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Jane Austen's Fighting Men #3
Persuaded to Sail: Jane Austen's Fighting Men
The long-awaited sequel to Jane Austen’s final novel, Persuasion—
After an eight-year separation and a tumultuous reunion, Anne Elliot marries the dashing Captain Frederick Wentworth. The pair looks forward to an uneventful honeymoon cruise aboard the HMS Laconia. But the bride and groom find the seas of matrimony rough. Napoleon has escaped from Elba, the country is at war with France again, and the Admiralty imposes on Wentworth a mysterious passenger on a dangerous secret mission. The good captain is caught between duty to his country and love for his wife. All eyes are trained for enemies without, but the greatest menace may already be on board…
After an eight-year separation and a tumultuous reunion, Anne Elliot marries the dashing Captain Frederick Wentworth. The pair looks forward to an uneventful honeymoon cruise aboard the HMS Laconia. But the bride and groom find the seas of matrimony rough. Napoleon has escaped from Elba, the country is at war with France again, and the Admiralty imposes on Wentworth a mysterious passenger on a dangerous secret mission. The good captain is caught between duty to his country and love for his wife. All eyes are trained for enemies without, but the greatest menace may already be on board…
- GenresRegency
308 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2020
28 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Jack Caldwell
35 books102 followersJack Caldwell, born and raised in the Bayou County of Louisiana, is an author, amateur historian, professional economic developer, playwright, and like many Cajuns, a darn good cook.
His nickname -- The Cajun Cheesehead -- came from his devotion to his two favorite NFL teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. (Every now and then, Jack has to play the DVD again to make sure the Saints really won in 2010.)
Always a history buff, Jack found and fell in love with Jane Austen in his twenties, struck by her innate understanding of the human condition. Jack uses his work to share his knowledge of history. Through his characters, he hopes the reader gains a better understanding of what went on before, developing an appreciation for our ancestors' trials and tribulations.
When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons.
Jack's blog postings -- The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles -- appear regularly at Austen Variations.
His nickname -- The Cajun Cheesehead -- came from his devotion to his two favorite NFL teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. (Every now and then, Jack has to play the DVD again to make sure the Saints really won in 2010.)
Always a history buff, Jack found and fell in love with Jane Austen in his twenties, struck by her innate understanding of the human condition. Jack uses his work to share his knowledge of history. Through his characters, he hopes the reader gains a better understanding of what went on before, developing an appreciation for our ancestors' trials and tribulations.
When not writing or traveling with Barbara, Jack attempts to play golf. A devout convert to Roman Catholicism, Jack is married with three grown sons.
Jack's blog postings -- The Cajun Cheesehead Chronicles -- appear regularly at Austen Variations.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 30, 2020
After Captain Frederick Wentworth wrote that astoundingly romantic letter and saw eight years of desolate separation ended with Anne at his side, did they sail off into the wide, blue sea happily ever after? Persuaded to Sail picks up where Jane Austen's Persuasion left off and tells a sequel of quiet romance strengthened through adversity and daily life, life aboard a warship during the last days of the Napoleonic Wars, and the subtle maneuverings of a British spy.
I madly adore this author's Jane Austen's Fighting Men's series and this latest installment was no exception. Persuaded to Sail is the third in the series of loosely connected books and cleverly connected to Jane Austen's original novels. This one mainly follows the events of Persuasion, but also has a secondary romance for two engaging young side characters from both Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility. The reader would do fine if they treated this like a standalone and even if they got it out of order and want to go back for the other stories. If the reader is at least familiar with Austen's novels, these are even better, but even without the prior books, these give a reader enough so they aren't lost.
Persuaded to Sail begins with a series of setting up, introductory scenes with Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot's wedding, with the early days of Lt. William Price meeting Miss Margaret Dashwood at Mansfield Park, and a cagey spy wanting out of the spy business even as his spy master thinks to send him on an extremely perilous mission that will begin when he is transported part way by Captain Wentworth.
The three threads twine well together and the latter two stories remain in the background as Anne adjusts to married life at the same time as being a Navy Captain's wife aboard his ship, The Laconia. There is a good bit of explanation about life, duty, and work aboard the ship which reminded me of the old classic Age of Sail stories by Forrester and O'Brien. There is also the tender and quietly difficult work of making a young marriage work. The pair are both seasoned adults, but Anne soon discovers with difficulty that there is a difference between her husband, Frederick, and her ship's captain. I found it all intriguing and enjoyed meeting the characters aboard the Laconia as well as the two extra passengers. Laconia is meant to go straight to its assignment patrolling the waters around Bermuda for pirates and French privateers, but must make a secret stop for a certain gentleman spy whose polite attentiveness to Anne drives Frederick wild.
There were two crisis points and both were pretty exciting in their own ways. One, I will offer a trigger warning for sexual assault for those who cannot or do not wish to read even indirectly about such things and the other, I'm sure you can guess- Navy ship... time of war...ha!
The writer wrote with a strong, articulate grasp of historical setting, British military of the time, culture, society, and Austen's novels. The past vividly comes to life with several fascinating naval customs and rules specifically focused on. I had no trouble hearing the wind humming in the lines, sails snapping above, and creak of the ship's timbers, but also the sense of cramped quarters, smell of the bilges, and staleness of food when long at sea.
All in all, it was a fabulous sequel to a fan of Jane Austen and Age of Sail stories like I am. I can't recommend this series enough and am glad to note there will be further books in the series. I would recommend this to those who enjoy sweeter historical military romance, Regency era historicals, and of course, Jane Austen fans.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I madly adore this author's Jane Austen's Fighting Men's series and this latest installment was no exception. Persuaded to Sail is the third in the series of loosely connected books and cleverly connected to Jane Austen's original novels. This one mainly follows the events of Persuasion, but also has a secondary romance for two engaging young side characters from both Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility. The reader would do fine if they treated this like a standalone and even if they got it out of order and want to go back for the other stories. If the reader is at least familiar with Austen's novels, these are even better, but even without the prior books, these give a reader enough so they aren't lost.
Persuaded to Sail begins with a series of setting up, introductory scenes with Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot's wedding, with the early days of Lt. William Price meeting Miss Margaret Dashwood at Mansfield Park, and a cagey spy wanting out of the spy business even as his spy master thinks to send him on an extremely perilous mission that will begin when he is transported part way by Captain Wentworth.
The three threads twine well together and the latter two stories remain in the background as Anne adjusts to married life at the same time as being a Navy Captain's wife aboard his ship, The Laconia. There is a good bit of explanation about life, duty, and work aboard the ship which reminded me of the old classic Age of Sail stories by Forrester and O'Brien. There is also the tender and quietly difficult work of making a young marriage work. The pair are both seasoned adults, but Anne soon discovers with difficulty that there is a difference between her husband, Frederick, and her ship's captain. I found it all intriguing and enjoyed meeting the characters aboard the Laconia as well as the two extra passengers. Laconia is meant to go straight to its assignment patrolling the waters around Bermuda for pirates and French privateers, but must make a secret stop for a certain gentleman spy whose polite attentiveness to Anne drives Frederick wild.
There were two crisis points and both were pretty exciting in their own ways. One, I will offer a trigger warning for sexual assault for those who cannot or do not wish to read even indirectly about such things and the other, I'm sure you can guess- Navy ship... time of war...ha!
The writer wrote with a strong, articulate grasp of historical setting, British military of the time, culture, society, and Austen's novels. The past vividly comes to life with several fascinating naval customs and rules specifically focused on. I had no trouble hearing the wind humming in the lines, sails snapping above, and creak of the ship's timbers, but also the sense of cramped quarters, smell of the bilges, and staleness of food when long at sea.
All in all, it was a fabulous sequel to a fan of Jane Austen and Age of Sail stories like I am. I can't recommend this series enough and am glad to note there will be further books in the series. I would recommend this to those who enjoy sweeter historical military romance, Regency era historicals, and of course, Jane Austen fans.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars
I enjoyed this third in a series of books about one of Jane Austen's heroes. You do need to have read at least Persuasion, if not several other Jane Austen books. Although Mansfield Park has the most relevance.
As the author's blurb tells us Anne and Frederick Wentworth set sail on his ship, the HMS Laconia. Sailing with him are several men who become main parts of this story. We also have William Price, Fanny Price's brother, who needs to earn some promotions in order to offer for Margaret Dashwood (of S&S). Set just as the war with the USA has ended, Napoleon escapes Elba and so war with France is again an active conflict.
This story has various threads. One passenger has come abroad secretly, seemingly serving as a spy for Britain. A member of the crew, a brute, has been impressed from the streets and has no allegiance to his shipmates nor the captain. Another man presents as resenting favorable status given to Aiken. Anne finds herself as having "two" husbands: one the naval captain who MUST follow the prescribed duties of his role and the other a loving man who wants to do everything to protect and love her.
Their voyage has the ship sailing to a port the crew was not expecting and then also coming upon a privateer and giving chase. During all this Anne, in her caring role, wins the hearts and respect of the crew. But as she becomes familiar with the ship puts herself in danger when she waves off an escort about the ship.
As the book wraps up Anne's family once more comes to the attention of the reader. It was in that ending that I learned that this author has several more books in this series in the works. I look forward to reading those. I have to add that this story was well edited. I only found one place in which I make a note questioning what was written.
I highly recommend this book.
I enjoyed this third in a series of books about one of Jane Austen's heroes. You do need to have read at least Persuasion, if not several other Jane Austen books. Although Mansfield Park has the most relevance.
As the author's blurb tells us Anne and Frederick Wentworth set sail on his ship, the HMS Laconia. Sailing with him are several men who become main parts of this story. We also have William Price, Fanny Price's brother, who needs to earn some promotions in order to offer for Margaret Dashwood (of S&S). Set just as the war with the USA has ended, Napoleon escapes Elba and so war with France is again an active conflict.
This story has various threads. One passenger has come abroad secretly, seemingly serving as a spy for Britain. A member of the crew, a brute, has been impressed from the streets and has no allegiance to his shipmates nor the captain. Another man presents as resenting favorable status given to Aiken. Anne finds herself as having "two" husbands: one the naval captain who MUST follow the prescribed duties of his role and the other a loving man who wants to do everything to protect and love her.
Their voyage has the ship sailing to a port the crew was not expecting and then also coming upon a privateer and giving chase. During all this Anne, in her caring role, wins the hearts and respect of the crew. But as she becomes familiar with the ship puts herself in danger when she waves off an escort about the ship.
As the book wraps up Anne's family once more comes to the attention of the reader. It was in that ending that I learned that this author has several more books in this series in the works. I look forward to reading those. I have to add that this story was well edited. I only found one place in which I make a note questioning what was written.
I highly recommend this book.
August 18, 2020
Review published at:
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Persuaded to Sail is the third book of the Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series by Jack Caldwell, and it is a compelling story with everything a sequel to Persuasion should have: adventure at sea, intrigue, some mystery, a strong Wentworth and a bit of romance between the newlyweds.
In this sequel, Captain Wentworth is called for another mission with the Laconia shortly after his wedding, but instead of leaving Anne ashore, he decides to take his wife with him until his final destination: Bermuda. The only set back Wentworth wasn’t expecting is the secretive guest he is to take with him to Madeira, a portuguese island in the Atlantic. This guest will bring not only some intrigue and suspense to the story, making the reader question his every word and action, but also cause some jealousy in Captain Wentworth, which was a detail I absolutely loved! There is nothing better than a jealous Frederick Wentworth, is there?
Because most of the action occurs aboard the Laconia at sea, there are several references to the navy’s expressions and procedures, and I was delighted to learn a little more about this world while reading the book. Jack Caldwell’s writing is simple and appealing, and even someone who doesn’t know much about these topics can easily follow the story and the dialogues. That is not an irrelevant feature, and keeping it informative yet alluring is not an easy task, so I have to highlight the writing style of the book which was one of the aspects I loved the most.
Persuaded to Sail focuses mainly on Frederick Wentworth, but it also features several characters from other Austen novels. Some only have cameo appearances, but others have a bigger role in this story, like William Price and Margaret Dashwood. Bringing these characters to the story, mixing their lives as if they were all part of the same society, and making connections that are innovative, yet perfectly believable, made the story richer and much more interesting. I absolutely loved learning more about William Price, and I wonder if I’ll ever see him in another novel by Jack Caldwell. Persuaded to Sail was the first book of this series I read, but I loved this style so much that I am now tempted to read the other two.
Anne Elliot has an important role in this story and I loved seeing the progression of her character, learning of how she adapted to life on board a navy ship and watching her gain the respect of the crew, but Captain Wentworth has a special place in my heart and I loved the portrayal Jack Caldwell did of his character. On Persuasion we only see him in his role of gentleman, but on the Laconia he is a Captain, and seeing him in this new role was very exciting, he was everything I expected him to be and more.
The ending of the book was somewhat unexpected which is always a plus in a novel, and the fate of some of the Elliot family members will give readers a great pleasure, I am sure.
Overall, Persuaded to Sail was an absorbing book that kept my interest from the beginning until the end. Despite the fact that most of it takes place in a confined space, it is action-packed, and even though we cannot consider this a romance novel, it does have many romantic moments between Frederick Wentworth and Anne. I believe all readers who love Persuasion will like this novel and I highly recommend it to those who cannot get enough of Regency historicals.
https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...
Persuaded to Sail is the third book of the Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series by Jack Caldwell, and it is a compelling story with everything a sequel to Persuasion should have: adventure at sea, intrigue, some mystery, a strong Wentworth and a bit of romance between the newlyweds.
In this sequel, Captain Wentworth is called for another mission with the Laconia shortly after his wedding, but instead of leaving Anne ashore, he decides to take his wife with him until his final destination: Bermuda. The only set back Wentworth wasn’t expecting is the secretive guest he is to take with him to Madeira, a portuguese island in the Atlantic. This guest will bring not only some intrigue and suspense to the story, making the reader question his every word and action, but also cause some jealousy in Captain Wentworth, which was a detail I absolutely loved! There is nothing better than a jealous Frederick Wentworth, is there?
Because most of the action occurs aboard the Laconia at sea, there are several references to the navy’s expressions and procedures, and I was delighted to learn a little more about this world while reading the book. Jack Caldwell’s writing is simple and appealing, and even someone who doesn’t know much about these topics can easily follow the story and the dialogues. That is not an irrelevant feature, and keeping it informative yet alluring is not an easy task, so I have to highlight the writing style of the book which was one of the aspects I loved the most.
Persuaded to Sail focuses mainly on Frederick Wentworth, but it also features several characters from other Austen novels. Some only have cameo appearances, but others have a bigger role in this story, like William Price and Margaret Dashwood. Bringing these characters to the story, mixing their lives as if they were all part of the same society, and making connections that are innovative, yet perfectly believable, made the story richer and much more interesting. I absolutely loved learning more about William Price, and I wonder if I’ll ever see him in another novel by Jack Caldwell. Persuaded to Sail was the first book of this series I read, but I loved this style so much that I am now tempted to read the other two.
Anne Elliot has an important role in this story and I loved seeing the progression of her character, learning of how she adapted to life on board a navy ship and watching her gain the respect of the crew, but Captain Wentworth has a special place in my heart and I loved the portrayal Jack Caldwell did of his character. On Persuasion we only see him in his role of gentleman, but on the Laconia he is a Captain, and seeing him in this new role was very exciting, he was everything I expected him to be and more.
The ending of the book was somewhat unexpected which is always a plus in a novel, and the fate of some of the Elliot family members will give readers a great pleasure, I am sure.
Overall, Persuaded to Sail was an absorbing book that kept my interest from the beginning until the end. Despite the fact that most of it takes place in a confined space, it is action-packed, and even though we cannot consider this a romance novel, it does have many romantic moments between Frederick Wentworth and Anne. I believe all readers who love Persuasion will like this novel and I highly recommend it to those who cannot get enough of Regency historicals.
January 10, 2021
My Rating: 3.5* rounded up to 4*
"An alarm sounded in his mind, such as when he could sense a lee shore in the fog - dangerous shoals ahead." (quote from the book)
Finally, Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot are married! Napoleon has escaped Elba and is gathering his troops. War has reared it's ugly head, again. Political intrigue and secret missions are soon impacting Captain Wentworth, his marriage and the Laconia. What he thought would be smooth sailing to Bermuda, has turned his orders into a dangerous mix of political intrigue, protecting Anne and duty to his country.
"No, my dear. Nothing at all to worry about." (quote from the book)
I enjoyed sailing with Captain Wentworth and Mrs. Wentworth. Life on board a naval war ship was a major adjustment for Anne. It was enlightening to learn along with her the ins and outs of shipboard living... though, I will admit it bogged the book down a touch for me. However, Anne soon came to see she had a rival for Wentworth's affections, along with another side of her husband...The Captain.
"My new sister has been so kind as to fill my head with all sorts of advice, so I am quite prepared to be the greatest of voyagers..." (quote from the book)
But all the advice given can never truly prepare one for the actual experience. With Wentworth's protective instinct's in high gear and emotions running high, how can he keep Anne safe and his crew from questioning his decisions and losing the respect he has earned from them over the years?
Also, within this book are two other story threads that captured my attention...William Price and Margaret Dashwood, William Elliot and Mr. Tucker (original character). Which begs the question; do you need to read the first two books in this series to follow this book? Maybe not, but, in my opinion, you would require an understanding of Jane Austen's novel 'Persuasion' as this one is a sequel and the 'The Three Colonels' and 'The Last Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel' would greatly enhance your experience. Those two, for me, were 5 star reads with 'The Three Colonels' being one of my top favourites.
So, if you are up for an adventure on the high seas, I do recommend this novel. Mr. Caldwell has done his research, and he brings back visions of Horatio Hornblower...my husband said, 'You have never read the books!", no, but I loved the movies! LOL!
June 9, 2020
3.5 Very Hornblowian. Some interesting and great moments as usual with this author and also as usual....
***BIG TRIGGER*** warning. Full point deduction!!! NOT acceptable!!!
***BIG TRIGGER*** warning. Full point deduction!!! NOT acceptable!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2021
Anne’s First Voyage as a Captain’s Wife
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
NOTE: Persuaded to Sail is the third book in Jack Caldwell’s Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series. The first two books in this series – The Three Colonels and The Last Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel occur in the same world as this third book, but each novel is standalone. Since Persuaded to Sail is more of a Persuasion sequel than anything else, you could just jump right in and read this book without reading the others. But you may end up wanting to check out the others to see more of Jane Austen’s fighting men and their adventures!
TYPE OF NOVEL: Persuasion Sequel
TIME FRAME: Begins with Frederick’s wedding to Anne
SYNOPSIS: Captain Frederick Wentworth has finally wed his dear Anne, and just as Admiral Croft predicted, his views on bringing women on board naval ships and their ability to live comfortable there has significantly changed. Captain Wenthworth is perparing to command the HMS Laconia on a mission to Bermuda, and he is happily making all sorts of arrangements to bring Anne with him. But their happy honeymoon voyage together (with the entire crew) takes a swift turn into some turbulent and uncharted waters when Captain Wentworth is forced to accept a secret mission from the Admiralty and it creates new complications, tension, and risk.
WHAT I LOVED:
- It’s a Persuasion Sequel: It is still a rarity for an author to publish a Persuasion sequel! One of the things I looked forward to the most and loved about reading this story, was revisiting the world of Persuasion. In Persuasion, there are so many possibilities and so little explored. Any premise or situation feels new and fresh! (Don’t get me wrong, I love P&P! But when it is 80% of what you read, you appreciate the occasional change up!)
- World of Men and Navy Life: By taking readers aboard a naval ship, Jack Caldwell does something Jane Austen didn’t do. He takes us to a male-dominated arena during the Regency era. While Jane Austen featured sailors and discussed some naval activities in her books, she did not portray them in their commands or illustrate life aboard a navy ship. There was so much that was new to learn and understand about the Royal Navy – and as Anne will discover, sea-life is it own world with its own set of rules and customs. With this story, Mr. Caldwell provided a lot of detailed descriptions and edifying explanations to educate any Royal Navy novice (like myself!) with what they need to know about navy life.
- Jane Austen Universe Similar to the other books in the Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series, Jane Austen’s novels and characters exist in the same universe and are cleverly brought together. I loved seeing William Price (from Mansfield Park) serve as Captain Wentworth’s First Lieutenant, and I loved the character (from another Jane Austen novel) that stole his heart! I love all the plausible and interesting character connections Jack Caldwell explores with this series!
- Tension Mounting: With a secret mission from the Admiralty and suspicious passengers on board there is tension enough on this voyage. Add to that a captain and his new wife who are trying to adapt to their new life together and find the balance in their new respective roles! I really appreciated seeing Wentworth and Anne experience this period of adjustment – how they both had struggles, needed to learn from each other, and realize the differences in their situation to other marriages. The conflicts and emotions both characters face were realistic and sensitively portrayed.
Helpful Aides: Maps, dramatis personae, and a navy glossary! These helpful and handy resources definitely help educate the reader and enhance the reading experience.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Mission Resolution: It felt like the naval conflicts and dangerous circumstances eventually deescalated and swiftly resolved without much complication. Maybe some more needed to be said or shown about this plot-line to give it a stronger resolution, especially since some of the action started taking place off-page.
WARNING: There is a brief scene of attempted assault.
CONCLUSION:
Persuaded to Sail is an exhilarating and exciting Persuasion sequel brimming with romance, action, and drama! I am beyond delighted to see that there are two more books planned for this series! I adore ALL of Jane Austen’s fighting men (except maybe Wickham) and I love that this series explores their lives, their loves, and their battles.
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
NOTE: Persuaded to Sail is the third book in Jack Caldwell’s Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series. The first two books in this series – The Three Colonels and The Last Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel occur in the same world as this third book, but each novel is standalone. Since Persuaded to Sail is more of a Persuasion sequel than anything else, you could just jump right in and read this book without reading the others. But you may end up wanting to check out the others to see more of Jane Austen’s fighting men and their adventures!
TYPE OF NOVEL: Persuasion Sequel
TIME FRAME: Begins with Frederick’s wedding to Anne
SYNOPSIS: Captain Frederick Wentworth has finally wed his dear Anne, and just as Admiral Croft predicted, his views on bringing women on board naval ships and their ability to live comfortable there has significantly changed. Captain Wenthworth is perparing to command the HMS Laconia on a mission to Bermuda, and he is happily making all sorts of arrangements to bring Anne with him. But their happy honeymoon voyage together (with the entire crew) takes a swift turn into some turbulent and uncharted waters when Captain Wentworth is forced to accept a secret mission from the Admiralty and it creates new complications, tension, and risk.
WHAT I LOVED:
- It’s a Persuasion Sequel: It is still a rarity for an author to publish a Persuasion sequel! One of the things I looked forward to the most and loved about reading this story, was revisiting the world of Persuasion. In Persuasion, there are so many possibilities and so little explored. Any premise or situation feels new and fresh! (Don’t get me wrong, I love P&P! But when it is 80% of what you read, you appreciate the occasional change up!)
- World of Men and Navy Life: By taking readers aboard a naval ship, Jack Caldwell does something Jane Austen didn’t do. He takes us to a male-dominated arena during the Regency era. While Jane Austen featured sailors and discussed some naval activities in her books, she did not portray them in their commands or illustrate life aboard a navy ship. There was so much that was new to learn and understand about the Royal Navy – and as Anne will discover, sea-life is it own world with its own set of rules and customs. With this story, Mr. Caldwell provided a lot of detailed descriptions and edifying explanations to educate any Royal Navy novice (like myself!) with what they need to know about navy life.
- Jane Austen Universe Similar to the other books in the Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series, Jane Austen’s novels and characters exist in the same universe and are cleverly brought together. I loved seeing William Price (from Mansfield Park) serve as Captain Wentworth’s First Lieutenant, and I loved the character (from another Jane Austen novel) that stole his heart! I love all the plausible and interesting character connections Jack Caldwell explores with this series!
- Tension Mounting: With a secret mission from the Admiralty and suspicious passengers on board there is tension enough on this voyage. Add to that a captain and his new wife who are trying to adapt to their new life together and find the balance in their new respective roles! I really appreciated seeing Wentworth and Anne experience this period of adjustment – how they both had struggles, needed to learn from each other, and realize the differences in their situation to other marriages. The conflicts and emotions both characters face were realistic and sensitively portrayed.
Helpful Aides: Maps, dramatis personae, and a navy glossary! These helpful and handy resources definitely help educate the reader and enhance the reading experience.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
- Mission Resolution: It felt like the naval conflicts and dangerous circumstances eventually deescalated and swiftly resolved without much complication. Maybe some more needed to be said or shown about this plot-line to give it a stronger resolution, especially since some of the action started taking place off-page.
WARNING: There is a brief scene of attempted assault.
CONCLUSION:
Persuaded to Sail is an exhilarating and exciting Persuasion sequel brimming with romance, action, and drama! I am beyond delighted to see that there are two more books planned for this series! I adore ALL of Jane Austen’s fighting men (except maybe Wickham) and I love that this series explores their lives, their loves, and their battles.
Austenesque Reviews
July 11, 2020
Continuing his Jane Austen’s Fighting Men series, Jack Caldwell brings us Persuaded to Sail, a sequel to Miss Austen’s Persuasion. In preparation for this novel and the review, I re-watched the 1995 and 2007 cinematic productions of Persuasion and also read the last two chapters of the source material (which of course includes the epitome of love letters, from Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliot). I love these characters, and I also highly enjoy naval adventures. I have a healthy collection of novels by Patrick O’Brian, C.S. Forester and R.H. Dana, Jr. in my personal library. As many have speculated on the long-term fate of Anne Elliot Wentworth due to Austen’s interesting final sentence regarding her, all of these factors together added to my anticipation for Persuaded to Sail. Any number of interesting narratives could spring from Austen’s closing words: “She gloried in being a sailor’s wife, but she must pay the tax of quick alarm for belonging to that profession which is, if possible, more distinguished in its domestic virtues than in its national importance.”
In this imagining of the Wentworths’ first months together as newlyweds, it becomes abundantly clear that Caldwell has done his homework in regard to naval history and procedure. Not only is there a helpful glossary included with the book, but much time is spent within the narrative to thoroughly construct the maritime surroundings of Anne, Captain Wentworth and his sailors. Unfortunately, the chapters tend to get overwhelmed with the volume of detail, and the story becomes burdened with numerous passages of exposition, wherein Anne is learning her way around the Laconia and gaining information so that she could not only function as Wentworth’s wife, but almost as a member of the crew. I am sure this level of detail has been presented in the spirit of great naval authors such as O’Brian and Forester, but given the pattern that Caldwell set with his previous works in this series, it seems inconsistent with his style. I found myself waiting for the story to truly engage for a large portion of the novel.
That said, once the story truly began to progress, I did enjoy the narrative that was put forth for Anne and Frederick. Given their surroundings and the era in which they lived, I found it realistic and at times compelling. One particularly interesting episode involved an almost impossible leadership choice for the Captain. I also liked how Anne’s relationship with the men of the Laconia grew over time, as she became almost like a Queen Mother to them. There is also somewhat of a bookended story line regarding Margaret Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility pops up near the beginning and conclusion of the story which I found amusing, but it almost seemed as if it was tacked on at a late date in the writing process.
I enjoyed The Three Colonels in 2012 and The Last Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel in 2016, so I’m disappointed to report that this third volume in the series doesn’t quite live up to the same level of quality of those that came before it. The story was weighed down by more naval exposition than necessary for a substantial portion of the beginning of the novel, and the general flow of the writing was not as strong. I do applaud Mr. Caldwell’s scholarship in his knowledge of naval terms and traditions, but I wish more time had been spent in crafting the story itself. This sequel to Persuasion is a realistic portrait of what indeed may have transpired in the lives of the Wentworths, but the way in which it was offered could have been framed and presented in a more skillful manner. Jack Caldwell has been an enjoyable author for years, and I’m sure there will be more titles of his that I will read and enjoy. It just seems that in this case, Persuaded to Sail is not my favorite work of his.
In this imagining of the Wentworths’ first months together as newlyweds, it becomes abundantly clear that Caldwell has done his homework in regard to naval history and procedure. Not only is there a helpful glossary included with the book, but much time is spent within the narrative to thoroughly construct the maritime surroundings of Anne, Captain Wentworth and his sailors. Unfortunately, the chapters tend to get overwhelmed with the volume of detail, and the story becomes burdened with numerous passages of exposition, wherein Anne is learning her way around the Laconia and gaining information so that she could not only function as Wentworth’s wife, but almost as a member of the crew. I am sure this level of detail has been presented in the spirit of great naval authors such as O’Brian and Forester, but given the pattern that Caldwell set with his previous works in this series, it seems inconsistent with his style. I found myself waiting for the story to truly engage for a large portion of the novel.
That said, once the story truly began to progress, I did enjoy the narrative that was put forth for Anne and Frederick. Given their surroundings and the era in which they lived, I found it realistic and at times compelling. One particularly interesting episode involved an almost impossible leadership choice for the Captain. I also liked how Anne’s relationship with the men of the Laconia grew over time, as she became almost like a Queen Mother to them. There is also somewhat of a bookended story line regarding Margaret Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility pops up near the beginning and conclusion of the story which I found amusing, but it almost seemed as if it was tacked on at a late date in the writing process.
I enjoyed The Three Colonels in 2012 and The Last Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel in 2016, so I’m disappointed to report that this third volume in the series doesn’t quite live up to the same level of quality of those that came before it. The story was weighed down by more naval exposition than necessary for a substantial portion of the beginning of the novel, and the general flow of the writing was not as strong. I do applaud Mr. Caldwell’s scholarship in his knowledge of naval terms and traditions, but I wish more time had been spent in crafting the story itself. This sequel to Persuasion is a realistic portrait of what indeed may have transpired in the lives of the Wentworths, but the way in which it was offered could have been framed and presented in a more skillful manner. Jack Caldwell has been an enjoyable author for years, and I’m sure there will be more titles of his that I will read and enjoy. It just seems that in this case, Persuaded to Sail is not my favorite work of his.
September 16, 2022
A while back I reread Persuasion, and when I did, I figured I'd take a look for variants and retellings. I stumbled across a website full of various people writing Austen variants, including this book and the others in the series. I was intrigued by the idea of a story exploring the way Austen's works were written and set during the Napoloenic Wars, so I picked this up and now I've finally read it.
The book is not as heavy on the military action as I expected. I certainly do feel like I learned a lot about what it was like to be the captain of a ship in the British Navy in the early 1800s. Jack Caldwell has clearly done his research on that subject, allowing the characters to spend chunks of time explaining things to Anne Wentworth, who's conveniently a newcomer to naval life. But since Frederick is sent out to sea due to Napoleon's escape from Elba, a crisis that ended on land at Waterloo, and since he's sent to the Caribbean rather than to blockade France, things prove to be relatively quiet. There's one naval battle towards the end, but most of the conflict comes from interpersonal things among the ship's crew.
And in this the author makes it clear that he has just as much of an appreciation for Austen's work as he does for military history. While the title points at Persuasion, he weaves in characters from Mansfield Park and Emma, and even some references to Pride and Prejudice. This isn't too surprising since it's clear that previous books in the series are also crossovers, but I like how it's handled well. It also means there isn't as much need to create wholly new characters as there might otherwise be.
Much of the plot is focused on matters of the heart, with Frederick and Anne adjusting to married life. Frederick has to deal with streaks of jealously and vengeance as he watches Anne become friendly with another passenger the ship is carrying and determine how to deal with her being attacked by a member of the crew. Anne not only has to deal with her own response to the attack, but to adjusting to the reality that her husband is both her husband and a military commander, and he can't be both at the same time. Things do of course end happily for the couple, but it's a nice way of showing that true happiness in a marriage takes work and there isn't simply a fairy tale happily ever after.
I enjoyed the writing and found that it generally flowed well. I was kept engaged throughout the book, consistently wanting to find out what happened next. I do feel like the action reached it's peak a little earlier than I expected, with the result that the last few chapters felt like an extended epilogue. And I think the early material may drag if your tolerance for exposition about life on a naval ship isn't too high.
Overall, I went into this expecting it to be aimed at Austen readers who also enjoy military action, taking the soldiers of Austen out of her works and spinning a war yarn. Instead, I was surprised and pleased to find that this is focused as much if not more on the inner lives and loves of the characters. It's a war story in some ways, but it's one that remembers that even in wars life has many aspects. And it's left me thinking it might be time I check out some of the naval fiction listed in the further reading at the end of the book.
The book is not as heavy on the military action as I expected. I certainly do feel like I learned a lot about what it was like to be the captain of a ship in the British Navy in the early 1800s. Jack Caldwell has clearly done his research on that subject, allowing the characters to spend chunks of time explaining things to Anne Wentworth, who's conveniently a newcomer to naval life. But since Frederick is sent out to sea due to Napoleon's escape from Elba, a crisis that ended on land at Waterloo, and since he's sent to the Caribbean rather than to blockade France, things prove to be relatively quiet. There's one naval battle towards the end, but most of the conflict comes from interpersonal things among the ship's crew.
And in this the author makes it clear that he has just as much of an appreciation for Austen's work as he does for military history. While the title points at Persuasion, he weaves in characters from Mansfield Park and Emma, and even some references to Pride and Prejudice. This isn't too surprising since it's clear that previous books in the series are also crossovers, but I like how it's handled well. It also means there isn't as much need to create wholly new characters as there might otherwise be.
Much of the plot is focused on matters of the heart, with Frederick and Anne adjusting to married life. Frederick has to deal with streaks of jealously and vengeance as he watches Anne become friendly with another passenger the ship is carrying and determine how to deal with her being attacked by a member of the crew. Anne not only has to deal with her own response to the attack, but to adjusting to the reality that her husband is both her husband and a military commander, and he can't be both at the same time. Things do of course end happily for the couple, but it's a nice way of showing that true happiness in a marriage takes work and there isn't simply a fairy tale happily ever after.
I enjoyed the writing and found that it generally flowed well. I was kept engaged throughout the book, consistently wanting to find out what happened next. I do feel like the action reached it's peak a little earlier than I expected, with the result that the last few chapters felt like an extended epilogue. And I think the early material may drag if your tolerance for exposition about life on a naval ship isn't too high.
Overall, I went into this expecting it to be aimed at Austen readers who also enjoy military action, taking the soldiers of Austen out of her works and spinning a war yarn. Instead, I was surprised and pleased to find that this is focused as much if not more on the inner lives and loves of the characters. It's a war story in some ways, but it's one that remembers that even in wars life has many aspects. And it's left me thinking it might be time I check out some of the naval fiction listed in the further reading at the end of the book.
December 18, 2020
Really captivating storyline. I love how the author used characters from several Jane Austen works in this book (Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility and of course Persuasion).
March 13, 2023
Wonderful
This third book in the series focuses primarily on Captain Frederick Wentworth, and his new bride Anne Elliot Wentworth, as they begin their married life aboard his ship, Laconia. We learn, along with Anne, as she comes to know naval terminology, and as she finds her place as the only woman among many men and boys on a fighting ship. The presence of an unexpected passenger, and all of the intrigue that he brings, adds a welcome amount of mystery and drama to the storyline.
The author cleverly weaves characters from Jane Austen's other works into his creation. In this case, the Dashwoods, Ferrars, and Bertrams are most prominent, and new characters in the form of siblings to the established ones are introduced. William Price, brother to Fanny Price from Mansfield Park, is a lieutenant on the Laconia, and he has a budding romance with Margaret Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility. The snatches of familiar names from other books are like hearing news about old friends.
As the author suggests, it's strongly recommended that you read the two prior books in this series. You won't be sorry that you did, because they're both excellent books, but also because of references made to specific people and events from these first two. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly for a lovely immersion into a sailor's life, but also for an improved look at the character of Anne Elliot. I've always considered her to be a rather insipid heroine, but she comes into her own in this book.
This third book in the series focuses primarily on Captain Frederick Wentworth, and his new bride Anne Elliot Wentworth, as they begin their married life aboard his ship, Laconia. We learn, along with Anne, as she comes to know naval terminology, and as she finds her place as the only woman among many men and boys on a fighting ship. The presence of an unexpected passenger, and all of the intrigue that he brings, adds a welcome amount of mystery and drama to the storyline.
The author cleverly weaves characters from Jane Austen's other works into his creation. In this case, the Dashwoods, Ferrars, and Bertrams are most prominent, and new characters in the form of siblings to the established ones are introduced. William Price, brother to Fanny Price from Mansfield Park, is a lieutenant on the Laconia, and he has a budding romance with Margaret Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility. The snatches of familiar names from other books are like hearing news about old friends.
As the author suggests, it's strongly recommended that you read the two prior books in this series. You won't be sorry that you did, because they're both excellent books, but also because of references made to specific people and events from these first two. The book is well written and well edited. I recommend it highly for a lovely immersion into a sailor's life, but also for an improved look at the character of Anne Elliot. I've always considered her to be a rather insipid heroine, but she comes into her own in this book.
January 22, 2023
Persuasion continued at sea
Persuasion is my personal favourite of Austen’s books, so I was beyond pleased when I read this book by one of my other favourite authors, Mr Caldwell.
This book follows the newlywed Wentworth’s as they start their first adventure onboard the ship, Laconia. Much drama unfolds and the lovers learn much of each other during their trip, and it had me both groaning, laughing and rolling my eyes at the antics of the author and the characters. We follow several characters as they find their happiness and continue in their happiness. I will definitely continue to read this series! Much recommended!
Persuasion is my personal favourite of Austen’s books, so I was beyond pleased when I read this book by one of my other favourite authors, Mr Caldwell.
This book follows the newlywed Wentworth’s as they start their first adventure onboard the ship, Laconia. Much drama unfolds and the lovers learn much of each other during their trip, and it had me both groaning, laughing and rolling my eyes at the antics of the author and the characters. We follow several characters as they find their happiness and continue in their happiness. I will definitely continue to read this series! Much recommended!
February 6, 2023
Enjoyable Crossover
Well written intriguing story with good flow and pacing. Characters are consistent with canon.
Captain Wentworth and Anne finally marry, but must forgo a wedding trip as the Captain's ship is ordered to leave for Bermuda earlier than originally planned. Along the way Anne learns the true meaning of some well meant advice - on the sea there will be times when Captain Wentworth is her husband and times when he will be the commander of his ship. But he will not be able to fulfill both roles at the same time.
Well written intriguing story with good flow and pacing. Characters are consistent with canon.
Captain Wentworth and Anne finally marry, but must forgo a wedding trip as the Captain's ship is ordered to leave for Bermuda earlier than originally planned. Along the way Anne learns the true meaning of some well meant advice - on the sea there will be times when Captain Wentworth is her husband and times when he will be the commander of his ship. But he will not be able to fulfill both roles at the same time.
July 5, 2024
A wonderful continuation of "Persuasion". I loved not only seeing the return of characters from that novel, but so many others from Austen's other books. It is like meeting up with old friends. That being said. The plot was well done, and yet some things that occurred were plainly obvious. I should have liked a surprise or two. Irregardless of that though, it was a fun and enjoyable adventure and I look forward to reading the next book in Mr. Caldwell's series.
October 9, 2025
A Surprisingly Engaging Read!
I didn’t expect to be so engaged with a book detailing the naval exploits of Captain Wentworth, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Plenty of adventure and romance. Definitely worth a read even if you’re not an Austen fan.
I didn’t expect to be so engaged with a book detailing the naval exploits of Captain Wentworth, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Plenty of adventure and romance. Definitely worth a read even if you’re not an Austen fan.
February 12, 2021
We are proud to announce that PERSUADED TO SAIL: Jane Austen's Fighting Men by Jack Caldwell is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
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