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Persuasion cover art

Persuasion

By: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Summary

Anne Elliot has grieved for seven years over the loss of her first love, Captain Frederick Wentworth. But events conspire to unravel the knots of deceit and misunderstanding in this beguiling and gently comic story of love and fidelity.

©2007 Naxos AudioBooks Ltd. (P)2007 Naxos AudioBooks Ltd.

What listeners say about Persuasion

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  • 18-10-13

Persuaded.

I've never read any Austen before, but having lived in the UK now for 20 years I've kinda soaked up the period drama thang by osmosis and was pretty sure of what to expect - or so I thought ... While the plot was fairly straight forward, when it came to the characters Ms. Austen didn't shy away from baring her teeth and taking a merry bite at the crass and petty snobs that filled her society. I thoroughly enjoyed the way she took the p**s out of the families and their obsession with class and correctness, and exposed their hypocrisy - especially regarding the ethics of wealth and family honour: she did it with a keen eye and a wonderfully subtle wit. (I listened to the audiobook narrated by Juliet Stevenson, and her voicings really did help to grasp the characters' natures.) Thoroughly, and surprisingly, enjoyed!

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

I am bemused by the reviewers that treat Persuasion as an inferior afterthought - it is so clearly full of insight and wisdom as well as wit. Juliet Stevenson is the best reader of Austen by far. This reading gave me great comfort through a difficult time. If I could give it 6 stars I would.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely, lovely, lovely!

Oh what a joy this has been - and now it's all over! Beautifully read, with fine characterisation, this is my favourite Austen by a long chalk. The BBC did a fine adaptation a few years back (not the truly awful ITV one of a year or so ago) which gave me powerful visuals while I listened - what more can you want? I bought this in one of Audible's sales for very little, and it's been an absolute bargain; it's probably even worth its full price!

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, great reader

Persuasion is not Pride & Prej, but it is wonderful in its own right. This version is read wonderfully, and very enjoyable. Persuasion is sublte and rather sad, a maturer woman's perspective on life and lost love. There are moments in this book that are unforgetable; 'that letter!' as a freind of mine always describes it. enjoy!

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Juliet Stevenson excels again!

I had not previously read this Jane Austen, and I think it is one that is quite often forgotten. This is not however because it is one of her lesser works. This story follows a different formula to many of her other novels, and shows Austen's maturity in her writing style. It will never be as good as Pride and Prejudice, but definitley worth a listen.

Juliet Stevenson once again is a fantastic narrator, making each character unique.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Not so gentle satire

This book has some of Jane Austen's best writing - she invents the trick of the authorial voice stepping into the character's thoughts here for the first time in the novel. Outside that the authorial voice is quite biting, in the main character she gives an accurate portrait of depression, and some of the subordinate characters are truly appalling. Which may be why some people don't like it as much as her other books: it's hard to maintain the "sweetness and light" illusion that some have of Jane Austen. I like it best of all her books, and, as usual, Juliet Stevenson is a splendid narrator (though Anna Massey, if only we could have her, brings an icy bite to her reading which is entirely appropriate to this book).

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10 people found this helpful

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Persuaded by Persuasion

The characters have been beautifully captured by Juliet Stevenson - the voices of selfish Mary, vain Sir Walter, downtrodden but spirited Anne and handsome Captain Wentworth - are all perfect, in what is probably my favourite Austen novel.

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10 people found this helpful

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Such a beautiful book

This is the older Jane Austen speaking, and it shows. Maturity and depth of feeling. A beautiful book, and beautifully narrated, 10/10 as always for Ms Stevenson

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7 people found this helpful

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Excellently read.

Very mindfully written and representative for the time.

The narrator makes it! Hearing the voices of Mary and Anne keep it easy to listen to and know who is speaking.

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6 people found this helpful

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Persuasion Or Patience is Rewarded

Perhaps not one of Jane Austen's most popular novels probably because Anne Elliot is no Elizabeth or Emma. The plot isn't without flaws either - bit meandering and occasionally unbelievable.
But it's perfectly narrated and there's the massive aaahh factor at the end, which makes up for any of those stumblings.
A really worthwhile read for anyone who loves Jane Austen and a neat, happy ending!

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5 people found this helpful