The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen

A Novel Wherein She Tells Her Own Story of Lost Love, Second Chances, and Finding Her Happy Ending

By: Shannon Winslow

Narrated by: Elizabeth Klett

For every fan who has wished Jane Austen herself might have enjoyed the romance and happy ending she so carefully crafted for all her heroines: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, by Shannon Winslow. What if the tale Jane Austen told in her last, most poignant novel was inspired by momentous events in her own life? Did she in fact intend Persuasion to stand forever in homage to her one true love? While creating Persuasion, Jane Austen also kept a private journal in which she recorded the story behind the story, her real-life romance with a navy captain of her own. The parallel could only go so far, however. As author of her characters' lives, but not her own, Jane Austen made sure to fashion a second chance and happy ending for Anne and Captain Wentworth. Then, with her novel complete and her health failing, she prepared her simple will and resigned herself to never seeing the love of her life again. Yet fate, it seems, wasn't quite finished with her. Nor was Captain Devereaux. The official record says that Jane Austen died at 41, having never been married. But what if that's only what she wanted people to believe? It's time she, through her own private journal, revealed the rest of her story.

©2014 Shannon Winslow (P)2014 Shannon Winslow

Moving and emotional Jane Austen “What if … “

This book is an absolutely touching and emotional “what if” story about Jane Austen herself, incorporating events (some imaginary) and of Austen’s ‘real’ life and the writing of her Persuasion (The Elliots) novel, and ultimately culminating in her very own fictional HEA. The writing is flawless, the plot very clever and believable, and it kept me captivated throughout. I stayed up until 3:00 a.m. this morning listening, and finally had to give it up with about 2 hours left to go. I hated to stop, but well… one must sleep sometimes. I couldn’t wait to get back to it.

Elizabeth Klett’s narration is excellent too. She is never a disappointment to me. I absolutely loved this book and most definitely recommend it. Be sure to have tissues handy.

Imaginative version of Jane Austen's Life

I enjoyed Shannon Winslow's imaginative vision of Jane Austen's life and her version of Jane Austen's great love affair. Ms. Winslow has cleverly imagined Jane Austen in relation to her writing of the novel Persuasion and the book is well-written. The book is also suspenseful and satisfying. The narration done by Elizabeth Klett is superb. Ms. Klett has a wonderful English accent and she adroitly changes her voices so one hears different characters as they come up in the story. All in all, this was a most enjoyable recording.

Lovely

Nice. I enjoyed it. Couldn't stop listening. Love the tone and acting of the reader.

Believable!!!

Loved this novel! I felt as if dear Jane Austen was talking to me personally and confiding her story of second chance (or did she get a 2nd chance like Anne Elliot?). I fell in love with Jane and her Captain D! Thank You, Ms Winslow for telling Jane’s story and thank You, Ms Klerk, for a masterful narration!

Romantic Insights

This novel speculated on the real-life sorts of experiences that might have been the sources of Jane Austen’s deep and compelling descriptions of romantic emotional and verbal interactions.