• Persuasion

  • By: Jane Austen
  • Narrated by: Mary Sarah
  • Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (1,960 ratings)

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Persuasion  By  cover art

Persuasion

By: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Mary Sarah
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Publisher's summary

A moving love story displaying all of Austen's signature wit and ironic narrative style. Persuasion is Jane Austen's last completed novel. She began it soon after she had finished Emma, completing it in August 1816.

Public Domain (P)2013 Trout Lake Media

What listeners say about Persuasion

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Poor narration

I love Austen's books. However, I could not finish this version of Persuasion. Mary Sarah is an unfortunate choice of narrator. I'm not certain whether this is her natural accent, it seems odd. I found it jarring, in places her intonation was incorrect and I could not concentrate on the story.

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really BAD narration

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The book may very well be good, and I expect that it will be since it is Jane Austen, but the narration was so bad I couldn't finish it. I have downloaded another version to listen to.

What didn’t you like about Mary Sarah’s performance?

Everything. There wasn't anything I did like about her reading. The accent, the tone, the line delivery, where she did and did not place emphasis. I gave up.

Any additional comments?

I got this version because it was extremely marked down. I can deal with some flaws, a little skip or a repeat and even mediocre narration. But this version wasn't even worth the marked down price.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the book,hated the narrator.

I've listened to this book within 2 months from a different narrator and can tell you that this narrator does this book no justice.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

terrible narration

This narration is just unbearable. I have never heard a narration as bad as this.

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16 people found this helpful

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

Delightful story, average performance.

Listening to this a second time I'm once again perplexed by the utterly strange pronouncement of certain words. One (I forget which) was pronounced so strangely it took me a few seconds thought before I could figure out exactly what she meant. And then there's the grating "oblahzshe". What. In. The. Heck. Oblige, woman!!! There's an I and a G in it!!! There were also odd pauses in the reading from time to time. Nothing terrible, but enough to clearly make this not a first-rate production.

Nevertheless, it was inexpensive to purchase and was enjoyable to listen to, so no real complaints. A thoroughly delightful story, one of my favourites.

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14 people found this helpful

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

One of my favorites

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Many people love Pride and Prejudice and Emma, but Persuasion seems to be overlooked. I have always loved this one the most. A little slice of perfection!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anne is a wonderful character; she is reserved and quiet, but determined not to be pressured into a convenient marriage. She sees people for who they really are.

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11 people found this helpful

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

Terribly Fake British Accent.

Is there anything you would change about this book?
No. The book is wonderful.

Would you be willing to try another one of Mary Sarah’s performances?
Yes. Mary Sarah is a good narrator. Her Anne of Green Gables is wonderful! She, unfortunately, does not pull off a natural-sounding British accent for this book.

Any additional comments?
I was unable to finish the book because of Mary Sarah's poor accent choice.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You get what you pay for

What would have made Persuasion better?

Is this an English accent??? Not sure.. Strange.

What did you like best about this story?

Story of course is timeless

Any additional comments?

The narration is stilted. She doesn't capture the sense of the sentences.... the breaks are wrong. The sense is wrong.....

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8 people found this helpful

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

Enjoyed.

I'm not fond of this narrator. She doesn't imply the meaning of sentences with her inflection and pitch correctly. Making the story more boring than it should be. Having to listen to sister Mary's whining almost made it me quit reading the book. The story is well enough but the ending is too abrupt and I would have liked more Anne and Mr Wentworth and less of everything else.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intuitive and Enchanting Second Chance Rom Classic

What did you love best about Persuasion?

This was not my first or even second go around with the story, but since my teen years it has been an all-time favorite. This may seem odd, but what I enjoyed and still enjoy best is the thought that people can get a restart or that it was a case of bad timing and the second time around will be better. That people can make mistakes and not have to regret them forever. All these things go with scintillating storytelling. Austen's characters sparkle. There is wit, humor, glances at folly, warmth, and yes, romance.

What did you like best about this story?

This time around I enjoyed how at first Anne seems to look bad beside Louisa Musgrove because Louisa has force of character and quick decisiveness which Wentworth applauds, but then a few scenes later the author slyly alters matters so that the reader and Wentworth are forced to see that there are strengths to a biddable thoughtful nature, too, after the Lyme incident where Anne shines and Louisa is hurt by her impetuous head-strong nature.

What about Mary Sarah’s performance did you like?

Pretty much everything! I love how she voiced the characters and how she got into the emotion of the story. I liked how she made Anne's pensiveness which can be a slow part not so lacking for me. I felt she added and didn't distract.

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

Yes! Always! And actually, I almost did. But admittedly, it's a favorite.

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7 people found this helpful