Persuasion - Jane Austen

Blurb on the back: Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?

Jane Austin once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work.

My Thoughts: I haven't read much of Jane Austen to decide whether this is her best novel or not. But it is definitely a far cry from the utterly boring wishy-wash world of Emma. Don't get me wrong, the novel is full of cunning, social hierarchy and lots of spurned love and arranged matches but there is a lot of reflectibility in Anne Elliot to make her real. She is irritatingly judgmental and intelligent to the point of self-righteousness but I love my herione with all their flaws. One thing that didn't go down well with me is the fact that every other character is named Charles. What's with that?

Rating: 3/5