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Persuasion (AmazonClassics Edition) Kindle Edition
Seven years ago, Anne Elliot broke off her engagement to Captain Frederick Wentworth, convinced that marrying a man without money or status would be a grave mistake. Now, she is past her prime and single at twenty-seven. But when the estranged paramours reconnect through a couple renting the Elliot family estate, Anne discovers she may have another shot at romance—this time, on her terms.
Part fairy tale, part social commentary, Jane Austen’s novel delivers not only her signature warmth and wit but perhaps her most mature and relatable heroine. Persuasion remains true to Austen’s form in being ahead of its time, arguing that where there is love, there is happiness—even in the most impractical of unions.
AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to read a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature’s most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.
Revised edition: Previously published as Persuasion, this edition of Persuasion (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherAmazonClassics
- Publication dateDecember 5, 2017
- File size934 KB
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About the Author
Jane Austen (1775–1817) was an English novelist known for Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Though she published her works anonymously, Austen was so successful that she enjoyed personal and professional independence uncommon to women in Georgian middle-class society.
Born into a family of modest means, Austen brought humor, intelligence, and a cynical snap to her heroines and her subject matter, which subverted the expectations of the popular and sentimental romances of the era. Her audacious social commentary and sophisticated realism won Austen approval from upper-class opinion makers as well as readers. But it was Austen’s witty and ironic observations of class and gender divisions that were so distinctive—and today, so influential and universal. With a lasting impact on popular culture, Austen’s canon of work still holds a mirror to each new generation of readers.
Product details
- ASIN : B075M7VBK7
- Publisher : AmazonClassics (December 5, 2017)
- Publication date : December 5, 2017
- Language : English
- File size : 934 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 253 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #45,003 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #17 in Classic British & Irish Fiction
- #36 in Classic Historical Fiction
- #59 in Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 at Steventon near Basingstoke, the seventh child of the rector of the parish. She lived with her family at Steventon until they moved to Bath when her father retired in 1801. After his death in 1805, she moved around with her mother; in 1809, they settled in Chawton, near Alton, Hampshire. Here she remained, except for a few visits to London, until in May 1817 she moved to Winchester to be near her doctor. There she died on July 18, 1817. As a girl Jane Austen wrote stories, including burlesques of popular romances. Her works were only published after much revision, four novels being published in her lifetime. These are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma(1816). Two other novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously in 1818 with a biographical notice by her brother, Henry Austen, the first formal announcement of her authorship. Persuasion was written in a race against failing health in 1815-16. She also left two earlier compositions, a short epistolary novel, Lady Susan, and an unfinished novel, The Watsons. At the time of her death, she was working on a new novel, Sanditon, a fragmentary draft of which survives.
Paper Mill Press is proud to present a timeless collection of unabridged literary classics to a twenty-first century audience. Each original master work is reimagined into a sophisticated yet modern format with custom suede-like metallic foiled covers.
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I considered the popular "illustrated classics" series, but found the illustrations a bit dated. I was, therefore, completely delighted when I discovered Real Reads, a series that focuses on classic literature, retelling it in a simplified way, easy for children to understand and yet maintaining the tone of the original. In each book, be it Austen, Dickens, Shakespeare or some other "classic", the authors (in this case Gill Tavner) condense the story and "extras" into 64 full color pages. Each book is lavishly illustrated (the Austen books are drawn by Ann Kronheimer) in a fun, watercolor style. Naturally, I purchased all six Austen titles!
The stories begin with an illustrated cast of characters, followed by the "meat" of the novel, and finally a section called "Taking Things Further". Here is where the series really shines. First you are given "The Real Read", a paragraph about the original novel, and where to find it. Secondly, a section entitled "Filling in the Blanks", for as they say in the book,
"The loss of so many of Jane Austen's original words is a sad but necessary part of the shortening process. We have to make some difficult decisions, omitting subplots, and details, some important, some less so, but all interesting. We have also, at times, taken the liberty of combining two events into one, or of giving a character words or actions that originally belong to another. The points below will fill in some of the gaps, but nothing can beat the original..."
At this point several pages are given to a bullet point list of additional plots and subplots in the novels. Following this section is an essay on the original novel in light of its place in time and in Jane Austen's life. As an adult, I found these very interesting and readable.
Not content to leave the book there, the author then added "Finding Out More", with a list of additional reading sources (most of them biographies and additional works of Jane Austen) websites (including the Jane Austen Centre!) and films.
The books finish with suggested reading group questions grouped under headings such as Characters, Themes and Style.
All in all, I was blown away by how much they were able to pack into these slim volumes. No, it's not a substitute for Austen...in fact, in order to condense three volumes into an "easy reader", some of the books depart from her plotlines (Emma is told by way of chapters sent between Jane and Cassandra, with Jane's "letters" interspersed throughout. Pride and Prejudice begins with Darcy's first proposal and then adds back story, Sense and Sensibility is told from Margaret's perspective...) but they DO keep the story line intact by the end (more so, in fact, than some film adaptations!) and are a welcome departure from the "fluff" abounding in children's literature these days! I would place the reading level at 8 and up, in a similar category as the American Girl books, and that type of early chapter book style.
Once our books arrived, they were immediately delved into. Imagine my delight in hearing my 7 year old daughter exclaim that she'd "already finished Mansfield Park today..." and wants to begin Emma next! She converses delightfully on characters and plot lines (in a way I can never get my husband to do...) and is looking forward to soon finishing Persuasion.
Author: Jane Austen
Read by: Juliet Stevenson
Publisher: Naxos Audiobook
Length: Approximately 8 hours and 43 minutes
Source: Purchased from Audible.
Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel. It was published posthumously and was written at the end of Jane Austen’s life. The story is a story of second chances. Anne Elliot rejected the engagement from Frederick Wentworth eight years before. She loved the young Lieutenant Wentworth, but his wealth and consequence were not enough for her friends and family to think it a prudent marriage. She allowed herself to be persuaded out of the marriage. Now Wentworth is back as a wealthy Captain. The Elliot’s meanwhile have seen a decrease in their fortune and have to rent their estate out to Wentworth’s sister and brother-in-law while they take a house in Bath. Will they find their way back to each other?
I read Persuasion this month as it is the September book club selection for JASNA Wisconsin. I can’t wait to discuss it! I have reviewed Persuasion on this blog before as I love, love, love this book. This time I’m going to go over highlights and thoughts on had on my latest reread.
• Juliet Stevenson is a wonderful narrator. She was Mrs. Elliot in the 1996 version of Emma, and I have listened to her narrate other audiobooks in the past.
• I love thinking about this novel and how it was written at the end of Jane’s life. It makes me wonder, did she look back on life and have regrets perhaps of a love that she rejected? If only we had her missing letters!
• I love Austen’s characters. Their traits are still what we see in family, friends, and neighbors today from the preening and narcissism of Mr. Elliot to the hypochondriasis of Anne’s sister Mary.
• I love the description of Lyme Regis. Every time I listen to this book, it makes me want to visit and find Louisa’s wall.
• Louisa puzzles me and kind of makes me sad. I know she was young and impetuous, but it seems a lot to have a near death experience to take away her spirit and have her settle down.
• Speaking of Louisa, do you think Captain Wentworth ever had any feelings for her?
• I love Anne’s friend Mrs. Smith and her good-natured gossip. I love that Captain Wentworth helps her at the end to get what is due to her. It’s sad that without a male relative back in that era, you couldn’t get your finances settled.
• I wonder if Elizabeth Elliot every married. I can imagine her spending the rest of her days just wandering around Bath with her father.
• Wentworth’s letter is still the most romantic letter of all time.
• The ending is not nearly as long as Austen’s other novels. I wonder if she would have lived if this book would have been expanded at all.
• Where do you think Anne and Captain Wentworth ended up living? The movie versions have different ideas.
• What is your favorite movie version? I love the 1995 version. Are you looking forward to the new movie?
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Mexico on October 19, 2021
Reviewed in Brazil on July 5, 2021
At nineteen Anne Elliot was persuaded by her good friend and family to reject Fredrick Wentworth’s hand because while she was a baronet’s daughter, he was a nobody enlisted in the navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Dishearten, he left and they don’t see or write to each other for the next 8 years. Now he’s a successful Navy Captain, rich from the war, looking for a wife while she’s doomed to spinsterhood, having lost her former beauty. Her father’s finances aren’t in good shape either thanks to his extravagant lifestyle and they're forced to rent out their ancestral home and downsize. Guess who their new tenants are? Wentworth’s older sister and her husband. And that brings Anne and Wentworth face to face again years later. His indifference to her cuts deeper than his anger would have and Anne endeavours to act and be unaffected. But as the story goes on, Jane Austen slowly brings these two heartbroken souls together and it’s utterly beautiful to read. We learn his side of the story, and understand his reservations in persuading her again. The ending, his letter and response to her claims that a women loves even after all hope is gone, is so romantic. I honestly can’t decide who I love more between Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy. Thankfully I get to enjoy both!