In today's episode, Fable and the Verbivore revisit one of their favorite classic romances - Jane Austen's novel Persuasion.

In this episode, we discuss how strange this story is as a romantic book. The heroine barely says two words for the first three chapters and the love interest does not appear in the flesh until well into a third of the way through the book. But somehow it works, to us it may start slow but holding some of those things back does serve to amp up the tension and creates anticipation. We also mention how setting up the family dynamics early helps to anchor the story giving much needed context to Anne’s actions.

After having gone many years without reading this novel, we were both surprised to discover how our perception of the book, the heroine, and the theme had changed. The idea of persuasion and the choice that Anne makes at the beginning to give up the man she loves struck us completely differently than when we'd read it previously. This is one of the things that we enjoy about the power of re-reading and discovering something new or that we missed previously.

All of that said, there are also several things about this book that are strange when compared with modern writing rules and preferences. We discuss how in classics the pace tends to be slower, head hoping is accepted, strong narration and telling is often used, and the conclusions often gloss over the best parts.

Even so, we felt that this little gem of a story has something worth the time and effort. And is ripe for a modern retelling.

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode! Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore

Notes:

The Verbivore references a quote from Mrs. Croft about being in calm waters. Here is that full quote:

• “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” – Persuasion, Jane Austen

Persuasion was the last full novel written before Jane Austen died and was published posthumously. It feels in some ways an outlier in Austen's collected works. The story's heroine, Anne Elliot, is 27 and has been disappointed in love and is actively working through grief. In the whole course of the novel, she doesn't dance once and there is a maturity and gravity to the story that feels unique. The plot revolves around Anne navigating her self-absorbed family and by happenstance falling once again into company with the man she was persuaded to break off an engagement with 8 1/2 years before - awkwardness and romantic tension ensues.

Fable and the Verbivore very briefly touch on Jane Austen retellings. Here are some lists that could serve as a good place to start if you are looking for some ideas:

• https://modernmrsdarcy.com/jane-austen-inspired-books-janeites-all-ages/

• https://bookriot.com/diverse-jane-austen-retellings/

• https://www.readitforward.com/essay/article/jane-austen-retellings/

Books Mentioned:

• Persuasion by Jane Austen

• Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

• Emma by Jane Austen

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Bridget Jones’s Diary: A Novel by Helen Fielding

• Pride and Prejudice (Marvel Illustrated) Graphic Novel by Nancy Butler and Hugo Petrus

Movies Mentioned:

• Persuasion DVD (1995) - Starring Amanda Root, Ciaran Hinds

• Persuasion DVD (2007) - Starring Sally Hawkins, Rupert Penry-Jones

• Emma Blu-ray (2020) - Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn

Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)