If you've never read Jane Austen, this book is probably not the best one to start with. It is Jane Austen's last novel before she died and it seems 'heavier' than her other novels. If you want to read Jane Austen start with 'Pride and Prejudice (or get the video out and melt watching Colin Firth play D'Arcy). Anyway, getting back to the book review, I think you need to be a fan of Jane Austen to read 'Persuasion'.
Her heroine, Anne Elliot, is probably the most docile and wettest of all Austen's ladies and extremely old at 27. She has the most horrendous family, which includes a vain father, and two sisters, one is a hypochondriac and the other just plain nasty.
The story is quite simple really, Anne falls in love with handsome Frederick Wentworth, apparently a bright and clever chap, but penniless.
Anne's awful family, make her break off the engagement to him. She is so unhappy.
Wentworth then joins the Navy and returns eight years later, as a Captain, looking bronzed and gorgeous and having made his fortune. Anne is now 35 years old! Will he still want her?
You may, like I did, feel the urge to shout at the book and tell Anne to get a life! I won't spoil the ending for you, but you'll either need a box of tissues or throw the book against the wall.
You may think that I don't like Jane Austen, but actually, I love her books. I find them fascinating because they were written at the turn of the 19th century and portray life as seen through Jane Austen's eyes. She was a romantic, but it's interesting to see how securing a good marriage was very important in their lives, how women were regarded ( or disregarded ) and generally treated.
Happy reading - The Bradworthy Book Reviewer