Persuasion

What is there to say about Jane Austen that hasn't already been said? I think Persuasion is probably my favorite of her stories. Could it have anything to do with that fun little "Who is your Austen Hero?" quiz returning results telling me that I had married Captain Wentworth in civies? Husband (or Sean, as some of you now know him thanks to his birthday hacking) is a lot like Anne's long remembered love. Hard working, dutiful, loyal, and dare I say, a little proud but not Darcy-ish.

Anyway... if I could persuade anyone who didn't think much of it to give themselves a chance to enjoy this story, I would certainly try! And, risking losing credibility with every Janeite here, I would even go so far as to say that if you don't have the opportunity to sit down and read it, please consider the movie as a substitute. I think it was exceptionally well done and captured the meat and flavor of the whole story only allowing for minor changes here and there which aren't of huge consequence. Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds are wonderful together and are complimented by the talents of Judy Cornwell, Sophie Thompson and Fiona Shaw making it delightfully entertaining.

If you haven't enjoyed this tale of Miss Austen's because it isn't one of her heavy hitters, here is something that might entice you. According to Wikipedia (take it for what it's worth):

Austen wrote Persuasion in a hurry, during the onset of the illness from which she eventually died; as a result, the novel is both shorter and arguably less polished than Mansfield Park and Emma, and was not subject to the usual pattern of careful retrospective revision.

I find something rather intriguing about that. Getting to read a story that the author wanted desperately to tell before her voice was silenced on earth and doing so in a more raw, au naturale, sort of way is kind of magical. I can't help but feel that unlike silver, unpolished stories are a better reflection of the real person behind the words.