Captain Wentworth's Persuasion

By: Regina Jeffers

Narrated by: Graham Vick

Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Witty, romantic and insightful, this novel retells the love affair at the heart of Jane Austen's Persuasion from the perspective of the suitor--Captain Wentworth. Written in the language of the era, Captain Wentworth's Persuasion re-creates the original style, themes and sardonic humor of Jane Austen's novel while turning the entire tale on its head in a most engaging fashion. Listeners hear Captain Wentworth's side of this tangled story while gazing into his thoughts and emotions.

Wentworth initially suffers rejection and frustration because the titled Elliots do not consider him good enough for their daughter Anne. Despite her feelings for Wentworth, Anne allows others to persuade her to break off their engagement. Eight years later, when Wentworth returns from fighting against Napoleon's army, the difficult years of war have reversed fortunes. Now it is he who is rich, having won many prizes in battle, while the Elliots are deeply in debt and in danger of losing their good name.

Will Wentworth seek revenge by choosing another woman over his former love? Can he walk away from Anne, or will the memory of her lips and her touch capture his love once again?

©2010 Regina Jeffers (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Wanted to like it

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I'll say this - the author did give it a good try, but fell far short. I liked the device through most of the book of it being told in flashback. Also, the parts of the storyline that paralleled Austen's original were just fine - we simply heard the same story told from Captain Wentworth's point of view.

What made me decide to request a refund (thankfully Audible does offer this) is that the most original parts of the book are downright horrible. Jeffers continues the storyline a bit after the wedding, and here she develops Anne's character as mean-spirited, sarcastic, and reveling in her family's misfortunes, laughing at them behind their backs. This is the complete opposite of Jane Austen's Anne Elliot, and (one would suppose) the opposite of the character that Captain Wentworth fell in love with. Quite frankly, those last few chapters flat-out ruined the entire book for me.

I ended up with the feeling that Ms. Jeffers desired to completely re-write Anne's character. In those last few chapters, we find Anne telling her father off, delighting in the idea of being the social superior of her sister, etc. Reading between the lines, I would have to guess that Ms. Jeffers thought the original Austen Anne had no backbone, and wanted to fix that for Austen. In fact, Anne Elliot as Jeffers re-wrote her was completely unsympathetic, and (at risk of repeating myself) downright mean.

No thanks. I'll stick to the sweet, gentle, mild, steady, kind, and sensible Anne Elliot that Austen created. Jeffers' Anne Elliot bears no resemblance whatsoever to her.

What could Regina Jeffers have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

She could have remained true to Austen's characters.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Captain Wentworth's Persuasion?

I would have cut any scenes in which Anne appears spiteful, looking forward to lording it over her family members. This comes across as part of Ms. Jeffers' own personality, making me glad I don't know her personally.

Any additional comments?

Thank you, Audible, for having a sensible refund policy. Helps me feel good about being a long-time loyal subscriber.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Too many things changed

I really wanted to like this book. Persuasion is my second favorite Jane Austen book. I didn't realize from the summary that the author was changing the personalities of the original characters or the subtleties of the plot as it happened in Austen's book. I enjoyed the glimpses into the future and I thought it was well written but I couldn't get through it. After the 5th or so changed fact or emotion I had to turn it off.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not Anne Eliot at all

Persuasion is one of my all time favorite novels and the one I love more than any of Austen's other novels so when I started listening to this audio book I was curious but uneasy. The narrator did well enough especially with Fredrick's voice and there was a lot I liked about this novel; the Eliot sisters, the Musgroves, Fredrick's relationship with his friends and sister, the scenes on the ship and until chapter 18, other than Fredrick and Anne's affair in their youth there wasn't too much I didn't like. But, the portrayal of the short love affair was cringe worthy. I mean, who can imagine Anne Eliot allowing Fredrick to kiss her on their first private encounter together. They didn't even know each other a little. Anne Eliot is a well brought up lady and Fredrick would most definitely not be dishonorable enough to take such liberties (in public no less) before even asking her to marry him! Anne was not a farm girl and this is early 19th Century England. But it was just the one section so I thought I could overlook it and pretend I hadn't listened to it but then in Chapter 18, Jeffers portrayed Anne as a shameless, impetuous, tactless woman without any good sense. Anne confronts Lady Russell, outright tells her father that she'll get pregnant if he doesn't help them get married and that she turned down her cousin (He didn't ask her to marry him!) Seriously? This is the same unassuming, disciplined Anne who took control of the situation in Lyme when Louisa had her fall, the same kindhearted woman who took care of her nephew? the same woman who dealt with a vain father and sister for so many years without being impolite or brash? And Fridrick was happy about it? The author just showed that she did not understand Anne or Fredrick. I couldn't get over it and had to stop listening for a while before eventually persuading myself to go back to it. It ruined the novel. There are many sections in which Jeffers does show Anne just right and is faithful to her portrayal in Persuasion but the parts she gets wrong she gets exceedingly wrong.
To be fair, not many people have been able to portray Anne as she was in Persuasion. They don't show her as the gentle, kind, steadfast, and logical character she is but rather a timid overlooked spinster or as overbearing and brash. Jeffers got a lot right, I have to say, but Anne Eliot, she most definitely did not. She seems to have wanted to redeem Anne and in her attempt to do so made her into a crass, brazen version of Lydia Bennet (From Pride and Prejudice). Admittedly, a lot of other authors who have attempted a squeal or rewriting of Persuasion have seen Anne in need of being redeemed which is their mistake. I suppose if you didn't like Anne in Persuasion and though she needed a backbone and less sensibility, this novel might be your cup of tea so listen at your discretion.

a different point of view

when i first read Persuasion i was in Ann's head seeing what she saw and understanding thru her, now this book gave me a bigger picture and i stepped out of Ann's head. I enjoyed getting to know and understand both characters and their world from a different view. thank you!

Surprisingly well done and faithful to the spirit of Persuasion.

I did not expect to truly enjoy this story. You can not put it down even though you often know what is coming - there are so many new & interesting facets that are so well written.

Persuasion...Now You Know The Rest of the Story

Would you listen to Captain Wentworth's Persuasion again? Why?

Absolutely! This is my favorite Jane Austin book because it's all about second chances. The details from Captain Wentworth's POV is awesome.

What other book might you compare Captain Wentworth's Persuasion to and why?

This was my first experience with a book from a popular character other than the heroine's or hero's POV. I will try more of this type.

What about Graham Vick’s performance did you like?

I loved him. Especially during intimate talk between Ann & Frederick.

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

Both! Tears when his poor little heart was broken and laughter at his silent derision of Poor Dick Musgrove and both Mr. Elliott's.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Too American?

This is a sequel to one of my favourite Austen novels, unfortunately, the author almost lost my attention after very few minutes and I was considering returning this book.
Jane Austen was very well aware of the workings of the British Navy, her brother was a serving officer and fought at the Battle of Trafalgar. This author is not and her description of a ship in action is very poor. She is also not aware of the type of trees that are native to Britain. However, I am pleased that I persisted to the end, the story is quite good and she has developed the characters from the original quite well but I do wish she had carried out more historical research before she tackled this sequel.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

An entertaining viewpoint

I'm a big Jane Austen fan and was a bit apprehensive about this version as I love the original Persuasion. However, I did enjoy it immensely, especially the first half. I do applaud Ms Jeffers at making such a good effort with Regency English, though the eagle-eyed (or eared?) will spot the odd little Americanism creeping in here and there. On the whole, it is very listenable-to. I gradually found the final few chapters a bit less gripping, and rather far-fetched. Yes, we'd all like to know how the happy couple got on after their marriage, but somehow the suspense just isn't there once they are together.
The narrator has a jolly, cheerful manner of speaking. I eventually got used to his rather irritating habit of putting emphasis on the wrong word in a sentence, not bothering to correct himself, as I would expect a good narrator to do. On more than one occasion, he sounded as if in the middle of a sentence, when actually having reached the end of a chapter. I don't know how anyone can fail to read ahead so spectacularly, and think it doesn't matter! That said, he does read clearly and at a steady volume, for which I shall forgive him much.
Definitely worth a listen, if you're a Persuasion fan! One of the better adaptations.
If only Austen had written more than six novels, eh?

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

My favourite story ruined!

Really terrible story. Sounded like a Mills and Boon book. Absolutely ruined one of my favourite characters....

loved it from startvto finish

What a cracker of a book.
it was a shere joy to revisit the Captain and Anne again, but from his point of view. Captain Wentworth is my favourite Austen hero and so I was clinging to every word he uttered.

I felt his heartache and his joy. The narrator has a clear and interesting voice which kept me wanting to listen.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

Wentworth

Excellent narrator
Story not so trustworthy
Descriptions of the characters black and white
Too cheasy
The historical contexts vague

Best this year

Would you consider the audio edition of Captain Wentworth's Persuasion to be better than the print version?

I don't know. I haven't read the print version. I find having the audio version easy to listen to while doing other things.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Captain Wentworth's Persuasion?

I am so pleased Regina Jeffers decided to write this book because I always felt there should have been more about Anne and Frederick's future life.

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

No I haven't.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The sea persuades

Very Enjoyable

If you could sum up Captain Wentworth's Persuasion in three words, what would they be?

Very romantic indeed

What about Graham Vick’s performance did you like?

Once you get use to his odd accent, it was quite soothing

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The soft-hearted Captain

Any additional comments?

Well worth a listen. Surprisingly very, very enjoyable and so romantic, almost sexy in parts