Captain Wentworth's Persuasion

Jane Austen's Classic Retold Through His Eyes

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.

Well... Captain Wentworth...... glad to meet you..

Admittedly, this perspective IS highly modernized compared to the genre of the day. Jane Austen would never have written such a racy account of the good Captain's perspective. Ever. And I mean EVER. Or even broached the subject of intimate relations even between married persons. That being said, I did find this book saucy and delightful.... I have already listened to it twice! And, I really enjoyed the post-script adventures they had, and starting their family. I am left satisfied, fulfilled in my wishes for a prosperous, loving, emotionally resilient future for them. Thank you, Ms. Jeffers.

Loved it!

enjoyed it thoroughly. the narration was superb! re-read 4 times and more. this was indeed delightful and romantic!

I love this story

This is one of my favorite Jane Austin books and this version is perfect, especially the narration and direction

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.

Enjoyed most of it

I almost never write reviews but I have to agree with some of the other comments.
I really enjoyed getting to hear the story from Wentworths side and also getting a background to the courtship. But I would have ended it after the wedding. I did not like the turn it took and did not like how they portrayed Anne.

I would have instead dedicated more time to the courtship. The actual 5 months and not only 5 weeks.

If I re listen to it I will stop after the end of the story we know.

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.

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.

Excellent companion

I love stories that fit in with the originals so we’ll. This one manages to keep true to the characters.

Odd

I really wanted like this book but it felt like there were 2 separate books going on: one which copied Jane Austen then one that showed some promise on being a story in and of itself but just fizzled out. Narrator was good but could hold the poorly written (or poorly edited) book. sorry