Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Adult Themes: Cousin William Elliot, heir to the Elliot estate, is a two-faced character.  He snubs the family earlier in the novel and married “a wealthy woman of common origin” only for her money.  He returns later, as a widower, attempting to win the heart of Anne and break up the marriage prospects of Walter Elliot & Mrs. Clay.  But why this change of heart?  Both of these are done to selfishly protect his fortune and place as future baron of Kellynch Hall.  William has had dishonest financial dealings with Mrs. Smith, Anne’s friend.

Synopsis

Anne Elliot is the overlooked middle daughter of Sir Walter Elliott, a vain man who has managed to spend beyond the family fortune.  This causes the family to move to a more affordable, yet still socially acceptable residence in Bath, England.  Seven years prior Anne had fallen in love with and been engaged to Frederick Wentworth, a young, poor seaman.  Anne is unhappily persuaded by her family and friends to break-off this engagement, as Frederick is seen as an unacceptable match. Fast forward these seven years and Frederick, still nursing a broken heart, has returned to the area a decorated and wealthy captain.  Frederick’s pride and Anne’s sadness, at choosing duty over true love, keep them occupied with other people and activities for several months.  Frederick appears to be courting Louisa and Anne is being pursued by Capt. Benwick and cousin William Elliot.  In the end, true love finds a way to bring Anne and Wentworth back together.

This is the last novel written by renowned English author, Jane Austen. As in her other classics, Persuasion is set in early 19^th century, upper-class English society.  This is an enjoyable story of true love being given a second chance.   Do we not all have occasions where we wish we could have a “do over” about some aspect of our lives? (Hopefully, not as important as whom we marry.)  Luckily for Anne Elliot, she does get this chance.  The word, “persuasion,” occurs repeatedly throughout the novel.  This theme of the influencing of others and ourselves, and the ramifications of these choices, provides food for thought.  This novel follows Jane’s wordy, English writing style, which makes it sometimes hard to follow along.  But nonetheless, I highly recommend it as being a “must read” for anyone wishing to be well-read.