Persuasion by Jane Austen - I can check another classic off the list of books I never read in high school!

Not the actual edition that I read.
I read the Project Gutenberg e-book edition.
More about Project Gutenberg at the end
of today's post.

My formal literature education ended in high school. The only English class I took in college was a freshman writing seminar. And in retrospect, my exposure to the classics was very limited. I'm not sure I understand why. I did take AP English my senior year of high school. I wish I could remember what books we read then. The only one I remember definitely was Anna Karenina. I liked the story but somehow got bogged down in the writing.

I remember slogging through Shakespeare with my mom reading aloud to me, kind of acting it out, to make it more exciting. But I don't remember her take on "The Classics."

Since joining Books and Beer Club a few years ago, I have probably read more classics than ever before. I'd never read any Jane Austen until I read Pride and Prejudice with Books and Beer a few years ago. Did I mention that Persuasion is the April book club read for Books and Beer Club?

What I loved about Persuasion by Jane Austen was how timeless the story is. It was set in early 19th Century England but the plot could just as easily take place in early 21st Century - anywhere! The protagonist, Anne Elliott, is an intelligent woman in her late 20s when the story begins. She's kind of an outcast in her family. Her father and older sister, Elizabeth, are a bit on the vain side. Younger sister, Mary, is a bit of a drama queen. Anne is the only one who has common sense.

She's been pining over a lost love for nearly 8 years. She and Frederick Wentworth were estranged after Miss Elliott's dear friend and mentor (and fill-in for her deceased mother), Mrs. Russell, persuaded her to break off the relationship.

Fast forward 8 years. Sir Elliott is near financial ruin. He is forced to rent out his estate and move to a different part of the country to avoid shame. His estate, Kelllynch, is rented out by the Crofts. As coincidence would have it, Mrs. Croft is the sister of Frederick Wentworth, who is now Captain Wentworth. Can their feelings for each other be reignited? Is that even necessary?

The relationships between friends, cousins, neighbors were all very realistic, even by today's standards. The only thing that never seems realistic to me when reading these old English books is the idleness of most of the characters in the book. In Persuasion, the only characters who seem to work are those in the Navy. Otherwise. the characters don't have professions and keep themselves occupied by taking walks, playing cards and the like. Maybe that was the reality of early 19th Century England, but it makes no sense in modern times.

I looked to see if there was a modern interpretation of Persuasion as a movie but wasn't able to find one. Please let me know if you are aware of one. I'd love to see it. I might look to see if there are contemporary novel adaptations as well. I should probably consider rereading The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler. The connections would make so much more sense after reading at least some Jane Austen.


In conclusion, I enjoyed Persuasion much more than I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice. There was less rambling, it was more straight and to the point, and it was a story that I could relate to. Dare I read more Jane Austen?

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