Persuasion, a book written by Jane Austen in 1816, is a classic that many enjoy. It starts off, describing a wealthy, high-class family, the Elliot’s living in their estate in Regency England. It highlights one character in the book, Anne Elliot, who is in love with Frederick Wentworth, who wasn’t very well-off at the time. They got engaged but their marriage was rejected by Anne’s family who she trusted to support her happiness. They persuaded her to deny the marriage because of Frederick’s rank in society. The story is then laid out from there. Eight years had passed since Anne saw Frederick when he returned visiting the friends and sister’s in-laws she’d been staying with. With his return, Anne was informed that Fredrick is a wealthy captain of the navy, looking for someone to love. It is awkward at first in the reunion, though they slowly become more friendly with one another. The story becomes interesting when there is a sudden twist that leads to gossip that changes the relationships of the characters. The judgmental Elliots and the contrasting characters add some comedy to the book.
Jane Austen’s rich writing explains the importance of rank in class and the pressure of society for women to marry well. I was entertained by the gossip and the individuality of each character, though it is one of the harder books I’ve read. I give this book 3 stars because it is a little harder to read because of the language of that period and the time it took to comprehend it. I do realize that this book is very beautifully written in explaining the emotions of each character. I recommend this book to people who are engaged in classic reads that are for a higher level. However, if you do read this, there might be some confusing words or phrases, but you will be amazed about the difference in society and class in England of that time.
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