September Book Club - Persuasion by Jane Austen
This month we're discussing Persuasion by Jane Austen. Her last novel its the story of Anne Elliot who seven years previously rejected a proposal from Frederick Wentworth, an impecunious naval officer. He then returns to her orbit a wealthy man and ready to marry. I thoroughly enjoyed my re-read of it recently and look forward to discussing it on the 20th.
If you don't have time to read the book I thought this adaptation was true to the book and a good film in its own right.
If you don't have time to read the book I thought this adaptation was true to the book and a good film in its own right.
Comments
Yes, it's a very good adaptation you've pointed us to; though one might say Amanda Root rather overplays the submissive demeanor and unfortunately comes over as a bit wet!
I think I’ve read Persuasion at least twice but both times were a while back. Will try to take another look sometime this month.
@nenya, if there are any second hand bookshops near you see if they have a copy. We usually had one in the Oxfam shop I volunteered in.
I'm in. I haven't read it for several years, but there's a copy around here somewhere.
I can't imagine a more strange combination than Elmer and Persuasion
*I'd actually bought an Elmer for my oldest brother who loved both bright colours and elephants, but he died of Parkinson's before his birthday.
All of which is to say I will join the discussion.
"In August 1989, Project Gutenberg completed its 10th book, The King James Bible, that was first published in 1611, with the standard text dated 1769. In 1990, there were 250,000 internet users, and the standard was 360 K disks. In January 1991, Michael typed in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll (published in 1865). In July 1991, he typed in Peter Pan, by James M. Barrie (published in 1904). These two worldwide classics of childhood literature each fitted on one disk.
1991 was also the year the web became operational. The first browser, Mosaic, was released in November 1993. As the web was becoming a popular medium, it became easier to circulate eTexts and recruit volunteers. Project Gutenberg gradually got into its stride, with the digitization of one book per month in 1991, two books per month in 1992, four books per month in 1993 and eight books per month in 1994. In January 1994, Project Gutenberg celebrated its 100th book by releasing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote most of his work between 1590 and 1613. The steady growth went on, with an average of 8 books per month in 1994, 16 books per month in 1995, and 32 books per month in 1996."
Project Gutenberg (1971-2008) by Marie Lebert
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27045
My husband and and I spent our honeymoon at Lyme Regis 50 years ago and have returned there regularly and I've often re-read Persuasion whilst there as I have it on my Kindle.
It's such a beautifully observed narrative 😍
My book is in! I'll be collecting it later this week.
I love Persuasion; my second favourite Austen novel.
1. If you've read other Austen novels, where would you place this one. If this is your first Austen, what did you think?
2. Is this the most romantic of Austen's novels. What do you think of Anne and Wentworth's relationship? Will be stronger from the seven years or so delay?
3. Did you have a favourite character or one you loved to hate? Do you think Austen was unfair to Mrs Clay and too kind to Mrs Smith for instance?
4. If you've seen any adaptations of the book, what did you think of them?
5. One of the things I like about the book is that I know The Cobb in Lyme Regis, and I can really picture the scene when Louisa jumps from it. Do you think knowing the settings of scenes makes a difference to your enjoyment of them?
6. Any other questions?
eta small coding correction-jedijudy Heaven Host
As characters I like Admiral and Mrs Croft. A marriage of equals between two sensible people.
One does wonder about Captain Frederick Wentworth's family. We know there are two brothers and a sister with the sister apparently the oldest (38 and married for 15 years with Edward Wentworth who is in holy orders probably about 32 or 33 [he had to be 24 or older in 1805 when he started as curate at Monkford some 8 years before], Frederick Wentworth being 31 or so). No mention of parents or other siblings or of someone in the family being landed gentry. However they must have some resources in order to send one son to university and place another as a midshipman (and Frederick Wentworth almost certainly became a midshipman before his sister's marriage). Contrast the Elliots who are from an established family (though their ancestor becoming a baronet in the first years of Charles 2 meant he likely paid cash for the honor).
I know and love Lyme Regis and for me the sense of place really adds to my enjoyment of reading a book.
I'll often look for books set in places I can picture and the scene on the Cobb is really vivid for me.
That said, the characterisation in Persuasion is also truly wonderful!