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| Persuasion
Audio Book & Story Guide |
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| Title: |
Persuasion |
| Author: |
Jane
Austen |
| Published: |
1817 |
| Duration: |
10 hours |
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| Summary
of Novel | Chapter
Summaries | Principal
Characters |
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| Summary
of Novel: |
The
tale centers around Anne Elliot and
Captain Wentworth and their reunion after years of
separation; Anne rejected the Captain's proposal in order to
satisfy familial and
social duties. Years without Wentworth have been a regret for
Anne who is a person of no consequence to her family.
However, circumstances will soon bring the Captain back into her
life. Will bitterness part them forever, or do old feelings
die hard?
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| *Persuasion
was completed in 1817, but Jane
died before it was published by her brother Henry.
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| Chapter
Summaries: |
Chapter One
The Elliot family finances are quite bleak. Their friends
Lady Russell and Mr. Shepherd are called upon for advice. The
vain and spendthrift Sir Walter Elliot and his eldest daughter
Elizabeth will be hard to convince.
Chapter Two
Sir Walter scoffs at proposals of economy. However, with the
guidance of Lady Russell and Mr. Shepherd, he agrees to
retrench. The Elliots will let Kellynch Hall and remove
themselves to Bath.
Chapter Three
The question of who should be tenant of Kellynch Hall is raised. As
fate would have it, an Admiral Croft and his wife are interested in
Kellynch. Trouble is, this same Mrs. Croft is the sister of a Mr.
Wentworth who used to live in the area; and Sir Walter recalled him to
be a nobody.
Chapter Four
A Captain Frederick Wentworth was Anne's former beau. Yet,
Lady Russell advised her to reject the proposal of the unsuccessful and
unconnected Captain who had nothing to recommend him but
himself. The Captain left feeling wronged; and about eight
years passed. Anne, the heroine of the story, regrets that
decision; and now an old wound resurfaces, as his sister may soon
reside in her very home.
Chapter Five
Admiral and Lady Croft will rent Kellynch Hall. Sir Walter
and Elizabeth leave for Bath and take the dubious Mrs. Clay with
them. Anne is called upon to stay with their sister Mary and
enjoys a visit with Mary’s in-laws, the Musgroves, at
Uppercross.
Chapter Six
Anne remains with her younger sister Mary and continues to enjoy the
company of the Musgrove family. Anne is a useful confidant to
all the Musgroves, including Mary. As it can no longer be
avoided, Anne meets the Admiral and Mrs. Croft and learns that Captain
Wentworth will be visiting soon.
Chapter Seven
Captain Wentworth arrives at Uppercross and Anne’s greatest trial
begins. However, Anne’s nephew Charles takes a bad fall so
that she excuses herself from meeting Wentworth. Yet, all the
Musgrove’s fall in love with the Captain so much that avoiding him is
impossible. After almost eight years, Anne and Wentworth set
eyes upon each other.
Chapter Eight
Captain Wentworth is the center of attention during a social evening at
Uppercross. Both the Miss Musgroves adore him and he appears
to enjoy them as well. However, while he is the life of the
party, he is cold to Anne.
Chapter Nine
There is much speculation over the possibility of a union between
Captain Wentworth and either Louisa or Henrietta. Henrietta
has the affection of her cousin Charles Hayter, but a country curate is
no match for a dashing naval officer. Captain Wentworth
arrives at the cottage to meet Charles, yet he walks in on Anne alone
with little Charles. This meeting proves to be very awkward
for both of them; and intensifies, when Charles Hayter
arrives.
Chapter Ten
Anne and Mary tag along with Louisa and Henrietta for a long
walk. Charles and Captain Wentworth wind up joining them, as
well. They go as far as Winthrop and Charles and Henrietta
visit the Hayters, while the others rest on the hill. While
Henrietta is away making up to Charles Hayter, Anne witnesses Louisa
advance as the main contender for Captain Wentworth’s attention.
Chapter Eleven
Captain Wentworth inspires the young Musgroves to visit Lyme.
So, Charles, Mary, Louisa, Henrietta, and Anne travel with the Captain
for a short excursion by the sea. There, they are introduced
to Wentworth’s friends the amiable Captain and Mrs. Harville and the
melancholy Captain Benwick who suffers the loss of Harville’s deceased
sister. However, Anne manages to bypass Benwick’s shy
exterior and engages him in literary discourse.
Chapter Twelve
Anne has a chance encounter with her cousin Mr. Elliot (the heir
presumptive of Kellynch) who is in mourning, though she does not
discover his identity until after he departs Lyme. Anne and
her party are also going to leave Lyme, when an impetuous act causes
Louisa to suffer a debilitating accident. Everyone relies on
Anne’s sound judgment and instinct to cope (even Captain Wentworth).
Chapter Thirteen
Anne reunites with Lady Russell and stays with her at Kellynch
Lodge. She receives news that Louisa’s condition improves,
but that she faces a slow recovery in Lyme. The Admiral and
Mrs. Croft invite Anne and Lady Russell for a visit at the Hall where
Captain Wentworth is absent.
Chapter Fourteen
Anne and Lady Russell visit with the Musgroves at Uppercross during the
Christmas holiday. Louisa and Henrietta are still in
Lyme. Charles teases Anne that Captain Benwick talked of her
constantly and that he wanted to see her again. Then, Anne
finally goes to Bath to resume her unenviable place with her father and
Elizabeth who have had the pleasure of reconciling with their cousin
Mr. Elliot.
Chapter Fifteen
Anne is surprised to find her father and sister in an ecstasy over Bath
and their cousin Mr. Elliott. They care very little for news
about Kellynch, or anything else. Their enthusiasm in
greeting Anne has more to do with being able to use her as an audience
and a fourth at dinner, than being glad to see her. Yet, Mr.
Elliot is very glad to see her and hear all her news.
Chapter Sixteen
Anne observes the dubious hold Mrs. Clay maintains on Sir Walter and
Elizabeth; and so do Lady Russell and Mr. Elliot. She is also
ashamed of the sycophantic manner they display towards their noble, but
disinteresting, cousins the Viscountess Dalrymple and her daughter Miss
Carteret. Yet, Mr. Elliot believes the connection to be
advantageous.
Chapter Seventeen
Anne is reacquainted with Mrs. Smith who was an old friend from
school. Mrs. Smith is reduced to a poor, crippled widow; yet,
Anne still views her as a valuable friend. Lady Russell is
convinced that Mr. Elliot desires to marry Anne, but Anne is skeptical
of his character.
Chapter Eighteen
Anne receives a letter from Mary with the surprising news that Louisa
Musgrove is engaged to marry Captain Benwick. Anne wonders if
Captain Wentworth quit his pursuit of Louisa, or if she broke it by
falling in love with Benwick. The Crofts arrive in Bath; and
Anne has a chance to speak with the Admiral.
Chapter Nineteen
Captain Wentworth walks into a shop where Anne is waiting for her
cousin Mr. Elliot. He speaks to her and she notices that
something in his manner has changed. Anne hopes to see him
again; and becomes less and less interested in Mr. Elliot.
Chapter Twenty
Anne meets Captain Wentworth at a concert patronized by Lady
Dalrymple. Before it begins, Anne and Wentworth engage in the
longest and friendliest conversation they have had since he reentered
her life. She can hardly concentrate on the concert and
desires to resume their intercourse, yet Mr. Elliot demands her
attention and Wentworth retreats hastily.
Chapter Twenty-One
Anne visits with Mrs. Smith and learns the truth about her cousin Mr.
Elliot. He was a friend to Mrs. Smith and her deceased
husband years ago; and had led them into poverty.
Additionally, Mrs. Smith produces a letter written by Mr. Elliot in
which he makes a disparaging reference to Anne’s father and sister and
the family title.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Anne enjoys a reprieve from Mr. Elliot, while he is thought to be away
from Bath. The Elliot family is surprised by the arrival of
Mary and Charles and news that Mrs. Musgrove, Henrietta, and Captain
Harville are also in Bath. Anne visits with them and Captain
Wentworth joins them also. Mary happens to notice the
supposedly absent Mr. Elliot in conversation with none other than Mrs.
Clay in the street.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Anne visits Mrs. Musgrove and finds Captains Wentworth and Harville
there. Wentworth is busy writing a letter, while Anne and
Harville debate the constancy of men and women. Soon after,
Anne discovers that Wentworth has left a letter for her to
read. Its contents reveal the secrets of his heart and
finally tear down the wall between them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Austen concludes her tale of rediscovered love. Anne and
Frederick finally marry. This time around, Anne’s family
deems Captain Wentworth to be suitable, however unaffectionate they may
be towards them. However, they have several others to share
their joy with and a future to share together.
The End.
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| Principal
Characters: |
The Elliot Family:
• Sir Walter Elliot
»Head of the family; vain aristocrat.
• Elizabeth Elliot
»Eldest daughter; 29; unmarried.
• Anne Elliot
»Middle daughter; 27; unmarried; heroine of the story.
• Mary Musgrove, nee Elliot
»Youngest daughter; 22; married w/ children.
• William Walter Elliot
»Estranged cousin; heir presumptive of Kellynch Hall.
Close Friends of the Elliot Family:
• Lady Russell
»Originally friend of the deceased Lady Elliot.
• Mr. Shepherd
»Sir Walter’s agent.
• Mrs. Clay
»Mr. Shepherd’s daughter; has children.
Wentworth Relations:
• Captain Frederick Wentworth
»Estranged beau of Anne; naval captain; hero of
the story.
• Admiral Croft
»Brother-in-law to Wentworth; Tenant of Sir Walter.
• Mrs. Croft
»Married to the Admiral; sister to Wentworth.
The Musgrove Family:
• Mr. Musgrove
»Owner of Uppercross; head of household.
• Mrs. Musgrove
»Mistress of the household.
• Charles
»Mary's husband; Anne rejected his prior proposal;
heir of Uppercross.
• Mary
»nee Elliot; Charles' wife; mother of little Charles
and Walter.
• Louisa
»Eldest daughter; 20; unmarried.
• Henrietta
»Second daughter; 19; unmarried.
• Charles
»Eldest son of Charles and Mary.
• Walter
»Youngest son of Charles and Mary.
• Dick
»Deceased son of Mr. & Mrs. Musgrove;
was midshipman on Wentworth's ship.
• Charles Hayter
»Cousin; fond of Henrietta; curate.
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