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  • Persuasion

  • By: Jane Austen
  • Narrated by: Greta Scacchi
  • Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,348 ratings)
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Persuasion

By: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Greta Scacchi
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Summary

Persuasion, Jane Austen's last novel, is a tale of love and marriage told with irony and insight. Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth have met and seperated years before. Their reunion, after the passage or irrecoverable years of their youth, forces a recognition of the false values that drove them apart.
First published 1818. All rights reserved.; (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Persuasion

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A More Adult Love Affair

I confess that as a teenager when I first read Persuasion, it didn't captivate me in the same way as the more comedic and clever Pride and Prejudice or even Emma. As a young person, you want the characters to find the path to true love quickly and relatively trouble free - yes, there will be obstacles and misunderstandings, but ultimately the young and attractive couple will end up happy and content.

Persuasion of course is about wasted youth and faded heroines - about failing to take your chances and regretting past decisions. The couple have been apart for 8.5 years after a broken engagement, and Anne has lost her spirit and bloom as a result. She is a gentle character who keeps her feelings close and rarely speaks impetuously or thoughtlessly. Captain Wentworth, while handsome and eligible, is bitter and resentful over past events and influences. The manner in which the two gradually return to each other is a story of self-realisation and forgiveness.

As a 32 year old, listening to the novel now I found so much more to enjoy and engage. Austen is truly a master of storytelling, and this novel should not be overlooked as a perfect example of what she could do. As always, I marvellled at how little human nature has changed in 200 years, despite our very different circumstances and social mores. Greta Scaachi read beautifully and never intruded into the narrative with overblown voices/accents.

Well worth downloading, especially with the reduced price when you own the Kindle book.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent reading for an excellent book

I wonder why Persuasion is not as popular and acclaimed as it deserves. To me, this is Jane Austen's more modern novel. Always playing on the brink of unbalance, the more Anne Elliot's voice is gaining confidence, the more other characters' self-assurance is falling to pieces. Greta Scacchi's excellent reading brings Anne Elliot's voice and all other characters alive. She definitely pours emotion to the dialogue.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

Beautiful reading of a great story. I couldn't fault it. Very much enjoyed.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great!

If you could sum up Persuasion in three words, what would they be?

Work of art

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anne Elliot has always been my favourite Austen character as she, in my opinion, embodies the pinnacle of female perfection.

Have you listened to any of Greta Scacchi’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Not yet

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It captured my feelings

Any additional comments?

Gretta Scacchi renders justice to this wonderful story

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

fabulous audio book

Really beautifully narrated book. I love Jane Austen, but often when someone is reading a book out loud you can lose your interpretation to the readers. Not so with this one though. The narrator had just enough 'northern' in her accent to make it authentic. I loved it!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

fantastic

Very good narration , lovely to listen and relax to. An easy way to introduce a book by one of Britain's favourite classic author.

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3 people found this helpful

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

TV adaptations are better

I knew the story, but had forgotten how hard the original prose is to listen too. I found the narration a little hard to listen to. possibly the audio quality is not as good as some audio books

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

This is a really excellent reading of my favourite of JA's books. The powerful tension is well conveyed, as are the emotions of Ann - surely one of the most self aware and perceptive of heroines. I love, too, the tone which comes through to mark the biting and perhaps bitter sarcasm which adds such flavour to the book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Jane Austen! Always my favourite!

Beautifully read by Greta Scacchi! She made this perennial favourite even more enjoyable! A delight!

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2 people found this helpful

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

One of my favourite audio books

What made the experience of listening to Persuasion the most enjoyable?

The reader fits the book well, and her expression and enunciation of the language is very done. It is also my favourite Austen novel and this audio book does it justice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love the last chapter with the letter. (not giving to much away)

What does Greta Scacchi bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I think having this read gives a better idea of characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I think its a bit long to listen too in one sitting, and also you sometimes need a break because of the language, but I could if the idea took me.

Any additional comments?

I would advise listening to this audio book if you like Austen

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2 people found this helpful