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  • Persuasion

  • By: Jane Austen
  • Narrated by: Mary Sarah
  • Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (236 ratings)
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Persuasion cover art

Persuasion

By: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Mary Sarah
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Summary

A moving love story displaying all of Austen's signature wit and ironic narrative style. Persuasion is Jane Austen's last completed novel. She began it soon after she had finished Emma, completing it in August 1816.

Public Domain (P)2013 Trout Lake Media

What listeners say about Persuasion

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

accent was clear & nice to listen to

I really enjoyed it, it was a little broken sounded in places.. well worth sale price!

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

First time listener

This was the first time I have listened to an audible book and I Really enjoyed listening to this book and will listen to more.

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

Great writer trashed by a dreadful reader

I bought this cheaply on offer but it was still a waste of money. I can't listen to it. I stupidly didn't listen to the sample. The reader is American, and at times she manages to pull of an English accent but then suddenly lapses into a sort of 'Gone With The Wind' ladidah... it's completely off-putting. Her pronunciation of
Places like Gloucester end with a burr but it's not a West Country one! And anyway Jane Austen was from Hampshire. The switching accent makes it hard to focus.

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

Lesser-read Jane Austen novel well worth a listen

It took me a while to get used to the narrator's Irish accent - perhaps incongruous to the telling of a quintessentially English novel - but she really brought the story to life.

The style of 19th century literature can make even the most wonderful stories difficult to read in their original version, requiring persistence and determination. I strongly recommend audiobooks for making the literary classics of old accessible to impatient readers.

I had had the book by my bedside for several months but found it hard to penetrate before purchasing the audio book.

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3 people found this helpful

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

Annoying narration

I add my voice, or review, to that of many others. A beautiful story with exquisite narrative and dialogue is spoilt by a poor narration.
In my opinion English classics shouldn't be read by a regional accent.
I couldn't decide if the narrator were Irish or American. Either way their voice was all wrong.

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

Not very well read

Would you try another book written by Jane Austen or narrated by Mary Sarah?

No I don't think I could suffer another book read by Mary Sarah certainly not one where she is affecting and English accent. Her English accent is all right in parts but breaks down often, and her pronunciation of some words is bizarre . It is hard to understand how she came by the pronunciation of "obliged" assuming English is her first language. However I could listen to many books by Jane Austen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Persuasion?

Hard to say as the reading was distracting.

Would you be willing to try another one of Mary Sarah’s performances?

No!

Do you think Persuasion needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, I rather think Jane Austen is dead and would be unable to write a follow up book.

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

good story and very good reading

good story and very good reading. enjoyed it very . i cant think up any more words!

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

Wonderful book ...

The book I read in my teen years, made more understandable when being read to you!

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

very good

I really love this story, it was well read and very easy to listen to.

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

Dreadful interpreystiom

Book is great. I shouldn't really enjoy getting involved in the endless romantic affairs of the mostly idle rich but Jane Austen's use of character and language never fails to draw me in, but the reading of this version was dreadful almost to the point of hilarity.
I do appreciate that the reader was from the USA, but did nobody at Audible listen to this and notice the reader so often slipping into the Dick van Dyke cockney, or seek to correct the misplaced emphases? I'd be "oblarged" if someone could "shew" me any evidence that they did!
Suggest any other Austen fan try a different version.

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1 person found this helpful