This was my 4th Jane Austen novel, and I read it as part of a Classics Book Club.

This novel follows our heroine, Anne Elliott, who was once almost engaged to Captain Wentworth but was then convinced that the match was ill-fated. Now, Captain Wentworth has reentered her social circle and Anne must reflect on the reasons they were separated and try to determine how he feels about her now.

This was the last book that Austen completed and I enjoyed the wit and satire in it. There are also elements of early feminism that seem way ahead of their time and were fun to read. The theme of persuasion was interesting and powerful and touched on how some people are more easily persuaded than others and the responsibility of the persuader in the outcomes they create. The context in which this book was written (while Austen was dying) adds another layer to some of the themes of friendship and grief that she explores in the novel. While I enjoyed this book more than some of her others that I’ve read, Pride and Prejudice still holds the top spot for me.