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The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen
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.
266 pages, Paperback
Published August 7, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 29, 2020
Those with a strong personal attachment to Jane Austen find one thing about her very hard to accept--her untimely death at the age of one-and-forty, after completing only six novels. It is a recurrent fantasy among such people, myself included, that there must be some mistake--that she lived on, lives on, in some way concealed to history.
This wish is the impetus for Shannon Winslow's charming novel, but it is only the starting point. She begins with a young Jane Austen attending the wedding of her favorite brother Henry to their cousin, Eliza de Feuillide. On that happy occasion she meets a friend of the couple, Philippe Devereaux, a French aristo who escaped the Terror and has become a British naval officer. Sparks fly instantly, he pursues Jane to her home, and soon they have agreed to marry.
But the title of this book, The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, should warn the alert Austenite that the lovers' path will not run smooth. Frequent references to Austen's last novel, Persuasion, underline the threat. Sure enough, Jane's family and friends persuade her that a speedy marriage or even a long engagement would be rash, considering Devereaux's lack of fortune and the hazards of war. She backs off, Devereaux is hurt and furious, and they part, both heartbroken.
And so begins a long saga of love lost, loneliness, misunderstanding, hopes raised and dashed and raised again. The story tracks Persuasion closely for a while, but the facts of Austen's life are not to be ignored and eventually this tale must diverge. It does so in ways generally plausible and well grounded, yet oh-so romantic. I found it poignant and touching, and even though I could see the path forward clearly the loss of suspense did not interfere with my enjoyment.
The writing is elegant, with few slips of vocabulary or etiquette. I am often offended by attempts to pump up the heat in Austenesque fiction, but this stayed entirely in my comfort zone without falling into prudery. The Jane of this story is less sharp-tongued and sharp-witted than the original, but that is entirely suitable to a tale that parallels her most melancholy and touching novel. I occasionally felt a little awkwardness in the storytelling as the tale jumped forward several years at a time, but that was a minor issue, soon forgotten as I became caught up in the hopes and fears of the next chapter. The ending is something I wish might have been true. All in all, the story transported me away to an Austenesque world I would love to be real.
This wish is the impetus for Shannon Winslow's charming novel, but it is only the starting point. She begins with a young Jane Austen attending the wedding of her favorite brother Henry to their cousin, Eliza de Feuillide. On that happy occasion she meets a friend of the couple, Philippe Devereaux, a French aristo who escaped the Terror and has become a British naval officer. Sparks fly instantly, he pursues Jane to her home, and soon they have agreed to marry.
But the title of this book, The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, should warn the alert Austenite that the lovers' path will not run smooth. Frequent references to Austen's last novel, Persuasion, underline the threat. Sure enough, Jane's family and friends persuade her that a speedy marriage or even a long engagement would be rash, considering Devereaux's lack of fortune and the hazards of war. She backs off, Devereaux is hurt and furious, and they part, both heartbroken.
And so begins a long saga of love lost, loneliness, misunderstanding, hopes raised and dashed and raised again. The story tracks Persuasion closely for a while, but the facts of Austen's life are not to be ignored and eventually this tale must diverge. It does so in ways generally plausible and well grounded, yet oh-so romantic. I found it poignant and touching, and even though I could see the path forward clearly the loss of suspense did not interfere with my enjoyment.
The writing is elegant, with few slips of vocabulary or etiquette. I am often offended by attempts to pump up the heat in Austenesque fiction, but this stayed entirely in my comfort zone without falling into prudery. The Jane of this story is less sharp-tongued and sharp-witted than the original, but that is entirely suitable to a tale that parallels her most melancholy and touching novel. I occasionally felt a little awkwardness in the storytelling as the tale jumped forward several years at a time, but that was a minor issue, soon forgotten as I became caught up in the hopes and fears of the next chapter. The ending is something I wish might have been true. All in all, the story transported me away to an Austenesque world I would love to be real.
February 11, 2016
5+ Very Enthusiastic Stars
What can I say about this wonderful book that other reviewers haven't already said? I have read and enjoyed all of Shannon Winslow's other books, but this is a notch above them and almost every other book in this genre. It is an exquisite blend of creativity, historical romance, well designed plot construction, fully developed characters and masterful writing.
This is a tale of flirtation, humor, heartache, the personal toll of war, action, and suspense. It takes the blanks of Jane Austen's own life, much of which is unknown, and fills them in with a sweet but difficult love story, spanning the years between 1797 and 1817.
Part I recounts the path of her relationship with Captain Philippe Devereaux, a French expatriate who now fights in the British Navy. This becomes her inspiration to write the book Persuasion as she thinks back on the experience years later. The reader follows Ms. Austen's work-in-progress through actual excerpts from that book as it parallels events she remembers in her life. What is most impressive here is that passages from Persuasion are also used to tell Ms. Austen's story, and Ms. Winslow copies her writing style so perfectly that there's no appreciable distinction between the two authors.
Part 2 moves ahead to 1817, after Ms. Austen has finished writing Persuasion as well as her other 5 books and 19 years after her first meeting with Captain Devereaux. Unfortunately, by now her health is failing and she is an invalid, tended by her mother and her dear sister Cassandra. Her father, Madam LeFoy and several other important people in her life have already died, and Ms. Austen seems complacent with the knowledge that she will probably join them soon. However, a new surgeon from out of town, Dr. Giles Lyford, begins treating her with positive results. She rallies, then has another medical setback, and she and Cassandra go to Winchester to be closer to Dr. Lyford for her care. While there, she encounters Rev. Peter Danvers, who has a significant impact on the remainder of her life.
I will not spoil this for a reader by revealing more, but the ending involves Rev. Danvers, Ms. Austen, her brother Henry, her sister Cassandra, and her sister-in-law Mary. I was skeptical that the plot could possibly seem credible once I had an inkling as to where it was going, but it all plays out in surprisingly plausible fashion.
My congratulations to Ms. Winslow on this fabulous story!
What can I say about this wonderful book that other reviewers haven't already said? I have read and enjoyed all of Shannon Winslow's other books, but this is a notch above them and almost every other book in this genre. It is an exquisite blend of creativity, historical romance, well designed plot construction, fully developed characters and masterful writing.
This is a tale of flirtation, humor, heartache, the personal toll of war, action, and suspense. It takes the blanks of Jane Austen's own life, much of which is unknown, and fills them in with a sweet but difficult love story, spanning the years between 1797 and 1817.
Part I recounts the path of her relationship with Captain Philippe Devereaux, a French expatriate who now fights in the British Navy. This becomes her inspiration to write the book Persuasion as she thinks back on the experience years later. The reader follows Ms. Austen's work-in-progress through actual excerpts from that book as it parallels events she remembers in her life. What is most impressive here is that passages from Persuasion are also used to tell Ms. Austen's story, and Ms. Winslow copies her writing style so perfectly that there's no appreciable distinction between the two authors.
Part 2 moves ahead to 1817, after Ms. Austen has finished writing Persuasion as well as her other 5 books and 19 years after her first meeting with Captain Devereaux. Unfortunately, by now her health is failing and she is an invalid, tended by her mother and her dear sister Cassandra. Her father, Madam LeFoy and several other important people in her life have already died, and Ms. Austen seems complacent with the knowledge that she will probably join them soon. However, a new surgeon from out of town, Dr. Giles Lyford, begins treating her with positive results. She rallies, then has another medical setback, and she and Cassandra go to Winchester to be closer to Dr. Lyford for her care. While there, she encounters Rev. Peter Danvers, who has a significant impact on the remainder of her life.
I will not spoil this for a reader by revealing more, but the ending involves Rev. Danvers, Ms. Austen, her brother Henry, her sister Cassandra, and her sister-in-law Mary. I was skeptical that the plot could possibly seem credible once I had an inkling as to where it was going, but it all plays out in surprisingly plausible fashion.
My congratulations to Ms. Winslow on this fabulous story!
October 5, 2014
What if, after spending years of creating unions of perfect happiness and “marriages of true minds,” Jane Austen decided to pen a novel that closely mirrored her own experience with love?
What if Jane Austen had a great love affair where she experienced both undying, all-consuming love and heart-wrenching pain and disappointment?
What if Jane Austen’s last completed novel about lost love and second chances was more than just a little bit autobiographical?
Could you imagine it?!? How wonderful would it be to learn that our beloved authoress had known such love! To discover that someone appreciated, adored, and ardently admired her genius and person! While we may never know for sure the details of Jane Austen’s love life, it is always a merry diversion to imagine the possibilities…Crafting an alternative reality from known events and people in Jane Austen’s life and blending it with events and characters from Persuasion, Shannon Winslow creates a fantastic fictional tale of Jane Austen’s love affair with her very own Captain Wentworth that satisfyingly “reveals” the unknown love life of Jane Austen.
Utterly brilliant – this story is utterly brilliant! There just isn’t a better word to describe the thoughtful care and deliberation Shannon Winslow put into writing this story, her clever and credible blending of fact and fiction, and her exquisite way with words. Having read Persuasion several times, being familiar with Jane Austen’s biography and timeline, and reading other fictionalized accounts of Jane Austen’s life (Just Jane by Nancy Moser and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James), you’d think that I’d find the events of this tale easy to predict. Nope, not so much…Shannon Winslow capably keeps readers on their toes with her skillful and intricate weaving of the plot. This story encompasses so much more than a tale of love lost and parallels to Persuasion!
While I’ve always admired Shannon Winslow’s elegant prose and voice, I feel shel has elevated her talents to new heights through this novel. Stepping into Jane Austen’s shoes and trying to emulate her voice is no easy accomplishment, but Ms. Winslow does an incredible job capturing the essence of Jane Austen’s narrative voice and echoing her exceptional command of language. The narrative voice was illuminating, contemplative, and honest – it was our dear Jane bravely bearing her soul to us. The descriptions of events and emotions felt poetic and rich with the frequent usage of imagery, similies, and other poetic devices. The words just seemed to effortlessly tumble from the author’s pen, here are some favorites:
“For the moment, all I could see was the overwhelmingly bleak picture Madam Lefroy had painted of my future. It loomed large and ominous as a sky full of thunderclouds, obscuring everything else from view, even Captain Devereaux’s especial radiance.” – page 51
“Daily, the sea drew us like a powerful magnet, with not one amongst us able to resist its hypnotic attractions.” – page 98
“So shall their love be, the captain and his lady: bright, never ending, a life-giving force. It will warm all those who gather round them, bless all those who wish them well, and scorch with unquenchable fire any person who dares attempt to come between them. Anne and Captain Wentworth are incandescent; they are untouchable, living on forever in a state of bliss beyond the reach of most mere mortals. This is my gift to them.” – page 163
“His influence is everywhere apparent…to me, at least. His fingerprints and mine mingle on each page. The books are become our true offspring – his and mine together – for I could not have produced them without his help.” – page 173
*sigh* such evocative prose!
This poignant and powerful tale of fiction is the kind of story I hope to learn one day is proven true for our dear Jane. An incredibly well-written plausible reality that perfectly gratifies any reader’s desires for Jane Austen’s love life. I emphatically recommend!!
What if Jane Austen had a great love affair where she experienced both undying, all-consuming love and heart-wrenching pain and disappointment?
What if Jane Austen’s last completed novel about lost love and second chances was more than just a little bit autobiographical?
Could you imagine it?!? How wonderful would it be to learn that our beloved authoress had known such love! To discover that someone appreciated, adored, and ardently admired her genius and person! While we may never know for sure the details of Jane Austen’s love life, it is always a merry diversion to imagine the possibilities…Crafting an alternative reality from known events and people in Jane Austen’s life and blending it with events and characters from Persuasion, Shannon Winslow creates a fantastic fictional tale of Jane Austen’s love affair with her very own Captain Wentworth that satisfyingly “reveals” the unknown love life of Jane Austen.
Utterly brilliant – this story is utterly brilliant! There just isn’t a better word to describe the thoughtful care and deliberation Shannon Winslow put into writing this story, her clever and credible blending of fact and fiction, and her exquisite way with words. Having read Persuasion several times, being familiar with Jane Austen’s biography and timeline, and reading other fictionalized accounts of Jane Austen’s life (Just Jane by Nancy Moser and The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James), you’d think that I’d find the events of this tale easy to predict. Nope, not so much…Shannon Winslow capably keeps readers on their toes with her skillful and intricate weaving of the plot. This story encompasses so much more than a tale of love lost and parallels to Persuasion!
While I’ve always admired Shannon Winslow’s elegant prose and voice, I feel shel has elevated her talents to new heights through this novel. Stepping into Jane Austen’s shoes and trying to emulate her voice is no easy accomplishment, but Ms. Winslow does an incredible job capturing the essence of Jane Austen’s narrative voice and echoing her exceptional command of language. The narrative voice was illuminating, contemplative, and honest – it was our dear Jane bravely bearing her soul to us. The descriptions of events and emotions felt poetic and rich with the frequent usage of imagery, similies, and other poetic devices. The words just seemed to effortlessly tumble from the author’s pen, here are some favorites:
“For the moment, all I could see was the overwhelmingly bleak picture Madam Lefroy had painted of my future. It loomed large and ominous as a sky full of thunderclouds, obscuring everything else from view, even Captain Devereaux’s especial radiance.” – page 51
“Daily, the sea drew us like a powerful magnet, with not one amongst us able to resist its hypnotic attractions.” – page 98
“So shall their love be, the captain and his lady: bright, never ending, a life-giving force. It will warm all those who gather round them, bless all those who wish them well, and scorch with unquenchable fire any person who dares attempt to come between them. Anne and Captain Wentworth are incandescent; they are untouchable, living on forever in a state of bliss beyond the reach of most mere mortals. This is my gift to them.” – page 163
“His influence is everywhere apparent…to me, at least. His fingerprints and mine mingle on each page. The books are become our true offspring – his and mine together – for I could not have produced them without his help.” – page 173
*sigh* such evocative prose!
This poignant and powerful tale of fiction is the kind of story I hope to learn one day is proven true for our dear Jane. An incredibly well-written plausible reality that perfectly gratifies any reader’s desires for Jane Austen’s love life. I emphatically recommend!!
December 19, 2017
I had read the reviews of this story online in various blogs and then won an e-copy but traded that in to buy a copy of the paperback due to loving the cover. Then I hesitated to pick it up. I had read all the wonderful reviews but could not imagine how there would be a happy ending for Jane, knowing her life's story.
What a surprise! How gifted Shannon has proven to be in this amazingly creative story with a twist at the end that I (and others) never saw coming.
By page 208 I was sobbing. Even in reading the obituary in the book, I continued to cry. But there is a happy ending...and how it will always remain in my mind from now on when I think about our dear Jane
I loved all the lines taken from canon, even those changed just a bit or those used in a different way or with a different effect. Jane's interactions with her sister, her family and all those parallels between her journal and her book, Persuasion - oh, so well done! The language is Jane's voice.
This is one I and many others, I am sure, will read over and over again. I began reading it slowly but found myself racing towards to ending as I "HAD" to know what happened. Suspense and romance - could it get any better?
What a surprise! How gifted Shannon has proven to be in this amazingly creative story with a twist at the end that I (and others) never saw coming.
By page 208 I was sobbing. Even in reading the obituary in the book, I continued to cry. But there is a happy ending...and how it will always remain in my mind from now on when I think about our dear Jane
I loved all the lines taken from canon, even those changed just a bit or those used in a different way or with a different effect. Jane's interactions with her sister, her family and all those parallels between her journal and her book, Persuasion - oh, so well done! The language is Jane's voice.
This is one I and many others, I am sure, will read over and over again. I began reading it slowly but found myself racing towards to ending as I "HAD" to know what happened. Suspense and romance - could it get any better?
August 10, 2024
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen: A Novel wherein she tells her own story of lost love, second chances, and finding her happy ending.
Shannon Winslow's latest offering "The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen" is a what-if like I have never read or imagined. And I have read a lot of Austenesque fiction! It started out well enough re-imagining how Austen came to write her last and most sentimental work, "Persuasion "... creating Austen's own Navy Captain to fall in-love with. And as Austen writes this last work, it mirrors some of her own experience. All very well written. All very Austenesque in tone and prose. But the shocker is the twist... I did not see that ending coming! Not in my wildest imaginings. And how author Syrie James often successfully re-writes Austen's history, Winslow was able to write this tale so that I felt the same bit of wishful, melancholy by the last page. If it all could have turned out just so. (Sigh)
This is a MUST BUY. Sooner than later.
Shannon Winslow's latest offering "The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen" is a what-if like I have never read or imagined. And I have read a lot of Austenesque fiction! It started out well enough re-imagining how Austen came to write her last and most sentimental work, "Persuasion "... creating Austen's own Navy Captain to fall in-love with. And as Austen writes this last work, it mirrors some of her own experience. All very well written. All very Austenesque in tone and prose. But the shocker is the twist... I did not see that ending coming! Not in my wildest imaginings. And how author Syrie James often successfully re-writes Austen's history, Winslow was able to write this tale so that I felt the same bit of wishful, melancholy by the last page. If it all could have turned out just so. (Sigh)
This is a MUST BUY. Sooner than later.
September 6, 2016
An incredibly poignant tale that left me deeply moved. How can I explain the hesitation I felt in reading this book knowing that Jane Austen never married and died relatively young. How can I explain the beauty of this book that completely won me over not only in prose but in feeling.
There is so much mystery surrounding Jane Austen especially since her sister, Cassandra, destroyed many letters from Jane that leaves gaps as to certain times in her life. Ms. Winslow has created a life for Jane during those gaps that we would love to believe to be true...at least I would. However, all is not rosy and many times tears would be falling down my cheeks. The story starts during the writing of 'Persuasion' and Jane uses her own experiences that closely parallels it. It is such a plausible story with a wonderful twist that I can only applaud Ms. Winslow. Bravo!
There is so much mystery surrounding Jane Austen especially since her sister, Cassandra, destroyed many letters from Jane that leaves gaps as to certain times in her life. Ms. Winslow has created a life for Jane during those gaps that we would love to believe to be true...at least I would. However, all is not rosy and many times tears would be falling down my cheeks. The story starts during the writing of 'Persuasion' and Jane uses her own experiences that closely parallels it. It is such a plausible story with a wonderful twist that I can only applaud Ms. Winslow. Bravo!
December 11, 2019
don't.miss.
July 13, 2025
That was different! A what-if? scenario that lots of Jane Austen fans must have wondered about — what if Dear Jane had not been a spinster all her life before dying at the tragically young age of forty-one? What if she had in fact enjoyed the same happy ending that she so generously gave all her heroines? It sounds implausible, but astonishingly, it really works.
The thesis is that Persuasion, perhaps Jane’s most romantic novel with its regrets and a miraculous second chance for happiness, mirrors Jane’s own life. While celebrating the marriage of her brother Henry to Eliza, Jane meets Captain Devereaux, a Frenchman who has escaped the troubles in France to join the British navy against the French. There is a whirlwind romance, quickly followed by a proposal and acceptance. But Captain Devereaux has not yet made his fortune, and Jane is persuaded to give him up. They part in anger, thus far mirroring the events of Persuasion closely, highlighted by a number of quotes.
Later, they meet again, but (again, in a reflection of Persuasion), there is no happy reunion. Instead, Captain Devereaux becomes entangled with another young woman, and becomes engaged to her, even while recognising the reigniting of his feelings for Jane. So far, so identical. But after this, Jane produces a happy ending for Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth, while her own life (according to this book) takes a different direction. Captain Devereaux is swept up into the renewal of hostilities with France and vanishes from view, leaving Jane bereft.
I’m not going to spoil the surprise by detailing how things go from then onwards. It seemed perhaps a touch implausible, but then to fit the known facts of Jane’s life as far as possible (which the author has clearly gone to great pains to do) things had to be somewhat convoluted. As I said above, it works for me, but then (like most romance readers) I love a happy ending.
What I think is most astonishing is how well the writing mirrors Jane’s own language. Few modern authors can reach this level of authenticity, and if it largely lacks Jane’s biting wit, well, who could possibly match it? I will never criticise an author on that account. Jane was a towering talent, and no one truly comes close, but this is as close as anyone gets.
In fact, the author writes ‘British’ so well that the odd Americanism is all the more jarring for being so rare. I noticed ‘on High Street’ (for some reason, Brits say ‘on the High Street’), and Jane’s sister-in-law, the former Mary Lloyd, is called Mary Lloyd Austen, in the American fashion of incorporating the maiden name. There were some minor typos, too (demure for demur, discrete for discreet), but nothing drastic.
I’ve had this on my Kindle for a long time (three years!) and now I’m wondering just why I waited so long to read it. A very enjoyable read, beautifully written without taking liberties with history and a cracking romance as well. Five stars and highly recommended.
The thesis is that Persuasion, perhaps Jane’s most romantic novel with its regrets and a miraculous second chance for happiness, mirrors Jane’s own life. While celebrating the marriage of her brother Henry to Eliza, Jane meets Captain Devereaux, a Frenchman who has escaped the troubles in France to join the British navy against the French. There is a whirlwind romance, quickly followed by a proposal and acceptance. But Captain Devereaux has not yet made his fortune, and Jane is persuaded to give him up. They part in anger, thus far mirroring the events of Persuasion closely, highlighted by a number of quotes.
Later, they meet again, but (again, in a reflection of Persuasion), there is no happy reunion. Instead, Captain Devereaux becomes entangled with another young woman, and becomes engaged to her, even while recognising the reigniting of his feelings for Jane. So far, so identical. But after this, Jane produces a happy ending for Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth, while her own life (according to this book) takes a different direction. Captain Devereaux is swept up into the renewal of hostilities with France and vanishes from view, leaving Jane bereft.
I’m not going to spoil the surprise by detailing how things go from then onwards. It seemed perhaps a touch implausible, but then to fit the known facts of Jane’s life as far as possible (which the author has clearly gone to great pains to do) things had to be somewhat convoluted. As I said above, it works for me, but then (like most romance readers) I love a happy ending.
What I think is most astonishing is how well the writing mirrors Jane’s own language. Few modern authors can reach this level of authenticity, and if it largely lacks Jane’s biting wit, well, who could possibly match it? I will never criticise an author on that account. Jane was a towering talent, and no one truly comes close, but this is as close as anyone gets.
In fact, the author writes ‘British’ so well that the odd Americanism is all the more jarring for being so rare. I noticed ‘on High Street’ (for some reason, Brits say ‘on the High Street’), and Jane’s sister-in-law, the former Mary Lloyd, is called Mary Lloyd Austen, in the American fashion of incorporating the maiden name. There were some minor typos, too (demure for demur, discrete for discreet), but nothing drastic.
I’ve had this on my Kindle for a long time (three years!) and now I’m wondering just why I waited so long to read it. A very enjoyable read, beautifully written without taking liberties with history and a cracking romance as well. Five stars and highly recommended.
June 15, 2015
After abit a slow start(my fault, not the book's fault), I found it more interesting as the story went on. I love stories about "The Author". The ending was one of the best I've read in Austenesque fiction...and most of the Austenesque endings are delightful! Be sure to check out Meredith's review on goodreads if you don't believe me:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
September 10, 2014
This review originally appeared on Austenprose:http://austenprose.com/2014/09/01/the...
It seems to be a great injustice indeed that we, as lovers of all things Jane Austen, spend such a small percentage of our time thinking about Jane’s own love life, as we are instead wrapped up in the lives of her amazingly-created characters. With that in mind, I was excited to hear that one of my favorite Austen authors, Shannon Winslow, was dedicating a book to Ms. Austen herself and the potential influences she had in writing one of her two posthumously published works, Persuasion. It is aptly named The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen. I couldn’t wait to read this once it came out, given how much I admired Winslow’s previous works, The Darcy’s of Pemberley and Return to Longbourn. So, without any more fanfare, I eagerly began reading.
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is based on the premise that Austen had her own object of affection: a sea captain by the name of Philippe Devereaux. Introduced to the Captain by her cousin Eliza at her wedding to Jane’s brother, Henry, we see Jane thrown into a whirlwind of emotion upon meeting Philippe. In fact, she behaves not unlike her own characters when they find themselves in much the same predicament. Winslow tells us of Jane’s personal love story with Captain Devereaux via entries of Jane’s own personal journal, penned alongside the pages of Persuasion itself. Winslow slowly begins to intertwine these two tales, and we get to see Jane go through the emotions of loss, love, and finally (what she really deserves) a happy ending.
This is definitely Winslow’s best work to date. The writing is emotional, moving, and my heart was stirred for Jane and her tribulations. Winslow is one of the few authors who can channel Austen’s style of prose so well that I could not tell the two apart if I tried (the only other who comes to mind is Meg Kerr and her novel Experience.) The style of the book (in a journal format which weaves in Persuasion) was a perfect choice, because Winslow’s prose is so like Jane’s that it is incredibly believable that you could be reading actual diary pages written by Jane years ago. It’s obvious that Winslow put a lot of research into where Jane was at certain points of her life to make this story so believable.
I’m glad that Winslow chose to write about Persuasion instead of Pride and Prejudice, for although P&P only slightly edges out Persuasion as my favorite book, Persuasion is often relegated to second fiddle in the fan fiction world, with less work devoted to it. I’m glad such a prolific author in the Jane Austen Fan Fiction world was able to introduce the love and beauty of Anne and Frederick’s story to a new generation. My challenge to you, dear readers, is to download a sample of the first chapter of this book, in which Jane begins writing Persuasion, and not be moved by the frail humanity Jane expresses:
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is one of the most moving, soul-filling, and beautiful stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The wait for this book was totally worth it, and I’m already eager to see what beauty Winslow will create next.
It seems to be a great injustice indeed that we, as lovers of all things Jane Austen, spend such a small percentage of our time thinking about Jane’s own love life, as we are instead wrapped up in the lives of her amazingly-created characters. With that in mind, I was excited to hear that one of my favorite Austen authors, Shannon Winslow, was dedicating a book to Ms. Austen herself and the potential influences she had in writing one of her two posthumously published works, Persuasion. It is aptly named The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen. I couldn’t wait to read this once it came out, given how much I admired Winslow’s previous works, The Darcy’s of Pemberley and Return to Longbourn. So, without any more fanfare, I eagerly began reading.
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is based on the premise that Austen had her own object of affection: a sea captain by the name of Philippe Devereaux. Introduced to the Captain by her cousin Eliza at her wedding to Jane’s brother, Henry, we see Jane thrown into a whirlwind of emotion upon meeting Philippe. In fact, she behaves not unlike her own characters when they find themselves in much the same predicament. Winslow tells us of Jane’s personal love story with Captain Devereaux via entries of Jane’s own personal journal, penned alongside the pages of Persuasion itself. Winslow slowly begins to intertwine these two tales, and we get to see Jane go through the emotions of loss, love, and finally (what she really deserves) a happy ending.
This is definitely Winslow’s best work to date. The writing is emotional, moving, and my heart was stirred for Jane and her tribulations. Winslow is one of the few authors who can channel Austen’s style of prose so well that I could not tell the two apart if I tried (the only other who comes to mind is Meg Kerr and her novel Experience.) The style of the book (in a journal format which weaves in Persuasion) was a perfect choice, because Winslow’s prose is so like Jane’s that it is incredibly believable that you could be reading actual diary pages written by Jane years ago. It’s obvious that Winslow put a lot of research into where Jane was at certain points of her life to make this story so believable.
I’m glad that Winslow chose to write about Persuasion instead of Pride and Prejudice, for although P&P only slightly edges out Persuasion as my favorite book, Persuasion is often relegated to second fiddle in the fan fiction world, with less work devoted to it. I’m glad such a prolific author in the Jane Austen Fan Fiction world was able to introduce the love and beauty of Anne and Frederick’s story to a new generation. My challenge to you, dear readers, is to download a sample of the first chapter of this book, in which Jane begins writing Persuasion, and not be moved by the frail humanity Jane expresses:
“To begin is to risk everything – crushing defeat, utter failure or, worse still, mediocrity. However, not taking the risk is unthinkable. I have come through successfully before, but that hardly signifies. With each new work the familiar doubts and niggling questions resurface, chiefly these. Do I really possess whatever genius it takes to do it again? And if so, what is the best way to go about it?” (9-10)
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is one of the most moving, soul-filling, and beautiful stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The wait for this book was totally worth it, and I’m already eager to see what beauty Winslow will create next.
October 25, 2016
I love the story of Persuasion which is what attracted me to reading this book. On the whole I liked it until it got towards the end and the slightly outlandish plot to fake Jane's death and have her run away to the continent was introduced. Not saying any more because don't want to add too many spoilers.
I liked that little bits of Persuasion were in the book as parallels to what was happening to Jane and her fictitious Captain Devereux. Persuasion was one of Jane's most mature novels with themes of second chances which is a popular theme in as we are all human and screw up and wish for that second chance to put things right or find the happiness we were too afraid to take the chance on the first time in whatever situation.
I liked the writing of the story and how Jane was portrayed, mostly.
I liked that little bits of Persuasion were in the book as parallels to what was happening to Jane and her fictitious Captain Devereux. Persuasion was one of Jane's most mature novels with themes of second chances which is a popular theme in as we are all human and screw up and wish for that second chance to put things right or find the happiness we were too afraid to take the chance on the first time in whatever situation.
I liked the writing of the story and how Jane was portrayed, mostly.
May 31, 2023
Outstanding!
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.
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.
September 1, 2014
My Thoughts...
Oh! how I love reading anything bordering on Jane Austen's life and stories...Being a Jane Austen fan I am and I guess I always will be drawn to a book based on her writings. I wasn't disappointed with this novel, I found it interesting and also it was like visiting some of the people in her novel "Persuasion" without reading the book over again. If you are an Austenite I think you would probably enjoy this story with a little different twist about Jane Austen's life.
This book is a part of my Nook library and I enjoyed it enough that I was 'persuaded' to award it 4 stars.
Oh! how I love reading anything bordering on Jane Austen's life and stories...Being a Jane Austen fan I am and I guess I always will be drawn to a book based on her writings. I wasn't disappointed with this novel, I found it interesting and also it was like visiting some of the people in her novel "Persuasion" without reading the book over again. If you are an Austenite I think you would probably enjoy this story with a little different twist about Jane Austen's life.
This book is a part of my Nook library and I enjoyed it enough that I was 'persuaded' to award it 4 stars.
September 20, 2015
(Spoiler included in this review).
Oh! Would that the premise of this book was true and Jane Austen did not die like the world was lead to believe in July 1817, but moved to another country to start a life denied to her some twenty years earlier......
I liked this book- the obvious parallels between her life and that of Anne Elliot and the sweet ending that both she and her beloved character so richly deserved and received.
Oh! Would that the premise of this book was true and Jane Austen did not die like the world was lead to believe in July 1817, but moved to another country to start a life denied to her some twenty years earlier......
I liked this book- the obvious parallels between her life and that of Anne Elliot and the sweet ending that both she and her beloved character so richly deserved and received.
Read
April 8, 2023I've been trying to finish this book for over a month now, and it's becoming a chore to even pick it up. It just makes me want to read Persuasion instead. Which is what I think everyone should read, anyway. I may come back to it another time.
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4/7/23: I came back to this book and still found it tedious. I think if I didn't know much about Jane Austen, I would enjoy this fictionalized account of her life more. I did enjoy how parts of her novels were woven into this story.
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4/7/23: I came back to this book and still found it tedious. I think if I didn't know much about Jane Austen, I would enjoy this fictionalized account of her life more. I did enjoy how parts of her novels were woven into this story.
August 6, 2019
This is the best Austen-inspired novel I have read so far despite the first part not being so good.
I liked the idea that Austen had used her own experiences in "Persuasion" but it became quite tiresome when the author quoted passages on and on. If you're reading this book, you've probably read "Persuasion". If not, you will go read it, so don't spoil it.
When the story unfolded it started getting more interested and she left the book behind and made it her own story. The kind of story I would have loved for Ms. Austen.
A gold star for the language! I think Winslow is American, but she sounded British. She sounded almost like Austen.
I liked the idea that Austen had used her own experiences in "Persuasion" but it became quite tiresome when the author quoted passages on and on. If you're reading this book, you've probably read "Persuasion". If not, you will go read it, so don't spoil it.
When the story unfolded it started getting more interested and she left the book behind and made it her own story. The kind of story I would have loved for Ms. Austen.
A gold star for the language! I think Winslow is American, but she sounded British. She sounded almost like Austen.
September 20, 2021
A moving and beautifully bittersweet tribute to our dear Jane. Her reminiscences are so believably rendered that I sincerely wish to believe this lovely tale is more truth than fiction. In my heart, it is.
March 28, 2020
Have you ever read a book several years after publishing date and wondered why you waited so long to read it? That’s what happened to me when I read The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen. Not only was this one of my favourite reads of 2019, but it also entered my list of all time favourite books!
In The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, the main character is none other than Jane Austen and through the pages of her private journal, she reveals to readers not only her inner thoughts but also her most secret life events, events that remained until today hidden from her fans. It is through Austen’s own words that readers will follow the parallel stories of Jane Austen and Captain Philippe Devereaux and Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth, whose story is biographical.
Through a writing style that reflects Austen’s narrative voice, we get to relive the best moments of Persuasion, while reading about Austen’s life and what inspired every scene in her last book. Jane Austen will also give us some glimpses of what influenced her to create characters such as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, which was a detail I also appreciated immensely. It was almost as if I travelled through time and had a conversation with my favourite writer who talked about all her writing choices and answered all my questions.
Jane Austen’s character was perfect and exactly as I imagined her to be, but I was equally enamoured of Captain Philippe Devereaux, he is just as charming as Wentworth, and even if I don’t want to spoil anything for you, I must say that he was the perfect man in the last chapters of the book.
Their love story is beautiful and Jane’s life kept me interested the entire time. I knew how it must end because everyone knows when she died, but I could not stop reading hoping that maybe, just maybe, she would have a different fate.
The story in this book is compelling and having both Jane and Anne’s story intertwine chapter after chapter made it a gripping book, but it wasn’t just the plot and the characters that made me love The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen so much, the writing style is absolutely exquisite! It is hard to believe this book was not written by Jane Austen herself. The witty remarks and humorous inputs in the story are so in line with Austen’s style that the reader feels she penned them herself.
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is a book that should not be missed by any Janeite. It has all the ingredients for success and I have no doubt every Austen fan will be rendered by it. The writing style is exquisite and will make you believe you are reading Austen’s journals; the details about Austen’s life and writing decisions are a dream come true to any fan who always wanted to know more about the characters and the scenes she developed; the story behind the story of Persuasion is one of the most beautiful love stories you’ll ever read about, and getting to relive the best scenes from Persuasion is marvelous. I could not recommend this book enough. It is definitely a must read.
In The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, the main character is none other than Jane Austen and through the pages of her private journal, she reveals to readers not only her inner thoughts but also her most secret life events, events that remained until today hidden from her fans. It is through Austen’s own words that readers will follow the parallel stories of Jane Austen and Captain Philippe Devereaux and Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth, whose story is biographical.
Through a writing style that reflects Austen’s narrative voice, we get to relive the best moments of Persuasion, while reading about Austen’s life and what inspired every scene in her last book. Jane Austen will also give us some glimpses of what influenced her to create characters such as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, which was a detail I also appreciated immensely. It was almost as if I travelled through time and had a conversation with my favourite writer who talked about all her writing choices and answered all my questions.
Jane Austen’s character was perfect and exactly as I imagined her to be, but I was equally enamoured of Captain Philippe Devereaux, he is just as charming as Wentworth, and even if I don’t want to spoil anything for you, I must say that he was the perfect man in the last chapters of the book.
Their love story is beautiful and Jane’s life kept me interested the entire time. I knew how it must end because everyone knows when she died, but I could not stop reading hoping that maybe, just maybe, she would have a different fate.
The story in this book is compelling and having both Jane and Anne’s story intertwine chapter after chapter made it a gripping book, but it wasn’t just the plot and the characters that made me love The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen so much, the writing style is absolutely exquisite! It is hard to believe this book was not written by Jane Austen herself. The witty remarks and humorous inputs in the story are so in line with Austen’s style that the reader feels she penned them herself.
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is a book that should not be missed by any Janeite. It has all the ingredients for success and I have no doubt every Austen fan will be rendered by it. The writing style is exquisite and will make you believe you are reading Austen’s journals; the details about Austen’s life and writing decisions are a dream come true to any fan who always wanted to know more about the characters and the scenes she developed; the story behind the story of Persuasion is one of the most beautiful love stories you’ll ever read about, and getting to relive the best scenes from Persuasion is marvelous. I could not recommend this book enough. It is definitely a must read.
October 12, 2014
I loved The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen! Shannon Winslow has rewritten the ending of Jane’s life and has given her the happily ever after that we all hoped Jane would have. It is beautifully written, and it’s a story I think Jane herself would be proud of.
The story is written from Jane’s perspective as she sets out to pen Persuasion. At the same time, she also begins a journal recalling the first time she meets Captain Devereaux and writes of all of her time with him that so parallels that of Anne Elliot’s.
In her twenty’s, Jane meets and falls in love with Captain Devereaux. Her parents do not approve of the marriage, and Jane will not go against their wishes. Captain Devereaux goes away angry, and Jane doesn’t see him again for another four years. Unfortunately, this meeting does not end as well as Anne and Captain Wentworth second meeting. No, Jane has to wait much longer than Anne for her happy ending.
Not only are there many parallels to Persuasion, I see many similarities to other aspects of Austen’s books. Just as Elizabeth calls out Darcy for eavesdropping on one of her conversations, Jane calls out Captain Devereaux:
“Do not you think, Captain Devereaux, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was giving my opinion of Giaour?”
Captain Devereaux also has a friend, a Captain Bothwell, who reminds me a little of Captain Wentworth’s friend, Captain Benwick. Although, he is not as depressed as Captain Benwick, he has suffered an injury that prevents him from sailing again. Bothwell and Jane become quite good friends.
I also love how Jane quotes her characters or speaks about them as if they are real people. And I delighted in little conversations like this one between Cassandra and Jane:
“Now you sound just like Lizzy Bennet. How delightful!"
“You know that she is my model in all things.”
“I thought it was the other way round, Jane - that Lizzy was patterned after yourself. Either way, I am sure Captain Devereaux must have felt the point of your wit!”
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is a wonderful read, with a plausible ending that was cleverly done! It warmed my heart to know Jane knew what it was to love, to love deeply, and to be loved back! Well done! This book is the first I’ve read by Shannon Winslow, but it won’t be the last! I would highly recommend The Persuasion of Miss Austen for your reading pleasure!
FTC Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the story from the author for my honest review.
The story is written from Jane’s perspective as she sets out to pen Persuasion. At the same time, she also begins a journal recalling the first time she meets Captain Devereaux and writes of all of her time with him that so parallels that of Anne Elliot’s.
In her twenty’s, Jane meets and falls in love with Captain Devereaux. Her parents do not approve of the marriage, and Jane will not go against their wishes. Captain Devereaux goes away angry, and Jane doesn’t see him again for another four years. Unfortunately, this meeting does not end as well as Anne and Captain Wentworth second meeting. No, Jane has to wait much longer than Anne for her happy ending.
Not only are there many parallels to Persuasion, I see many similarities to other aspects of Austen’s books. Just as Elizabeth calls out Darcy for eavesdropping on one of her conversations, Jane calls out Captain Devereaux:
“Do not you think, Captain Devereaux, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was giving my opinion of Giaour?”
Captain Devereaux also has a friend, a Captain Bothwell, who reminds me a little of Captain Wentworth’s friend, Captain Benwick. Although, he is not as depressed as Captain Benwick, he has suffered an injury that prevents him from sailing again. Bothwell and Jane become quite good friends.
I also love how Jane quotes her characters or speaks about them as if they are real people. And I delighted in little conversations like this one between Cassandra and Jane:
“Now you sound just like Lizzy Bennet. How delightful!"
“You know that she is my model in all things.”
“I thought it was the other way round, Jane - that Lizzy was patterned after yourself. Either way, I am sure Captain Devereaux must have felt the point of your wit!”
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is a wonderful read, with a plausible ending that was cleverly done! It warmed my heart to know Jane knew what it was to love, to love deeply, and to be loved back! Well done! This book is the first I’ve read by Shannon Winslow, but it won’t be the last! I would highly recommend The Persuasion of Miss Austen for your reading pleasure!
FTC Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the story from the author for my honest review.
April 29, 2016
Shannon Winslow is an author who has walked down the path of Austen sequels before, but this is her first novel to focus on Austen's life rather than the lives of her characters. I was unfamiliar with Winslow before beginning this novel; as such, I found the first 25 pages or so to be a bit factually incorrect, as in the mention that Jane spends a good deal of her writing profits on household upkeep, and the HORRENDOUS misspelling of Austen's friend Alethea Bigg's name as ALTHEA. The horror! However, I loosened up and let myself enjoy what turned out to be a detail-rich and gripping read. Winslow hypothesizes that PERSUASION was written with a very heavy dash of Austen's own experience with love. Jane meets a French naval captain, Captain Devereaux, at the wedding of her brother and Eliza de Feuillide. She is immediately taken with him, as he is with her, and so begins a whirlwind romance for Austen, at the "spinsterish" age of 27. Much like Wentworth, Devereaux has little in the way of wealth, but he is sailing out with every opportunity to distinguish himself. Jane's parents, however, refuse their consent for the match. So Jane severs her ties with the captain, leaving him angry and hurt. The remainder of the story follows very closely that of PERSUASION, with the pair drifting in and out of each other's lives for the next 14 years, bringing us to Winchester, to Jane's terrible illness. I won't spoil the remainder of the book. The novel takes a fantastic twist in Winchester. Winslow, in my mind, entirely redeemed herself from her earlier minor factual errors. Austen left so little in the way of letters, especially after Cassandra did away with the ones she felt were too personal, to entirely fill in the blanks in some of the years of her life. Thus novels such as this are born, books that refuse to accept that this "quiet" Regency author lived and died an old maid.
August 20, 2014
When I first heard of the concept for this book, I was a little weary. Not because I don't love Shannon, because I do, but how do you bring together a beloved story like Persuasion and Jane Austen. But as the writing slowly progressed, Shannon would share tidbits here and there (although not as many as I would have liked) and I just knew I would have to read it. SO, I when got this book and started reading it, I immediately fell in love.
First we learn of Jane's death, which by all accounts that we know of, is very sad indeed. Then we are taken back in time to when Jane starts writing her latest novel, Persuasion. Here we learn a bit of the "one that got away" and how he is, bits and pieces of his character and traits, featured in some of her heroes. And while writing it, we get to see how they meet, fall in love and then driven apart. And of course, all this is how Persuasion came to be.
But what if, just as in Persuasion, her Captain returns and this time doesn't let anything come between them.What if he seeks her out and hopes that she will throw caution to wind and run away with him. And what if, instead of dying on that fateful July day, she finally gets her happy ending. The one that we, as fans, always wished for her.
Oh how I enjoyed this book and it was well worth the wait. And I could tell you all the ends and outs of this love story, but what would be the fun in that. You must read it and fall in love with Jane all over again.
Thank you Shannon for bringing Persuasion and Jane Austen together!! This is by far my favorite book of yours thus far.
First we learn of Jane's death, which by all accounts that we know of, is very sad indeed. Then we are taken back in time to when Jane starts writing her latest novel, Persuasion. Here we learn a bit of the "one that got away" and how he is, bits and pieces of his character and traits, featured in some of her heroes. And while writing it, we get to see how they meet, fall in love and then driven apart. And of course, all this is how Persuasion came to be.
But what if, just as in Persuasion, her Captain returns and this time doesn't let anything come between them.What if he seeks her out and hopes that she will throw caution to wind and run away with him. And what if, instead of dying on that fateful July day, she finally gets her happy ending. The one that we, as fans, always wished for her.
Oh how I enjoyed this book and it was well worth the wait. And I could tell you all the ends and outs of this love story, but what would be the fun in that. You must read it and fall in love with Jane all over again.
Thank you Shannon for bringing Persuasion and Jane Austen together!! This is by far my favorite book of yours thus far.
November 4, 2014
I really was hoping to like this book, but several things about it bothered me. Maybe it's because I listened to it versus reading it? But here are my issues:
- I didn't like the way the story of Jane's life was intertwined with her writing of Persuasion. It felt too forced in the story (there were literally parts where it was like "I write...").
- I didn't like the character of Phillipe that was created for Jane's love interest. To me, there was nothing compelling enough about him that would make you want to root for them to be together in the end.
- The portrayal of Jane made her character too insipid. Everything I've ever read about Jane Austen suggests that she was most like Elizabeth Bennett, with a great wit and sharp eye. This story made her feel too "damsel in distress" to me.
- The story just dragged on. I almost quit when it got to "Book 2", which started with her on her deathbed. I couldn't believe I was only halfway through the book at that point!
Overall, this was a disappointment for me.
- I didn't like the way the story of Jane's life was intertwined with her writing of Persuasion. It felt too forced in the story (there were literally parts where it was like "I write...").
- I didn't like the character of Phillipe that was created for Jane's love interest. To me, there was nothing compelling enough about him that would make you want to root for them to be together in the end.
- The portrayal of Jane made her character too insipid. Everything I've ever read about Jane Austen suggests that she was most like Elizabeth Bennett, with a great wit and sharp eye. This story made her feel too "damsel in distress" to me.
- The story just dragged on. I almost quit when it got to "Book 2", which started with her on her deathbed. I couldn't believe I was only halfway through the book at that point!
Overall, this was a disappointment for me.
June 19, 2016
Great writing and the writer definitely knows her Austen novels. But this just wasn't for me. I find it hard to suspend disbelief when reading alternate endings for the lives of famous people who died. Especially those we know the story of. For anyone who would like to think of Jane having an actual life, no matter how far fetched this is a very good read.
March 1, 2026
I’m finding it difficult to assign a star rating to this book, because it feels like two separate books. I wish I could give it a 3.5, to reflect 3 stars for part 1 and 4 stars for part 2.
I’m a fan of Jane Austen and have read all of Shannon Winslow’s other Austin-adjacent books, all of which (save one) I would rate 4 stars. I listened to the audiobook version of this and was quite surprised when I heard “Part 2”, because I thought the book had ended. At that point, I felt like the book needn’t have been written. It’s a retelling of Persuasion but with Jane as Anne Elliot. But then the surprise of part 2 came along which provided a completely different ending. I enjoyed part 2, as I have most of Shannon Winslow’s books, and I thought it was well-written. If you begin reading this and are tempted to give up on it, hang in there.
I’m a fan of Jane Austen and have read all of Shannon Winslow’s other Austin-adjacent books, all of which (save one) I would rate 4 stars. I listened to the audiobook version of this and was quite surprised when I heard “Part 2”, because I thought the book had ended. At that point, I felt like the book needn’t have been written. It’s a retelling of Persuasion but with Jane as Anne Elliot. But then the surprise of part 2 came along which provided a completely different ending. I enjoyed part 2, as I have most of Shannon Winslow’s books, and I thought it was well-written. If you begin reading this and are tempted to give up on it, hang in there.
November 23, 2025
I have a bad luck in picking books lately. This one, I had hopes for - good ratings and my main requirements met and all. But, sadly, I couldn’t wait for it to be done with it. The first half was a copy-paste version of Persuasion, with the only exception being that I hated this version of captain Wentworth- him being self-centured, stubborn and narcissistic even. The second part was monotonous and I could not make myself interested. Jane was not what I imagined her to be, there was no wittiness, banter. The romance was not with us too, partly maybe because I could not change my poor opinion if Wentworth prototype and I really did not care how it finished. Well, no, as I mentioned, I cared to be done with it very much.
October 14, 2024
Excellent writing and an excellent plot - very satisfying indeed.
For me, Shannon Winslow is the most consistently Austenesque of the writers in this genre. This book is no exception.
The plot is exquisite, what a wonderfully inventive idea and the execution is delicious. I recommend this to all serious fans of this genre.
For me, Shannon Winslow is the most consistently Austenesque of the writers in this genre. This book is no exception.
The plot is exquisite, what a wonderfully inventive idea and the execution is delicious. I recommend this to all serious fans of this genre.
February 6, 2020
I wasn't quite sure what to make of this book. I enjoyed the story, but didn't feel comfortable about the re-writing of history of a real person. Maybe I'm being a bit precious about it!
May 5, 2022
I enjoyed this novel, an alternate ending to Jane Austen's actual sad demise.
March 25, 2025
An additional joy for the fan of Persuasion, my favorite among Jane Austen’s novels.
March 1, 2017
4.5 stars.
This book plays with the possibility that Persuasion was really about Jane Austen's story of love and despair, giving Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliott the happy ending she did not have. Or did she?
Written from Jane Austen's point of view, we know how she met Captain Deveraux, and how their love story developed during the years of separation. And then, when it seems they will not have a happy ending, Shannon Winslow comes up with something that makes you wish it would have been what had happened.
This book plays with the possibility that Persuasion was really about Jane Austen's story of love and despair, giving Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliott the happy ending she did not have. Or did she?
Written from Jane Austen's point of view, we know how she met Captain Deveraux, and how their love story developed during the years of separation. And then, when it seems they will not have a happy ending, Shannon Winslow comes up with something that makes you wish it would have been what had happened.
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