If you’re new to this Substack, one of the things I’m offering subscribers in 2023 is A Year with Jane. We’re reading through Austen’s six novels this year and ending the year with a bang: Persuasion is our read for November/December.
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And quick announcement that my book Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life appears to still arrive by Christmas via Amazon (but do check for your zip code).
Welp. I write to you from my Covid sick bed. My husband tested positive a few days ago and now it’s hit me and one of the kids, thoroughly complicating all Christmas plans and generally bringing misery.
But, at least things have turned out rather well for our dear Anne Elliot!
In the final chapters of Persuasion, all secrets come to light. Wentworth, encouraged by Anne’s conversation with Captain Harville about the longevity of women’s love, finally writes to Anne of his hopes for their attachment to be reignited. It is the love letter to compare all other love letters to. What a satisfying reunion!
But that’s not all. More is revealed. Mrs. Clay and Mr. Elliot show their true colors. Lady Russell must confront her own gross misjudgments. And Wentworth must face the fact that if he had only conquered his pride and reached out to Anne years sooner, they would have been celebrating six years of marriage. But this slow burn of a romance is just glorious.
And yet…some suspense clouds the last paragraph of the novel. Austen, a mature novelist ends her final finished novel with a bit of unsettling realism. Yes, Anne and Wentworth have finally found their way to each other. But the dangerous seas and the prospect of violent wars stretch out before them. A very different ending, in my opinion, to any of her other novels. What do you make of it?
Discussion Question: While acknowledging that the decision didn’t lead to happiness, Anne defends her youthful trust and her duty to attend to Lady Russell’s counsel. Was she right to do so? Chime in by replying to this post!
And next week will wrap up our Year of Jane! If you read with us (even just one novel), leave me a comment to let me know. This has been such a fun project!
Reading schedule:
Week of November 12th:
Gather your books and read Chapters 1-5 of Persuasion. There are many editions out there, so just grab what’s on your shelf or at the local library. And if you enjoy audiobooks, this is an excellent novel to enjoy with a great narrator. My favorite for this novel is Juliet Stevenson’s audiobook version. Grab Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life from Ave Maria Press (use STEWART20 for 20% off) or from Amazon.
If you didn’t start reading with us in January, you may want to catch up by reading the Introduction and Chapters 1-6 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life to set the stage.
November 19th-25th:
We’ll discuss Chapters 1-5.
Read Chapters 6-10 of Persuasion
November 26th-December 2nd:
We’ll discuss Chapters 6-10.
Read Chapters 11-15 of Persuasion
December 3rd-9th:
We’ll discuss Chapters 11-15.
Read Chapters 16-20 of Persuasion
December 10th-16th:
We’ll discuss Chapters 16-20.
Read Chapters 21-24 of Persuasion
December 17th-23rd:
We’ll discuss Chapters 21-24.
Read Chapter 7 of Jane Austen’s Genius Guide to Life
All Jane Austen book club emails and 2023 emails will continue to be available with a free subscription. But this is a reader supported effort. Consider supporting this literary Substack by upgrading to a paid subscription.
Yours,
Haley
(Editor of Word on Fire Spark, Author, Former Podcaster)
Haley’s Children’s Mystery Series about Mouse Nuns
Haley’s Book on Jane Austen’s Novels
Haley’s Book about Radical Simplicity
I do think she was right - we talked early in the novel about whether lady Russell was right to give the advice, which I agree is a harrier question, but I definitely think teenage, inexperienced, besotted anne was right to follow the advice of the most caring and sensible adult in her orbit. A case of best intentions with no crystal ball!
I re-read Captain Wentworth’s letter several times - it really is the best! The novel’s ending isn’t the sweet, happy ending that is often associated with “romance” novels, but I would argue that Jane Austen’s books are never solely about the romance. While the last line of some of her other novels might not be so overtly pragmatic, I think that she often injects a dose of reality or a less-than-happy ending for at least some of her characters. For Jane and Bingley, for example, she says that they struggle with setting boundaries with Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, and Wickham, and even end up moving closer to Elizabeth and Darcy to escape Mrs. Bennet’s attentions. It’s something I love about her storytelling, they way that she sees so clearly the effects that people’s behavior will have on their lives, even in seemingly small things.
I’m honestly a little torn on whether Anne made the right decision or not, but I think that’s part of the point. It’s not a clear situation of she’s-right-he’s-wrong. Wentworth’s stubborn resentment was certainly wrong, but neither of them was inherently wrong in their choice to continue or end the engagement. I tend to lean more toward Anne’s side of the issue, but I also totally see Wentworth’s perspective of wanting to stand together against the odds. And Lady Russell is not always right, as we have seen.