I remember your disappointment with the letter scene before. I love the way it unfolds and reveals the feelings of both Anne and Wentworth! Persuasion is my favourite Jane Austen novel for several of the reasons you mentioned.
The letter is such a perfect way to resolve the tensions of a book about being separate and not talking to each other - it just brings things together so well. Have you read the alternative ending? It's good, but it feels less serious.
@@tillysshelf Yes, finally all the silence is broken open and they communicate clearly! It's been a while since I've read the alternative ending, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, so I'm glad she changed it to this one.
This is a fantastic book talk! So much great character analysis . I also admired the Croft's relationship. It seemed like such a hopeful contrast against the relationship of Mary and Charles. I love Anne Elliot's character and maturity. Same with Captain Wentworth. Jane Austen so beautifully wrote out their emotions as they both realized they still loved the other and as they both came to understand the love that the other still held! Agh!! "I AM HALF HOPE HALF AGONY!". Surely one of the most romantic lines ever written. Love love love this book.
Persuasion is my favorite Austen! I really enjoyed this video. I especially enjoyed the discussion of the Elliot pride. I hadn't thought about it much, but it's totally true and very interesting.
Pride does feature a lot in this book; besides the Elliot pride and vanity that you mentioned, there's also Capt. Wentworth's pride that causes him not to reapply to Anne when he first had the chance all those years ago after they broke up, and then also prevents him from getting back together with her more quickly when he arrives at the Musgrove's village.
The Crofts are my favourite married couple! It's very touching how they are so united and of one another but also have retained their own characters, they are perfectly balanced. I never noticed that slip with calling her Anne instead of Miss Eliot - it's perfect! Just another subtle hint of where his heart is. I haven't read Wives and Daughters, but I would argue that Austen isn't the only author to suggest that certain characters have greater depth and merit. Even taking Gaskell, Thorton's sister and the woman that Margaret knows in London are both portrayed as this slightly more trivial type of woman. The trick of the author is to make us believe that we are like Margaret and Anne and Miss Harville and in that way special.
Well said! If you like Jane Austen and North & South I would highly recommend Wives & Daughters to you. It's amazing! I love the Crofts too. They are a really great example of what a married couple can be.
This is the Jane Austen book I'm most interested in. I have not gotten on with Jane yet (P&P and S&S). I'm not sure if it is truly the writing style or the stories themselves. I am going to come back to this video after I've read Persuasion though. And if I don't enjoy it, I think Austen and I will just have to be acquaintances rather than kindred spirits. :)
That sounds like a good plan. While I absolutely love Jane Austen, she's not for everyone, so I'll be curious to hear after you read Persuasion whether she's an acquaintance or kindred spirit of your's!
Such a great analysis of my favorite Jane Austen novel. The letter is amazing in my opinion but I also love both characters and how they matured (in the time period they did not see each other) but cannot see that at first, such realistic portrayals.
Yes, P&P is my favorite and Persuasion is my 2nd favorite, and I agree, so romantic, in a more mature, satisfying way. And as for the quotes, I think "She was quite unpersuadable" is said about Louisa Musgrove, since she's the one whose strong mind Wentworth keeps commenting on, to Anne's detriment. (But that might be a trick question...it could be Anne herself, refusing to go to dinner with Capt. W at the big house, but instead, staying at home with the sick child, or Mary refusing to visit the Musgrove's first, because she is standing on ceremony, or refusing to go any further toward Charles Hayter's house.....anyway, good trick question, because I don't know!). The second one is much easier, as it's one of the important incidents in the book, in terms of what Anne believes about being a sailor's wife: it's Mrs. Croft talking to her brother Capt. Wentworth, when he says he doesn't think women belong on ships. I should mention that I started reading Austen when I was 12, and I've reread them all MANY times; I was rereading P&P so much in my 20s that I had to put a limit on myself, so now I only get to reread them all once a year. Since I'm 60, I guess that means I've read Persuasion about 40 times or so. I'd like to comment that they never get old, and I learn new things each time I read them. It helps to read the literary criticism to gain more insights. My love and respect for Jane Austen and her craft grows year by year!
Hello Megs, I wish I had watched your video before reading Persuasion! I thought the writing was unexciting and I couldn't get a clear conception of the characters. I am thinking now that there is more to it than I had first realised, especially after reading A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz. I plan to re-read it at some stage.
@@meghanthestorygirl4581 I am re-reading Deresieewicz at the moment. His insights and analysis and practical application are splendid. I am sure you will love this book as much as I do! I am planning to re-read all of Austen's six novels, either later this year or next year.
I read this earlier this year as a bedtime book and didn't much like it, but funnily enough I re-read it via audio book last week and liked it a hell of a lot more :D The problem with Austen is her sentences are so long and rambly that I get lost in them, but with the audio book, the narrator had done the hard work for me if that makes sense? Either way, I'm not particularly big on romance in general but I loved a few of the lines and observations that she had!
Persuasion has the longest, rambliest sentences of all of her novels, and also the chunkiest paragraphs as a lot of the speech is referred. It makes it seem a denser book, but all the usual humour and social commentary is there.
Sometimes audiobooks are just the thing needed, especially with long sentences. If they're done well it can really make the book come alive in a new way. I'm glad you read it again!
I remember your disappointment with the letter scene before. I love the way it unfolds and reveals the feelings of both Anne and Wentworth! Persuasion is my favourite Jane Austen novel for several of the reasons you mentioned.
The letter is such a perfect way to resolve the tensions of a book about being separate and not talking to each other - it just brings things together so well. Have you read the alternative ending? It's good, but it feels less serious.
It's just so good! I'm glad I changed my mind about the letter. It has so many AMAZING sentences in it.
@@tillysshelf Yes, finally all the silence is broken open and they communicate clearly! It's been a while since I've read the alternative ending, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, so I'm glad she changed it to this one.
This is a fantastic book talk! So much great character analysis . I also admired the Croft's relationship. It seemed like such a hopeful contrast against the relationship of Mary and Charles. I love Anne Elliot's character and maturity. Same with Captain Wentworth. Jane Austen so beautifully wrote out their emotions as they both realized they still loved the other and as they both came to understand the love that the other still held! Agh!! "I AM HALF HOPE HALF AGONY!". Surely one of the most romantic lines ever written. Love love love this book.
I'm so glad you love it too! The characters, the dialogue, the story - it's all so amazing!
Persuasion is my favorite Austen! I really enjoyed this video. I especially enjoyed the discussion of the Elliot pride. I hadn't thought about it much, but it's totally true and very interesting.
Thanks so much! Jane Austen is great at irony.
@@meghanthestorygirl4581 She is!
Pride does feature a lot in this book; besides the Elliot pride and vanity that you mentioned, there's also Capt. Wentworth's pride that causes him not to reapply to Anne when he first had the chance all those years ago after they broke up, and then also prevents him from getting back together with her more quickly when he arrives at the Musgrove's village.
That's so true. If only he had been better at setting aside his pride I think things would have been a lot easier!
This book sounds really interesting! I’m always a sucker for romance!
Yes, and it's not overdone or mushy so it's perfect!
@@meghanthestorygirl4581 I might need to check it out!
The Crofts are my favourite married couple! It's very touching how they are so united and of one another but also have retained their own characters, they are perfectly balanced. I never noticed that slip with calling her Anne instead of Miss Eliot - it's perfect! Just another subtle hint of where his heart is.
I haven't read Wives and Daughters, but I would argue that Austen isn't the only author to suggest that certain characters have greater depth and merit. Even taking Gaskell, Thorton's sister and the woman that Margaret knows in London are both portrayed as this slightly more trivial type of woman. The trick of the author is to make us believe that we are like Margaret and Anne and Miss Harville and in that way special.
Well said! If you like Jane Austen and North & South I would highly recommend Wives & Daughters to you. It's amazing! I love the Crofts too. They are a really great example of what a married couple can be.
I enjoyed this video very much. It has so many interesting details🙂🌹
Thanks so much!
This is the Jane Austen book I'm most interested in. I have not gotten on with Jane yet (P&P and S&S). I'm not sure if it is truly the writing style or the stories themselves. I am going to come back to this video after I've read Persuasion though. And if I don't enjoy it, I think Austen and I will just have to be acquaintances rather than kindred spirits. :)
That sounds like a good plan. While I absolutely love Jane Austen, she's not for everyone, so I'll be curious to hear after you read Persuasion whether she's an acquaintance or kindred spirit of your's!
Such a great analysis of my favorite Jane Austen novel. The letter is amazing in my opinion but I also love both characters and how they matured (in the time period they did not see each other) but cannot see that at first, such realistic portrayals.
Yes, it is such a great novel with amazing characters!
going to tab this for now! I'm about halfway through this book and will finish in the next couple of days. Excited to hear your thoughts.
Great! Can't wait to hear what you think.
Yes, P&P is my favorite and Persuasion is my 2nd favorite, and I agree, so romantic, in a more mature, satisfying way. And as for the quotes, I think "She was quite unpersuadable" is said about Louisa Musgrove, since she's the one whose strong mind Wentworth keeps commenting on, to Anne's detriment. (But that might be a trick question...it could be Anne herself, refusing to go to dinner with Capt. W at the big house, but instead, staying at home with the sick child, or Mary refusing to visit the Musgrove's first, because she is standing on ceremony, or refusing to go any further toward Charles Hayter's house.....anyway, good trick question, because I don't know!). The second one is much easier, as it's one of the important incidents in the book, in terms of what Anne believes about being a sailor's wife: it's Mrs. Croft talking to her brother Capt. Wentworth, when he says he doesn't think women belong on ships. I should mention that I started reading Austen when I was 12, and I've reread them all MANY times; I was rereading P&P so much in my 20s that I had to put a limit on myself, so now I only get to reread them all once a year. Since I'm 60, I guess that means I've read Persuasion about 40 times or so. I'd like to comment that they never get old, and I learn new things each time I read them. It helps to read the literary criticism to gain more insights. My love and respect for Jane Austen and her craft grows year by year!
That's wonderful that you've had Jane Austen in your life for so long and that you've continued to reread her throughout the years! She's amazing.
Persuasion is some times my favorite Austen (my rankings move around!). I really enjoyed this analysis! Lots of great insight.
Thanks so much! My rankings usually move around too, except for P&P being my favourite and Persuasion being my second favourite.
I find Persuasion to be one of the best and most romantic ( like you said ) of classics ..
It's just so good!
Hello Megs, I wish I had watched your video before reading Persuasion! I thought the writing was unexciting and I couldn't get a clear conception of the characters. I am thinking now that there is more to it than I had first realised, especially after reading A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz. I plan to re-read it at some stage.
I'm glad you're going to give it another shot! I really need to get the Deresiewicz book.
@@meghanthestorygirl4581 I am re-reading Deresieewicz at the moment. His insights and analysis and practical application are splendid. I am sure you will love this book as much as I do! I am planning to re-read all of Austen's six novels, either later this year or next year.
I just reread it, and think your reaction is right. It now seems to me too much like a mashup of Northanger Abbey & Mansfield Park.
(The Cinderella trope and the two silly sisters from Mansfield Park; the older companion and the vain Bath associates from Northanger Abbey).
I read this earlier this year as a bedtime book and didn't much like it, but funnily enough I re-read it via audio book last week and liked it a hell of a lot more :D The problem with Austen is her sentences are so long and rambly that I get lost in them, but with the audio book, the narrator had done the hard work for me if that makes sense? Either way, I'm not particularly big on romance in general but I loved a few of the lines and observations that she had!
Persuasion has the longest, rambliest sentences of all of her novels, and also the chunkiest paragraphs as a lot of the speech is referred. It makes it seem a denser book, but all the usual humour and social commentary is there.
@@tillysshelf That explains a lot! :D I'm glad I read it for sure!
Sometimes audiobooks are just the thing needed, especially with long sentences. If they're done well it can really make the book come alive in a new way. I'm glad you read it again!
@@tillysshelf That's true. I love the longer sentences - she uses so many juicy words!
@@meghanthestorygirl4581 Yes for sure! I'm glad I re-read it too :)
I was saving Persuasion for Jane Austen July, but I don't think I'll be able to now!😃📚
Haha, it's just so good!
I think the first of the two lines you read from the letter were repurposed in Pride And Prejudice And Zombies. (The movie, at least.)
Oh, really?! That's so funny!
@@meghanthestorygirl4581 right?! I remember watching it and thinking it was poetic, but I didn't recognize it from the book.
@@pamdawkins13 Jane Austen's writing even though it is prose can sometimes be pure poetry!