Tag: Jane Austen’s Persuasion

Persuasion 200: Charles Musgrove Proposes to Anne Elliot by Mary Simonsen

Initially, Anne held out hope of a relationship with Commander Wentworth, but reality is setting in. Her availability prompts a proposal from her neighbor. When Anne went into the breakfast room, she found her father and sister discussing the contents of a weeks-old newspaper that a family friend had sent on to Kellynch Hall from …

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Persuasion 200: Anne Wonders if Wentworth Will Pursue Her Again by Maria Grace

All the news of Wentworth’s exploits has got Anne thinking… …plus a special cameo from our Jane Austen House Museum fund raiser… Anne lay the newspaper aside and maneuvered in the window bench until the sunbeam caressed her face. Such exploits, such bravery. Though there was not a soul with whom she could share it, …

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Persuasion 200: The Wreck of the Asp, by Jack Caldwell

This is the second part of Captain Wentworth’s adventures with the Asp and Laconia. Enjoy! January, 1808, in Plymouth, Devonshire “Commander Wentworth,” announced the marine guard formally, “you are called.” Wentworth rose smartly to his feet, refusing to show either nervousness or fear, even though his career was at stake. He refused to meet the …

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Persuasion 200: The Taking of the Laconia, by Jack Caldwell

The West Indies Campaign of 1804–10 was a series of military contests mainly in the Caribbean, spanning the Napoleonic Wars, involving the European powers of Napoleonic France, the Batavian Republic, Spain, the Kingdom of Portugal, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. French naval power after Trafalgar in 1805 was weak. The big …

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Persuasion 200: Servants Discuss Anne and Frederick’s Break-up by Mary Simonsen

Commander Wentworth is gone, and the secret is out! “And where were you, missy?” Molly asked Nancy as she fiddled with the bed covers in their shared attic bedroom. “Talking to Tom.” Nancy, the fourteen-year-old kitchen maid, explained that while emptying the kitchen slop buckets, the junior footman had shared news about the family. “You …

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Persuasion 200: An engagement, and two hearts, broken

Anne has been convinced by her family and Lady Russell that it would be foolish to marry Commander Wentworth. No matter how much she loves him, he is not established in his career and has only his naval pay and a little prize money to support her and any children they have. She has broken …

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Persuasion 200: Anne Breaks off the Engagement

You knew it was coming, and yet perhaps you hoped there was a way it could be avoided. It would be tempting to rewrite history in order to spare our hero and heroine the pain that lies ahead. But, since we all promised to abide by the facts of Jane Austen’s story… Anne did not abandon …

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Persuasion 200: Anne’s Internal Debate

When Captain Frederick Wentworth proposed, Anne Elliot was over the moon with delight. However, her high spirits were surely crushed to discover that not only did her father think him an unworthy attachment, but so too did Lady Russell! Her inner turmoil must have been considerable in deciding how best to proceed. Here is my attempt to …

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Persuasion 200: Lady Russell Decides to Persuade Anne to Break Engagement

In the absence of Lady Elliot, Lady Russell takes it upon herself to advise Anne on her engagement.  But first she must come to terms with her advice herself. Lady Russell dismissed her maid and sank down on the chair at her dressing table. Another curl, another tuck, none of it would make her feel …

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Persuasion 200: Wentworth and Anne Talk about the Future

Anne Elliot has become engaged to Commander Frederick Wentworth. He just finished a gruelling interview with her father as he applied for her hand, which is briefly covered in Chapter 4 of Persuasion. As this segment begins, Anne is anxiously waiting for him to return to her to find out whether her father has given …

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