It was a delight to re-read Persuasion, by Jane Austen, along with some of the bookish folk on Bluesky. Several of the readers shared their expertise on Austen and the Regency period, enriching my understanding of some of the subtle commentary that went over my head the first time I read the book. One of the things I didn’t know during my first read-through was that Persuasion was published posthumously. Until I learned that Austen’s brother selected the title and sent the manuscript to the publishers, I was surprised that the novel felt underbaked compared to Austen’s earlier novels. That said, this book still charmed me—thanks to the second-chance love story at its heart.
Eight years before Persuasion opens, Anne Elliot was made an offer of marriage by Frederick Wentworth. She turned him down on the advice of her friend, Lady Russell. Lady Russell argued that Wentworth had no fortune, just the hope of making something of himself in the world. Unbeknownst to Anne and Lady Russell, Wentworth did go on to become a captain in the British Navy and make several boatloads (couldn’t help myself) of money on prize ships. Meanwhile Anne became her family’s emotional support. She humored her status-obsessed father and older sister. She soothed her younger sister’s feelings of insult and rejection whenever other people had fun without her. I wish Anne had been able to escape when she was younger, but marrying someone who might not have been able to afford a family is a huge risk for a gentlewoman with no means of supporting herself without her family.
Anne’s father’s overspending is the first plot catalyst. Because Sir Walter is an idiot (in so many ways), he decides that the only way to save money is to rent out his beloved Kellynch Hall and take up residence in Bath. The family that rents the Hall turns out to be Captain Wentworth’s sister and brother-in-law, which sends Anne into an emotional spiral she hides from her family and friends. The next big plot event is when Anne, several members of her family, and Captain Wentworth go to Lyme Regis to visit some of his friends and one of their party falls from the stony Cobb to the beach. The last big event comes when Captain Wentworth meets Anne in Bath in what may be their last chance to finally share their feelings.
The majority of Persuasion consists of Anne’s observations of what’s going on and her fretting about what Captain Wentworth might think of her, after all these years. Does he still think she’s pretty? Does he think she’s shallow? A spinster? Does he prefer one of her young cousins-in-law instead? Thankfully, Anne can get out of her own way sometimes. When Her cousin Louisa falls from the Cobb, she keeps her head: calling for someone to get a doctor, making sure Louisa is comfortable, ensuring that the proper people are informed, etc. Later, when another cousin who is too charming for his own good makes some overtures to Anne, she speaks up loudly enough to let Captain Wentworth know that she will not marry the secretive man.
Persuasion could’ve used more of Austen’s time and effort to transform it from an underdone treat into one of her best books. There is plenty of Austen’s sarcasm—especially towards Sir Walter and some of the less self-aware characters—but I feel the plot could’ve used a few more twists to make things more exciting. There were certainly enough extraneous characters for one of them to dash off into an ill-considered marriage. I feel there were some hints of additional subplots that Austen didn’t get to. (There was something going on with Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay.) But for all my (very slight) disappointment with Persuasion, the letter Captain Wentworth writes to tell Anne what he feels makes this book worth reading. His line, “I am half-agony, half-hope,” melts my heart every time.
