Product Description

Anne Elliot is a young woman of perfect breeding and unwavering integrity. Austen wrote of her, "She is almost too good for me." Persuasion is the story of Anne and Captain Wentworth and their long awaited union. The world of country gentry in Regency England serves as a setting while portraying the many aspects of proper society - its failings and humor.

Jane Austen's works have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity since the success of several motion picture adaptations of her novels. She wrote the novels Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1317433 in Books
• Published on: 1997-08-01
• Released on: 1997-08-01
• Formats: Audiobook, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio Cassette

From Amazon.com
Anne Elliot, heroine of Austen's last novel, did something we can all relate to: Long ago, she let the love of her life get away. In this case, she had allowed herself to be persuaded by a trusted family friend that the young man she loved wasn't an adequate match, social stationwise, and that Anne could do better. The novel opens some seven years after Anne sent her beau packing, and she's still alone. But then the guy she never stopped loving comes back from the sea. As always, Austen's storytelling is so confident, you can't help but allow yourself to be taken on the enjoyable journey.

From Library Journal
Austen is the hot property of the entertainment world with new feature film versions of Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility on the silver screen and Pride and Prejudice hitting the TV airwaves on PBS. Such high visibility will inevitably draw renewed interest in the original source materials. These new Modern Library editions offer quality hardcovers at affordable prices.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
PERSUASION is perfectly rendered in polished, English diction by Scacchi. When Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth reunite after the passage of irrecoverable youth, we feel their passion and regret over lost years. Scacchi expresses this with subtle, sympathetic tones, allowing us to experience the wonderful written language. Descriptions of an English seaside town provide the backdrop for this love story. Altogether, the audio experience is superb! J.K.R. An AUDIOFILE Earphones Award winner. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

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. The variety and realism of the characters in the book are delightful, and the ridiculous things Anne's father and sister say made me laugh out loud many times!

In short, Persuasion is a joy to read, and potential readers have nothing to lose in giving it a try with the Dover edition that only costs $2.95.

Persuaded to enjoy Persuasion
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.

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 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.