Persuasion by Jane Austen

 

Title:  Persuasion

Author:  Jane Austen

Narrated by:  Terah Tucker, Catherine Bilson, Graham Scott, Linda Barrans, Denis Daly

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 23 minutes

Source: Checked out with Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What is your favorite book that has an amazing friendship portrayal?  I love Anne and Mrs. Smith’s friendship in Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Anne Elliot is the middle-overlooked daughter of a baronet that has fallen on financial hard times.  They rent out their estate and travel to Bath.  Captain Wentworth, a man that Anne had broken an engagement with eight years before, has returned. How has time changed them and their relationship?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I started Persuasion in April and finished it in May for the What the Dickens Book Club.  I also read it to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250^th birthday.  I am trying to reread all six of her novels this year.

·       I loved the full cast audiobook!  It was so fun to listen to and brings an extra depth to the story.

·       As I started this book again, I immediately thought, poor Anne.  Her family does not value her at all.

·       I love when she visits her sister Mary, and everyone finds her a comforting person to talk to and lays out their woes.  They all have conflicting stories about each other.  It was so funny!

·       I like when Captain Wentworth notices other men, like Mr. Eliot, admiring Anne.

·       I love that Anne maintains her friendship with Mrs.  Smith against her family’s wishes.  Mrs. Smith is in poor position with her husband dying, no wealth, and poor health.

·       Mr. Elliot seems like a nice man until Mrs. Smith shares his real personality.  He did not like Sir Walter nor Elizabeth as a youth and openly mocked them amongst his friends.  Now that he is an older wealthy widower (although not old!), he sees the importance of titles and connections.  He tries to win the affections of the Elliots.  He is afraid Sir Walter will marry Mrs. Clay and disinherit him.  Anne is very conflicted as Mr. Elliot is attractive, interesting, and pleasing, but it disguised a “user’s” personality.  It’s a surprise when he runs off with Mrs. Clay in the end.

·       I can excuse Mr. Elliot as Captain Wentworth explains that jealousy of him is what finally prompted his  wonderful letter as well as Anne’s thoughts on the constancy of women.

·       Where do you think Anne and Captain Wentworth ended up?  Sailing the high seas?  Kellynch?  Other?

Overall, Persuasion by Jane Austen is still one of my favorite Austen novels.  I get something new out of it every time I read it.  I really liked reading it as a full cast audiobook this time around.