This is my second favorite Austen book. The first one is, predictably,Pride and Prejudice. But Persuasion has something about it that makes it delicious. As any Austen book, it's laced with the classical Jane Austen humor and social commentary. And it's a different story from others by Austen. Instead of dealing with a girl learning what love is, it deals with a girl finding the strenght to stand up for herself.

And it also has a very important lesson: do not allow your friends, it doesn't matter how close you are, to decide about your love life. Ever. It's a bad idea.



At the beginning of the story, Anne is considered an old maid (at twenty-seven, mind you) because she hasn't married. But she is not the only one in her family: her older sister isn't married either (the narrator comments that this is probably because nobody met her ridiculous standards... probably she was a mean bitch with her suitors as well). She treats Anne poorly and acts as if Anne's role in her life is to tend to her needs. The youngest sister isn't much better. She is married (a.k.a she accomplished what was expected from her) to one of Anne's rejected suitors. And she also acts like Anne has to be there for her whenever she needs her.

Their father is pretty awful too. Sir Walter is a mean, selfish and impoverished aristocrat who lives his life according to his title and snubs anyone who doesn't fit with his social status. A full-blown snob.

Anne lives on the memories of a love affair she had at eighteen, when she fell for a young man called Frederick Wenthworth. But Lady Russell, an old friend of her mother, convinced her that Wenthworth was unsuitable and Anne refused his proposal, leaving him heartbroken. Nine years later, she still mourns losing him.

When her father decides that he cannot keep his beautiful estate, Kellynch Hall, he, rather reluctanctly, agrees to rent it to someone. That someone is Wenthworth's (now a naval officer) brother-in-law. So, Anne's and her former lover's paths are to be joined again.

What follows is basically two very proud and stubborn people refusing to admit their feelings for each other. There are parts that were incredibly frustrating. I wanted to shout them "Why don't you just admit it once and for all!?" But no, I had to stand them trying to prove each other that they had forgotten. Well, to be fair, that was mostly from Captain Wenthworth side, but still.

Anne is an amazing character. She's strong without having to resort to fighting anyone, or showing off. She is sweet and good with people and tries to help her friends and family all the time. At first she is quite the shrinking violet, but as the novel goes on, she grows a spine and stands up for herself. And when she does, she's epic.

Captain Wenthworth is also increible. During most of the book he is a hearbroken and profoundly sad man. It's obvious that his feelings for Anne are not quite forgotten. But he's just too proud to admit it. As the novel goes on, he grows out of it.

My favorite scene is almost at the end of the book. Anne and Captain Harville are discussing Captain Benwick's (who was engaged to Harville's late sister) engagement to Louisa Musgrave (who was head over heels about Captain Wenthworth). He mentions that he's surprised that his friend got over his fiancee's death, because men's feelings are stronger. Anne replies him that women's love may be weakest, but it lasts longer.

Captain Wenthworth hears her answer and realises there's some hope for them. He writes her the most amazing letter explaining his feelings. Why won't men do such a thing today? Yeah, I'm still looking for someone who can write such a letter (or like Mr. Darcy's).

In the end, this is a novel about second chances and redemption. It tells us that hope is never lost, even if we are "past our prime". And that pride can't be an obstacle to true love. It sounded corny, but I cannot help it.