Scan barcode
A review by anna_wa
Persuasion by Jane Austen
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This semester, I have learned better than to reduce Jane Austen's works to simply love stories. They are stories of female agency/self-growth, packed with social/political/class commentary. And this one is no different - with the focus on those of Inherited Wealth losing celebrity status in Britain, and the ones of Earned Wealth (like the navy) gaining the public's love and affection instead.
However, having said all of that, I am a sap at heart and my heart was very full at the love story. I think a lot of that has to do with the way she structured it, starting 7 years after they had tried to get engaged and then given into the pressure by family to cancel their engagement. The way in which so much time has passed and yet there is still affection on both sides and neither has been able to find another, is something that warms my heart as a set-up. And then the way they find their way back to each other... it was so wonderful. I think this is my favorite of all the Austen love stories (yes, more than Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth).
Again though, it's not just a love story. It's also a story of Anne growing into herself, learning that her thoughts and feelings matter (something that her father and sister definitely never taught her), learning to speak up for herself, and learning awareness of her position in the changing society (an awareness that her sister and father never learn; they seem to be perpetually lost in the times when the title baronet actually meant something, which it definitely doesn't now in the time of Earned Wealth calling the shots). I loved and appreciated all of that, I did, but I am more than a little biased to the beautiful romantic ending despite it all. :3
Will definitely be keeping this one, not giving it back to the bookstore when my rental runs out.
However, having said all of that, I am a sap at heart and my heart was very full at the love story. I think a lot of that has to do with the way she structured it, starting 7 years after they had tried to get engaged and then given into the pressure by family to cancel their engagement. The way in which so much time has passed and yet there is still affection on both sides and neither has been able to find another, is something that warms my heart as a set-up. And then the way they find their way back to each other... it was so wonderful. I think this is my favorite of all the Austen love stories (yes, more than Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth).
Again though, it's not just a love story. It's also a story of Anne growing into herself, learning that her thoughts and feelings matter (something that her father and sister definitely never taught her), learning to speak up for herself, and learning awareness of her position in the changing society (an awareness that her sister and father never learn; they seem to be perpetually lost in the times when the title baronet actually meant something, which it definitely doesn't now in the time of Earned Wealth calling the shots). I loved and appreciated all of that, I did, but I am more than a little biased to the beautiful romantic ending despite it all. :3
Will definitely be keeping this one, not giving it back to the bookstore when my rental runs out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
Cousin-cest never happens, but it is talked about as a desired outcome multiple times. The R word is used in its original (obsolete) way, as in "slowing down".