She was persuaded to believe the engagement a wrong thing – indiscreet, improper, hardly capable of success, and not deserving it. But it was not merely selfish caution, under which she acted, in putting an end to it. Had she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more than her own, she could hardly have given him up. – The belief of being prudent, and self-denying principally for his advantage, was her chief consolation, under the misery of a parting – a final parting; and every consolation was required, for she had to encounter all the additional pain of opinions, on his side, totally unconvinced and unbending, and of his feeling himself ill-used by so forced a relinquishment. – He had left the country in consequence.
(from Persuasion, pages 26-27)
Oh, how I loved Persuasion! If I’d known I was going to love it so much — even more than Pride and Prejudice — and that it would become my favorite book, I would have read it years ago! In fact, last night when I flipped through the pages to choose a quote or two, I found myself lost in the story and re-read the last few chapters before I knew what I was doing.
Persuasion was the last novel finished by Jane Austen. She completed it in 1816, and it was published with Northanger Abbey after her death in 1817. It is a mature novel, a novel whose main characters are a bit older and wiser. It is ultimately a novel about second chances, both tinged with sadness and filled with hope.
Anne Elliot, daughter of the vain Sir Walter Elliot, baronet, fell in love with Frederick Wentworth, but was persuaded by her close friend, Lady Russell, to break their engagement because he had no fortune, no connections, and no title. Anne thought she was doing the right thing, but she never stopped loving him. Fast forward more than eight years to when the book opens, and Anne’s father has been careless with the family finances to the point that they must rent out their home and move to Bath.
Anne soon learns that she is destined to see Frederick Wentworth again, as his sister, Mrs. Croft and her husband, Admiral Croft, are to rent Kellynch Hall. Because she is invisible to her family, she is not to go with her father and sister, Elizabeth, to Bath right away. She must first travel to Uppercross to stay with her younger sister, Mary, who seems to fall ill whenever she’s not getting attention. It is there that Anne sees Frederick again. He returns a naval captain, wealthy from the Napoleonic wars, while Anne’s family is on the brink of bankruptcy.
“All the privilege I claim for my own sex (it is not a very enviable one, you need not covet it) is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone” (page 222)
Captain Wentworth is cold to Anne, and not only does she realize he has not forgiven her, but she also must watch him flirt with Mary’s sisters-in-law, Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove. And when an accident occurs and the Sir Walter’s heir comes into the picture with eyes for Anne, it seems all hope for a reunion is lost.
As in her other novels, Austen focuses on social class and marriage, but she does it with humor and compassion for her characters. It’s hard to put into words how much I love everything about this book. Austen’s writing in Persuasion felt more emotional and heartfelt to me than in her other novels, and I grew so attached to the characters that I finished the book in just a couple of days. Mary and Sir Walter were so ridiculous that I laughed out loud, and my heart went out to Anne, who despite having no value to her family, was the only one with any real worth. I loved her even though she was not as witty or strong-willed as Elizabeth Bennet.
And oh, how I fell in love with Captain Wentworth! He puts Mr. Darcy to shame (and you all know how I love Mr. Darcy). Captain Wentworth is a self-made man who doesn’t care much about titles or connections. He’s charming and handsome with good manners, but lacks Darcy’s arrogance. And he certainly has a way with words! Here’s what he says to Anne at one point in the novel (and don’t even get me started on the swoon-worthy letter he writes!):
“It seems, on the contrary, to have been a perfectly spontaneous, untaught feeling on his side, and this surprises me. A man like him, in his situation! With a heart pierced, wounded, almost broken! Fanny Harville was a very superior creature; and his attachment to her was indeed attachment. A man does not recover from such a devotion of the heart to such a woman! – He ought not – he does not.” (pages 172-173)
I’m not big on reading the classics, which is why I’m surprised that I’ve long enjoyed Austen’s novels. Persuasion is a literary masterpiece (at least in my eyes). There’s social commentary, a passionate love, and even a scoundrel. And despite there being no shortage of new reading material in my house, I can’t wait to read Persuasion again (and again).
Disclosure: Persuasion is from my personal library.
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I really need to read this one, as well as the other books she wrote. I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice, and that was a long time ago!
Thanks for the great review.
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Yes, you definitely need to read this!
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I love your take on Persuasion. It will induce anyone who reads your review to read the book.
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Thanks! I hope so. 🙂
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I have tried reading this one, but failed. I don’t know I am not the classics person, I guess. But you tempt to give it another chance. Great review!
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I’m not big on classics either so I am always surprise that I breeze through Austen, even though I admit that I sometimes have to read paragraphs more than once to make sure I really understand them.
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ooh! I love Jane Austen and every single book she wrote. I am glad you liked Persuasion.
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I still have a couple more Austen novels to read, but I’ve loved them all so far, some more than others. 😉
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I’ve only ever read Pride and Prejudice when it comes to Austen, but this sounds like a good next one to read for me. Excellent review!
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Thanks! I hope you give it a try.
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I love Persuasion as well. The long-standing patience of Wentworth for Anne is breathtaking. I don’t know if that really happens in real life? I can hope! 🙂 Although I love the brashness of Mr. Darcy, I will admit to really loving the way Wentworth pines for Anne over such a length of time. Thanks for the review! I’m thinking I need to revisit this one soon.
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I like to think it’s possible, but Wentworth is a figment of a woman’s imagination. 🙂
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I love Persuasion, but Pride and Prejudice is still my favorite.
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They both rank at the top of my list of all-time faves, but for some reason Persuasion just resonated with me.
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I haven’t read Persuasion, but I am persuaded to do so now (sorry, Anna, couldn’t resist!). I think I’d appreciate a novel about second chances. Wonderful review!
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Hee hee! I really hope you read it. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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You loved it more than P&P. I have to read this book now, I don’t know what I have been waiting for.
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Oh, the pressure! I don’t know if I’m in the minority in liking it more than P&P, though. Hope you love it as much as I did.
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I’ll have to finish this one.
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Yes, definitely. Get on it already, woman!
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Your review sums up beautifully why I love Persuasion. It is a mature love story, and I think that is why it is now my favorite novel. Thanks for the review.
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It’s a beautiful book, isn’t it?
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I LOVE the movie 🙂 But sadly I have not read the book
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Which movie version did you see? I only saw the 2007 version with Rupert Penry Jones as Wentworth. HOT!
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I had the movie version of Persuasion on top of my pile for recuperating from knee replacement, and watched it in a fog of narcotic painkiller, but I remember being disappointed in it because Ciaran Hinds didn’t fit my romantic conception of Wentworth. There have been so many recent remakes of Austen novels; it’s time for a newer version of this one!
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I’ve only seen the one with Rupert Penry Jones and I really liked him as Wentworth.
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Persuasion is a great book! I would venture to say I enjoyed it more than P&P as well, although Mansfield Park and Emma are my favorite of Austen’s.
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I haven’t read Emma yet, and Mansfield Park was pretty good. I feel like I need to re-read it, though, since it’s been awhile.
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I’ve only read this one once–I think a re-read is in order for the challenge. I’ve forgotten much of it and you’ve really made me eager to try it again.
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I want to re-read it again, and I’ve only just finished it. 😉
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I read this last year and I loved it so much. That letter from Captain Wentworth – oh my! Seriously, that is pure romance. I was not at all prepared for how delicious this book was going to be. So glad you loved it too!
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I just loved that letter so much! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve re-read it. I didn’t expect to fall so completely in love with this book either.
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I really enjoyed this one as well, much more than I thought I would.
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I’m so glad to hear that!
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This is a wonderful review, Anna! I’m so glad you loved Persuasion. It’s always been my favorite Jane Austen book, although I haven’t read Northanger Abbey yet but I don’t expect it to surpass Persuasion.
The characters are great and Austen’s writing is some of her best, I think. It’s always slightly irritated me that P&P and Emma generally get more attention but that doesn’t stop my enjoyment!
Great quotes, too!
~ Amy
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Thanks! I haven’t read Northanger Abbey or Emma, and I seriously need to re-read Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, and P&P, but I’m not expecting them to usurp Persuasion as my favorite. I still love the P&P spinoffs, but I’d prefer more variety.
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So glad you loved this one! I read it long ago and, while I know the story because I’ve seen adaptations, I don’t remember it at all!
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I think a re-read should be in your future. 😉
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I really want to read Persuasion. I have it on my shelf, it just keeps getting pushed back. I loved Emma and had a super big crush on Mr. Knightly. 🙂
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I really have to read Emma!
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Thank you all for taking time to read a review of my newest favorite book. I already want to re-read it!
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I read this one this year and loved it too. Even more that P&P 🙂
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Glad to see you agree with me. 🙂
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