Name: Persuasion
Author: Jane. Austen
ISBN: 9780199535552

Persuasion

Jane. Austen

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Author Description

Persuasion celebrates romantic constancy in an era of turbulent change. Written as the Napoleonic Wars were ending, the novel examines how a woman can at once remain faithful to her past and still move forward into the future. Anne Elliot seems to have given up on present happiness and has resigned herself to living off her memories. More than seven years earlier she complied with duty: persuaded to view the match as imprudent and improper, she broke off her engagement to a naval captain with neither fortune, ancestry, nor prospects. However, when peacetime arrives and brings the Navy home, and Anne encounters Captain Wentworth once more, she starts to believe in second chances. Jane Austen's last completed novel features a heroine much older and wiser than her predecessors in earlier books, and presents a more intimate and sober tale of a love found long after such happiness had been deemed hopeless. This edition includes an appendix giving the original ending of Persuasion.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

When the man she was once persuaded to reject returns to her social circle, Anne Elliot must confront the lingering consequences of her past decision. Anne, a woman of quiet intelligence and suppressed emotion, navigates the rigid social hierarchies of early 19th-century England while grappling with the reappearance of Captain Wentworth. The narrative follows her internal struggle as she balances familial duty against the possibility of personal fulfillment. Austen employs a third-person limited perspective that emphasizes Anne's introspection and the subtle shifts in her social environment as the Napoleonic Wars conclude.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Focus on the themes of social mobility and the rise of the British Navy
Use of free indirect discourse to reveal the protagonist's inner thoughts
Exploration of the tension between individual desire and societal expectation
Satirical portrayal of the landed gentry and their preoccupation with status
Emphasis on the passage of time and the maturity of the heroine
Detailed observation of domestic life and social rituals
Inclusion of the original, discarded ending as a comparative literary feature
Examination of the concept of constancy in romantic relationships

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers frequently highlight the maturity and emotional depth of Anne Elliot compared to other Austen heroines. Discussion often centers on the novel's somber tone and the nuanced portrayal of regret and second chances. Critics often point to the sharp social commentary regarding the changing economic landscape of the era. The pacing is noted for its deliberate, reflective quality, which allows for a thorough examination of the characters' psychological development. Many appreciate the balance between the personal romantic arc and the broader historical context of the post-Napoleonic period.

Page Count:
304

Publication Date:
2008-05-15

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199535558

ISBN-13:
9780199535552

Romance

English

English & College Success

Social Satire

classic

Historical

England