Persuasion by Jane Austen

“…if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own history with an interest which never failed…”
From the first sentence, Persuasion is about reading, about histories, and their power, about whose history is on the page, and beyond the page.

“Such confidence, powerful in its own warmth, and bewitching in the wit which often expressed it, must have been enough for Anne; but Lady Russell saw it very differently.”
Perspectives on Captain Wentworth; Austen is so interested in perspective.

“…till for a moment electrified by Mrs. Croft’s suddenly saying—'it was you and not your sister, I find, that my brother had the pleasure of being acquainted with’...”
This early use of “electrified” startles, joining us to Anne’s own shock. —Natalie Jenner, novelist

“I have crossed the Atlantic four times, and have been once to the East Indies, and back again... I never was in the West Indies. We do not call Bermuda or Bahama, you know, the West Indies.”
Mrs. Croft: news of the world for a parched drawing room.

“Do you mean that she refused him?” In the hedgerow, Captain Wentworth asks Louisa, not knowing that Anne listens.
“…and still more its sweet retired bay, backed by dark cliffs, where fragments of low rock among the sands make it the happiest spot for watching the flow of the tide, for sitting in unwearied contemplation…”

“Captain Wentworth gave her a momentary glance,—a glance of brightness, which seemed to say, ‘That man is struck with you,—and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again.’”
Choreography of glance.

“His head is full of some books he is reading upon your recommendation, and he wants to talk to you about them.”
Ours is not the first Persuasion book club. Anne’s recommendations change Captain Benwick’s life, and this has an effect on her own fate.

“Anne could never see the crape round his hat, without fearing that she was the inexcusable one.”
Ways to mourn numerous as mourners: Mr. Elliot, Sir Walter, Lady Russell, Mrs. Smith, Lady Dalrymple, the Musgroves, Captain Benwick, and Anne herself.

“This was Sir Walter and Elizabeth’s share of interest in the letter; when Mrs. Clay had paid her tribute of more decent attention, in an enquiry after Mrs. Charles Musgrove and her fine little boys, Anne was at liberty.”
This sentence produces delay for us too: so many others must claim a “share” in the letter and have their say before we arrive at “liberty” for Anne. —Deidre Shauna Lynch, scholar

“in spite of all the various noises of the room, the almost ceaseless slam of the door, and ceaseless buzz of persons walking through, [Anne] had distinguished every word..” Like a writer, fighting her way through sound to distinguish every word.

“‘I wish I had any name but Elliot. I am sick of it.’”
I venture to think Anne is, too. Reading letters with Anne, now we are not reading the Baronetage, but toward the future…

“He gave a very plain, intelligible account of the whole; a narration in which she saw a great deal of most characteristic proceeding.”
Most characteristic. Anne like her author gifted in the lineaments of character.

“Yes, if you please, no reference to examples in books. Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.”

“She had but two friends in the world to add to his list, Lady Russell and Mrs. Smith.” Persuasion is also a book about friendship, learning to read character, and have character, together. Hooray!