Author: Jane Austen
Genre: Classic, romance
Published: 1817
Source: Personal copy
Read for: Advent with Austen (indicating how behind I am on my reviews)
Anne is under-appreciated by her father and sisters. Calm and reserved, she spends much of her time soothing the ruffled feathers of her family and being ignored. Her existence is tranquil and suppressed, until Captain Wentworth, her jilted fiance of ten years past, returns to the area. Suddenly Anne is seized by her previous feelings and by his apparent indifference to her. Will Anne and Captain Wentworth find happiness together? Or was her youthful rejection too much for their relationship to withstand?
Okay, first of all -- no idea what is on the cover of this book. That is why I chose it. Sometimes I feel like classic books just get random pictures placed on them that give the a classic look. I guess it could be because Captain Wentworth is a naval officer, but I don't recollect Anne ever looking for him with a cone-shaped hat on her head for him to come in. Anyway.
This was my second reading of Persuasion. The first time I read it, I vaguely enjoyed it, but I wasn't quite ready for the language. This time, I felt a lot more connection with the characters and was really swept up in the conversations and banter between the characters.
I'll be honest, the one thing that occasionally misses the mark for me in Jane Austen novels is the issue of money -- getting an heir to whom you can bequeath the estate, finding a husband that has enough money to support you, etc. I get it, I love Downton Abbey, I know it was a different time. But it was hard for me to relate to Anne and the way she let Captain Wentworth go the first time around because he wasn't a good enough catch. I know a lot of that is due to my American love-conquers-all-we'll-find-a-way paradigm... but it's working well for me so far. Obviously, I try to put myself in the shoes of characters with different paradigms than I have -- that is a large part of why I read. But the whole social class money-oriented thing trips me up from time to time.
With that out of the way, however, Persuasion really is a delight. While too easily swayed by persuasion (get it?) in her wayward youth, Anne really is a solid example of all I would like to be -- competent, calm, gracious, passionate despite her reserve. And I enjoy the way her relationship with Captain Wentworth re-blossoms, starting with awkwardness, avoidance, and timidity and building to a true and fuller awareness of each other's characters.
Naturally, as always with Jane Austen novels, the secondary characters also serve as a source of delight, annoyance, or irony, as the case may be. If you read this blog regularly you know that I have a great appreciation for a well-written love-to-hate character, and I think Anne's sister Mary takes the cake in this regard. She isn't evil or even ill-intentioned -- just completely self-absorbed and needy. Every page where she was mentioned elicited head-shaking and a sense of awe at how she could twist any situation to an insult or lack of regard for her own (delicate) self. Anne's other sister is even worse, completely lacking in awareness and common sympathy. Then we have Lady Russell, who led Anne away from her union with Captain Wentworth in the first place, believing that she was serving her young friend. Lady Russell is an opinionated woman, but the story demonstrates that she has the ability to change her mind (to be persuaded), and that she really does have Anne's best interests at heart.
Persuasion is a little different from the other Jane Austen novels I've read in that it deals with rekindling an old love, not seeking out a new one. In some ways, this causes the story to move a bit slower, and also elicits a few cringe-worthy scenes of awkwardness (although those are present pretty much anywhere in Jane Austen... Mr. Collins, anyone?). However, I think the payoff with this story is the depth of feeling and the strength of the relationship between the two protagonists. The final scenes, which I won't spoil but will mention involve a letter and a brisk walk, are absolutely touching. If you are patient with Persuasion, it will reward you.
4 stars
Warnings: none.
One of hers I haven't read but have wanted to for a long time. Next after Age of Innocence?
ReplyDeleteDo it! You won't regret it. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I love Persuasion -- it's easily my favorite of Austen's novels. I definitely agree with your sentiment about the "American love-conquers-all-we'll-find-a-way paradigm," too -- I often find myself being sort of shocked by how things play out, and then I realize the way I was raised and the American mentality in general have deeply impacted my views. That's to be expected, of course -- but it's interesting to think about!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have this edition with that crazy cover, too -- I actually realized a few months back that I didn't own a copy of Persuasion anymore and sought to remedy that. I liked that this was a quality paperback (I'm not a fan of the small mass-markets), but that art is bizarre!
I am with you on not liking mass markets. All I have are Kindle editions -- one of these days I need to get a nice hardback set of all of Jane Austen's work.
DeleteThis is my favorite Austen novel, largely because it is a bit more thoughtful and serious (more my speed I guess)...the tension and feeling between Anne and Cpt. Wentworth is more palpable than with other J.A. heroines.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely: more familiarity with the language and the era, the better you'll be able to appreciate her work.
I agree with you that there is much more tension between Anne and Cpt. Wentworth. You are in situation after situation with them, watching them squirm, instead of so many things happening from afar which seems to happen fairly often in the other JA books I've read.
DeleteThis is my favorite Jane Austen that I've never read :) Well, I've read the letter part at the end multiple times, of course. I've seen the movies (I know it's not the same!) and I LOVE the story, but I haven't gotten around to actually reading the book yet.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that the movies are worth watching! I haven't watched any of them but some are on Netflix and I need to look into them sometime soon. When you do get to this one, have fun!
DeleteThis was only the second Austen I ever read. I really enjoyed it and it helped to change my mind about Austen. (My first Austen was Pride and Prejudice, which I didn't enjoy on first read (for the reasons you outline above, when you discuss what troubles you about Austen's books.)
ReplyDeleteI love the soft, poetic feel of this one. :)
I like what you say about the book being "soft" -- I think that is true as well (in a good way, of course!). I like the way things gradually (re)develop for Anne and Wentworth.
DeleteI've not read Persuasion yet, although I definitely want to. I think the whole class thing is very English and to be honest, is still in effect today, just not as obviously/blatantly.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting to know, that the class thing is still present. I haven't traveled much, just a few weeks in France, and while I've heard they have some class lines that are difficult to surmount, I didn't know anyone well enough to see that. It would be interesting to experience. I guess you could say it is in effect in America as well -- I'm sure the very rich would never stoop to the very poor -- but the middle class is so broad I think much of that is obscured.
DeleteOne certainly needs to get used to the language when tackling Austen the first time, but once you do, it's delightful to read. I am with you on the whole money vs. love thing (and I'm not American, so I'think its the time difference issue, not nationality) - it bothers me too and I need to make an effort to keep in mind it was a different time. I loved that letter, so romantic! Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, I have enjoyed Austen more and more the older and more word-appreciative I get. Interesting to know that it isn't just an American mentality. Where are you from?
DeleteAlso re-read it again with my bookclub later last year. I think I liked it even more than I did before. I appreciated the secondary characters much more this time around. Mrs Croft in particular was a delight (“We none of us want to be in calm waters all our life.”)
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot to mention Mrs. Croft! I love how she is so equal and companionable with her husband :)
DeleteI need to read this one, but I'm slowly using up this finite supply of Austen that I should conserve; I've read three in less than a year and I've still got a lifetime to contend with. I'll need me some Austen during that time.
ReplyDeleteI like seeing how Austen seems to approach love differently in her books. P&P is the true love one but the others are more suited the era or characters.
I can relate to the need to conserve Austen! I only have one book left (Northanger Abbey) and I have been putting it off for years because I don't want it to be over. That is a good point about the approach to love being different in all of her books. It would make an interesting project to read them all in a row and examine it (I'm sure someone has at some point).
DeleteI'm re-reading this one right now, about 2/3 done and I'm so looking forward to the letter and brisk walk!
ReplyDeleteHooray! Have fun. Definitely one of my favorite Austen scenes of all.
DeleteI think Persuasion is probably my second favorite Austen and it definitely has some of my favorite supporting characters especially Charles Musgrove and the Crofts.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree completely! I forgot to include Charles and the Crofts in my review, but they were some of my favorite characters in the book.
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