Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Persuasion

  • By: Jane Austen
  • Narrated by: Nadia May
  • Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (55 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Persuasion cover art

Persuasion

By: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Nadia May
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Persuasion (Seasons Edition: Summer) cover art
Mansfield Park cover art
Persuasion and Poems by Jane Austen cover art
"Sanditon" and Excerpts from the Novels cover art
Sense and Sensibility (Seasons Edition - Fall) cover art
3 Classic Novels cover art
Jane Austen's Greatest Novels cover art
Emma (Seasons Edition - Spring) cover art
Northanger Abbey cover art
Emma [Naxos Edition] cover art
Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon cover art
Jane Austen Collection cover art
Middlemarch cover art
North and South cover art
David Copperfield cover art
Jane Eyre cover art

Summary

The last novel completed by Jane Austen before she died at 41, Persuasion is often thought to be the story of the author's own lost love. Sir Walter Elliot of Kellynch Hall has three daughters: Elizabeth, who shares his haughty vanity and, at 28 has found no one good enough to marry; Mary, who has, with some condescension, married the son of the local squire; and admirable Anne, who "was nobody with either father or sister".

This is the story of a second chance, the reawakening of love between Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth, whom eight years earlier she had been persuaded not to marry, due to his lowly station in life. Wentworth returns from the Napoleonic Wars with prize money and the social acceptability of naval rank. He is now an eligible suitor acceptable to Anne's snobbish father and his circle, and Anne discovers the continuing strength of her love for him. The happy ending is a contrast to the real outcome of Austen's own romantic aspirations.

(P)2000 Blackstone Audio Inc.

What listeners say about Persuasion

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    33
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A firm favourite among Austen's Novels told in its fullness very well

I must say that in terms of hearing what I currently believe to be my favourite among Jane Austen's novels I was almost completely happy with this delivery of the story.

The only issue I can take is that of the pronunciation of Captain Benwicks name. Given that I have seen a number of other screen adaptations of the novels and in every version the W in his surname is clearly believed to be silent thus he is normally called 'Ben-nick' not as was here the case of 'Ben-wick'. Apart from this 'niggle' everything else in the reading was thoroughly enjoyable.

I already knew I loved the story and Nadia May's voice is incredibly easy to listen to and her voices for each character believable. In fact I have now looked for other Austen books narrated by her as well as other classic novels I've wanted to listen to. Looking very much forward to listening to the ones I've found.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just perfect

Such a good reader- she brings out all the humour of the appalling Sir Walter and Miss!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Persuasion

Well read but I found the story to be very dull. I didn't care to know anything of any of the characters - live or die, love or don't love, I just did not care. It took me much longer to listen to this than it should have as I kept zoning out and having to start the chapter again. It might have just been my mood though as I have enjoyed Austin's other novels.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Persuasion

Well read, thoroughly enjoyed even though one of her most wordy volumes. I can listen and enjoy often.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent novel

I keep coming back to this novel again and again as a sentimental tale of love lost and second chances. I tried this narrator as I thoroughly enjoy her narration of Northanger Abbey. Narration is very good and will probably listen to this version again!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Persuasion.......Perfection!

One of the greatest classic love stories beautifully told. To be read and re-read. Always a joy. Try it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Surprised at this my first Austen read

Would you listen to Persuasion again? Why?

One of the classics on the 1001 books to read before you die lists and the reason why I listened. I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did, assuming such a romantic novel is not a favourite genre of mine. Was pleasantly surprised and of course there are reasons why people love the works of Jane Austen, the book is far more than my original perception and was a page turner.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Persuasion?

The trip to Lyme Regis in the novel has stayed with me as well as the difficult family relationships and restrictions on the heroine as a woman at that time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Pretty much. I surprised myself. I bought as a list book and part of a members multi offer. I now have other Jane Austen books in my library to listen too. I'm not a Jane Austen devotee but can see why she's widely loved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Jane at her best.

Where does Persuasion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 10, I love all of Austen' s work. It is so easy to get lost in the plot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A painless classic

I had to teach the novel and was struggling through some parts reading it so decided to give the audiobook a go - fantastic idea - I able to listen and take notes, listen and do other chores, even lying in bed, the characters came alive and even the place - I was able to picture the scenes, the outfits and overall the book s that much more enjoyable. If you'd like to read mo classics but fear getting bored, this is perfect!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!