Persuasion

This novel was the last completed by Austen. The heroine, Anne Elliot is far from being a prig, but is a young woman of breeding, depth of emotion and unswerving integrity. Anne frees herself from familial authority through her relationships with other strong women, achieving personal fulfilment.

Anne Elliot, heroine of Austen's last novel, did something we can all relate to: Long ago, she let the love of her life get away. In this case, she had allowed herself to be persuaded by a trusted family friend that the young man she loved wasn't an adequate match, social stationwise, and that Anne could do better. The novel opens some seven years after Anne sent her beau packing, and she's still alone. But then the guy she never stopped loving comes back from the sea. As always, Austen's storytelling is so confident, you can't help but allow yourself to be taken on the enjoyable journey.