well enough. This particularly edition has about a third of its pages dedicated to a Jane Austen biography authored by her nephew. Largely letters written by, to, or about her, I found this even more interesting than the book. I learned her two admiral brothers fostered an interest and knowledge of the British navy which surfaces in her books. I also see the location of her Bath residence so matches that used in the film, it must be an homage if not the same building for exterior shots at least.
Jane Austen's last finished novel - I enjoyed it more than many of her other novels. The characters seem better developed, the story is a bit more complex, and I liked Anne, the heroine, far better than some of Austen's other main characters (Emma, for instance).
My favourite Jane Austen of all time. She covers all aspects of life in this and with it creates a character of true worth in Anne Elliott. Give me Captain Wentworth any day!
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
705+ Works 317,023 Members
Jane Austen's life is striking for the contrast between the great works she wrote in secret and the outward appearance of being quite dull and ordinary. Austen was born in the small English town of Steventon in Hampshire, and educated at home by her clergyman father. She was deeply devoted to her family. For a short time, the Austens lived in the show more resort city of Bath, but when her father died, they returned to Steventon, where Austen lived until her death at the age of 41. Austen was drawn to literature early, she began writing novels that satirized both the writers and the manners of the 1790's. Her sharp sense of humor and keen eye for the ridiculous in human behavior gave her works lasting appeal. She is at her best in such books as Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), in which she examines and often ridicules the behavior of small groups of middle-class characters. Austen relies heavily on conversations among her characters to reveal their personalities, and at times her novels read almost like plays. Several of them have, in fact, been made into films. She is considered to be one of the most beloved British authors. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
All Editions
Some Editions
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Persuasion ; A memoir of Jane Austen
- Original publication date
- 1817
- People/Characters
- Anne Elliot; Captain Frederick Wentworth
- First words
- Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch-hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there fe found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; there hi... (show all)s faculties were roused into admiration and respect, by contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs, changed naturally into pity and contempt, as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last century--and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own history with an interest which never failed--this was the page at which the favourite volume always opened: Eilliot of Kellynch-hall.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)She gloried in being a sailor's wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,308
- Popularity
- 18,451
- Reviews
- 15
- Rating
- (4.32)
- Languages
- English, Finnish, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 13