Persuasion

Persuasion is written in true Jane Austen style, with the heartwarming drama of star-crossed lovers. Anne Elliot, the neglected daughter of a bankrupt baron, ended her engagement to Captain Frederick Wentworth on the advice of her mother-figure friend, Lady Russell, only to regret it soon thereafter. However, she resigns herself to her fate, thinking she'll never see him again or, if she does, that he'll be married. To her surprise, he comes to visit her in-laws, the Musgroves, at the same time she is forced to go keep her married sister, Mary Musgrove, company. As a result, they are repeatedly thrown together and slowly begin to overcome their awkward aversion to one another. Unfortunately, a hindrance to their progress comes in the form of her heir-apparent cousin, William Elliot, whose unaccountable past and unwanted attentions cause innocent Anne all kinds of problems.

True to form, Austen weaves a riveting tale of love and loss, expectation and exasperation. Her characters are comical and her social satire is biting. The gentle heroine, Anne, is endearing and Captain Wentworth is charming and dashing, like all of Austen's leading men. The cast of characters embody a range of personalities and flaws, all of which combine to produce humorous situations and unfortunate encounters. Even the most flawed characters are endearing in their oblivion, while the most deserving characters win readers' hearts from their very first appearance. There are several shocking surprises in store for the reader, and the ending is an enigma until nearly the final page. 'Persuasion' is the perfect blend of comedy and drama, with life-like characters and realistic situations that are sure to place the reader in the thick of the action.