Jane Austen

With an essay by Elizabeth Bowen 'Her attachment and regrets had, for a long time, clouded every enjoyment of youth; and an early loss of bloom and spirits had been their lasting effect' Persuasion, Jane Austen's last novel, is a moving, masterly and elegiac love story tinged with the heartache of missed opportunities. It tells the story of Anne Elliot, who, persuaded to break off her engagement to the man she loved because he was not successful enough, has never forgotten him. When he returns, he brings with him a tantalizing second chance of happiness ... The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

Persuasion

amelia <3

I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought mne to Bath. For you alone I think and plan.-Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes?-I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice, when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating in F. W" I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall retun hither, or follow your

Neesha Balapitiya 

You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago.

I read this for a course I’m doing at university. I have previously read Emma for another one of my courses and was thrilled to read another book by Jane Austen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The little moment between Captain Wentworth and Jane had me kicking my feet. I absolutely loved Captain Wentworth’s letter to Jane. Austen has a great way of telling stories. I think this has become one of my favourites of hers. 

Alexandria New

I enjoyed this immensely. Anne is SO emo in a way that feels so kindred to my enneagram 4 depressive soul. It’s amazing to me that I can read something from over 200 years ago and feel connected to the characters. Also, a romance that feels so ROMANTIC that doesn’t even have a kiss in it?! Alchemy. This had me frothing at the mouth for one of them to just simply look at the other, god forbid at the same time I would simply combust. The second chance romance was so angsty but resolved with beautiful open communication by the end that had me shed literal tears. I need to get “I am half agony, half hope” tattooed on my body asap. 

Abigail

Anne Elliot's dignity and grace despite living with a monumental regret at having lost the love of her life and feeling estranged by the majority of her family is whay makes her such a sympathetic character you root for during Persuasion. Truly a rose that grew from concrete.

Winnie

Jane Austen is so talented I physically cannot explain to you how much I love her books. Now listen, we didn't see enough of Wentworth as I liked but god does she manage to just make you fall in love with the couple and their romance. I loved this book and I loved the characters, honestly. The letter was just too romantic I find the pair of them so adorable. 

Such a lovely book. Anne is such a wall flower-esque character who shows so much pain and isolation. She’s involved in society partially, but the rest of the time she’s only worth something when useful. A tale of second chance love, reignited after eight and a half years of yearning and longing. The duo, Anne Elliot and Fredrick wentworth, are absolutely deserving of one another. Jane Austen authors yet another emotionally captivating and beautiful tale. 

surtified™

Jane Austen is so talented I physically cannot explain to you how much I love her books. Now listen, we didn't see enough of Wentworth as I liked but god does she manage to just make you fall in love with the couple and their romance. I loved this book and I loved the characters, honestly. The letter was just too romantic I find the pair of them so adorable. 

REREAD

Such a lovely book. Anne is such a wall flower-esque character who shows so much pain and isolation. She’s involved in society partially, but the rest of the time she’s only worth something when useful. A tale of second chance love, reignited after eight and a half years of yearning and longing. The duo, Anne Elliot and Fredrick wentworth, are absolutely deserving of one another. Jane Austen authors yet another emotionally captivating and beautiful tale. 

i have to say im not used to the prose at all but that was the quickest ive finished the final third of a book ever i think (granted, it was a short book). and the letter.. the LETTER… lets just say im taking notes ✍️✍️

Ghee

My favorite Jane Austen. So subtle and cheeky, mature and complex.

Bethany

kels

I found it easy to read it. Very interesting. I was very excited and very happy about the end because that's the end I "wanted".

Alexe

One of my top 3 Jane Austens. The yearing, their love that doesn't falter even after years of being apart just 🫶

Ellen Ivey

Jane Austen really started writing fictional men that give too much credit to real life ones.

I read this about 10 to 11 years ago and I remember enjoying it so much. 

I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it even more this time around, reading it in a more conscious way, paying more attention than I did when I was a teenager, annotating, it was a pleasure read, a short one but nice one indeed.

The tention, the ever lasting love, Wentworth and Anne are something else. Really makes me want to re-read Pride and Prejudice. 

Even Anne's conversation about how constant love is in women and men packs a bit of feminism from that period, where she goes on to talk about how men can busy themselves by being able to get more education and work, see the world more than women.

Isabela Ospina

Jane Austen really started writing fictional men that give too much credit to real life ones.

I read this about 10 to 11 years ago and I remember enjoying it so much. 

I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it even more this time around, reading it in a more conscious way, paying more attention than I did when I was a teenager, annotating, it was a pleasure read, a short one but nice one indeed.
The tention, the ever lasting love, Wentworth and Anne are something else. Really makes me want to re-read Pride and Prejudice. 
Even Anne's conversation about how constant love is in women and men packs a bit of feminism from that period, where she goes on to talk about how men can busy themselves by being able to get more education and work, see the world more than women.

Enjoyable read for sure.

Liked the ending and liked the couple of the concepts but it’s was just ok was hoping it be better 

Hannah Alexander 

I loved and enjoyed Pride and Prejudice so much that I had really high expectations for this novel but, unfortunately, this turned out to be a huge disappointment. A lot of the characters had similar names making it confusing to remember who’s who especially since most of them weren’t that memorable. The synopsis gave emphasis and focused on how this would be some sort of second chance romance between Fredrick Wentworth and Anne but there’s no actual buildup to this nor are the readers given a history on their past relationship. Although this is set during the early centuries and in breeding could still be a thing, am I the only one disturbed by the fact that Anne and Mr. Elliot have “romantic potential” despite being cousins???

Persuasion

Reviews

Highlights