Jane Austen, Persuasion (Penguin Popular Classics)

Persuasion was written by Jane Austen in the latter months of her short life. This was most likely the reason why Anne Elliot's character is the way it is, which is so very different from Ms. Austen's other, more lively heroines. Anne is a young woman of perfect breeding, integrity and maturity in spite of being born to a bankrupt but proud family. The family, to settle their financial problems discreetly, relocated to Bath and let their country estate to an admiral and his wife. Coincidentally, the admiral's wife is the sister of the man Anne Elliot had loved eight years ago and rejected afterwards, bending and acceding to the protests and arguments of her friends and family against her beloved because of his social status and lack of wealth. Now, Captain Wentworth has returned from the sea, after 8 years, richer and better-looking than ever, with all the respectability and popularity any man could hope for, and looking not even remotely interested at Anne. Anne could only quietly regret her decision to be persuaded by society to turn her back on the man she loved.

The rest of the story you would have to read. Like all Jane Austen novels, it also ends with a happy ending. However, I thought it was not as happy as it ought to have been. I also thought Captain Wentworth did not display or show his affection for Anne until I got to the last chapter in the book. The tone of the story has been serious all throughout. And even during the declaration of their love, it was not as breathtaking and heart-tugging as in other Austen books. Nevertheless, it is a good book to read on lazy days. Ms. Jane Austen can surely keep her readers turning the pages because of the small twists and turns in the story.

Jane Austen, Persuasion is an unusual novel for Austen but definitely one of my favourites. It depicts the tale of a woman convinced to jilt her only suitor, the man she loves, because he is penniless and beneath her station. 27 years later she is still unmarried and he returns from service in the British navy and she finds she still loves him, but he seems less than interested.

It's a beautiful tale told with Austen's wonderful talent for language and fans of Victorian love stories should get their hands on this book.