Persuasion
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3.5 • 14 Ratings
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Publisher Description
A woman of no importance, she manoeuvres in her restricted circumstances as her long-time love Captain Wentworth did in the wars. Even though she is nearly thirty, well past the sell-by bloom of youth, Austen makes her win out for herself and for others like herself, in a regenerated society.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Stevenson has read all of Austen's novels for audiobook, in abridged or unabridged versions, and her experience shows in this delightful production. Though dominated by the intelligent, sweet voice of Anne Elliot the least favored but most worthy of three daughters in a family with an old name but declining fortunes Stevenson provides other characters with memorable voices as well. She reads Anne's haughty father's lines with a mixture of stuffiness and bluster, and Anne's sisters are portrayed with a hilariously flighty, breathy register that makes Austen's contempt for them palpable. Anne's voice is mostly measured and reasonable an expression of her strong mind and spirit but Stevenson imbues her speech with wonderful shades of passion as Anne is reacquainted with Capt. Wentworth, whom she has continued to love despite being forced, years before, to reject him over status issues. Listening to Stevenson, as Anne, describe a sudden encounter with Wentworth, one hardly needs Austen's description of how Anne grows faint Stevenson's perfectly judged and deeply felt reading has already shown that she must have. Even those who have read Austen's novels will find themselves loving this book all over again with Stevenson's evocative rendition ringing richly in their ears.
Customer Reviews
Everything excellent and amiable!
Re-reading Persuasion only comfirmed every feeling it had earlier produced and every thought of its excellence. Though maybe not as polished and thought-out as 'Emma' nor as exciting and witty as 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Persuasion' is personally my favourite work by Austen. Anne and Frederick are for me examples of how should one behave in love; or in fact, in life - and the fact that their being almost perfect doesn't make them at all unrealistic does all justice to great feeling Austen had for literary work. Book has somewhat of bittersweetness that no other of her works has - the mistreatment of Anne by her family or the suffering of eight years separation from their loved ones that both she and Frederick have endured has no equal with other Austen's heroines and yet the joy that comes after all of this as a reward for both his and hers excellent character and conduct is overwhelming and gives great happiness to both protagonists and readers. I highly recommend💗😊