Last month’s CC Book Club selection (Wuthering Heights) left us wishing for a mature and uplifting relationship instead of a dark and stormy one. Therefore, we are turning to Regency romance for some “comfort reading,” combining a classic with a more modern work. Our selection for April will be a duet: Persuasion by Jane Austen paired with A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer.
Persuasion was written and set in 1814-1815, during the Regency Period in England. It tells the story of Anne Elliot, considered unmarriageable at age 27, whose quiet life is upended when her first love, Captain Frederick Wentworth, returns from sea. A Civil Contract was written 146 years later, in 1961, but is set in exactly the same period, 1814-1815. Heyer’s novel concerns Viscount Adam Deveril, newly returned from the Peninsular War, who reluctantly enters into a marriage of convenience with a merchant’s daughter, Jenny Chawleigh.
Both novels are considered somewhat atypical for their authors, written later in life and infused with more poignancy and emotional depth than earlier works.
“My idea of good company…is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation.” – Anne Elliot, Persuasion
I can’t find my copy of the Heyer anywhere in the house and the local library had almost every other one. So I ordered it from another library. I just reread Persuasion in the fall.
For Austen fans … The Guardian asked contemporary authors to pick their favorite of her novels. Fascinating discussion (but be warned, spoilers about Persuasion).
Just finished rereading Persuasion - it had been many years since I last read it and I liked it better now. Then I found the 1995 BBC movie on Tubi and watched it - stays very close to the book with a bit of adjustments near the end. Then I tried re-watching the 2022 Netflix version with Dakota Johnson and just couldn’t. It was far too jarring after the book and the earlier movie.
Thanks for the tip on the movie. Saw it on Kanopy—indeed it stayed pretty close to the book until the end. I was happy it was free via our public library. We get 9 tickets/library card/month! This movie cost 2 tickets, Grease with Olivia Newton John & John Travolta was 4 tickets! You can view for 72 hours. No charge to patrons.
I’m inclined to agree the Kanopy BBC version was truer to the book than the Netflix version that I just saw trailer of.
For folks who have library cards, see if your library subscribes to Kanopy if you want to see BBC’s Persuasion for just 2 tickets (each library decides how many tickets you get per month and it renews each month). Otherwise, you can see it via other means if you’re interested.
It’s April 1st! Welcome to our discussion of Persuasion by Jane Austen and A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer.
I found both these books to be enjoyable reads, but Jane Austen will always come out on top for me. I tried to like Adam Deveril, but could never really get there. Halfway through the book and a married man, and he was still full of silly longing for his flaky first love. That said, at least Georgette Heyer gives Adam a voice. I love Captain Wentworth, but I don’t think he has above five lines of dialogue in the book. Some imagination is required on the part of the reader to flesh out his character. It’s like that for Mr. Darcy, too.
I prefer Pride and Prejudice to Persuasion. I think the “catalyst incident” of Lydia’s elopement is more exciting than Louisa Musgrove’s tumble, and it allows Darcy to do something quietly wonderful for Elizabeth. Captain Wentworth and Anne spend most of the book walking in careful circles around one another. But it is oh-so-satisfying when they finally got together!
There are many sets of discussion questions for Persuasion (but not surprisingly, I could not find any for A Civil Contract). I’ll post two sets that have a minimal amount of overlap. As always, you can ignore or ponder, as you prefer.
Lady Russell persuades Anne to break off her engagement to avoid “youth-killing dependence.” Does she ultimately succeed in sheltering Anne from this?
Persuasion is the aim of rhetoric, yet in this book it often hinders lives and harms feelings. What is Austen commenting on? Consider what happens when Lady Russell or Mrs. Clay persuade others as opposed to what happens when Anne persuades others.
Look at how Anne’s feelings and perceptions are shown-never through her direct words or thoughts but through an approximate report of these through a distant narrator. What does Austen accomplish by doing this?
Consider how sailors such as Wentworth and Admiral Croft have made their fortunes-by capturing enemy ships and enjoying the spoils. With their newfound wealth, they re-join English society in higher social standings. What is Austen’s opinion of this? In what ways and situations does she relay this opinion?
Many of Austen’s earlier works take place in the spring, but this story plays out in autumn. Very often, the characters and narrator notice the colorful leaves and cool air around them. How does the season promote this story?
The narrator describes the Christmas scene at the Musgroves’ as a “fine-family piece.” What is Austen implying with her sarcasm? Do you think she is antifamily?
Admiral and Mrs. Croft have the most successful and loving relationship in the novel, even though they are unromantic, eccentric, and deeply rooted in realism. Yet many of the idyllic lovers look to their marriage as a model. What is Austen commenting upon with this ironic reversal?
Mr. Elliot is the catalyst for the reunion of Anne and Captain Wentworth, provoking jealousy in Wentworth, which in turn prompts him to reconsider his love for Anne. However, Austen chooses not merely to make Mr. Elliot Anne’s unwanted lover but instead to reveal him as a rich and immoral scoundrel, to be cast out of the story. What does Austen accomplish by doing this? What is she saying about the world of property and rank?
What matters most in Sir Eliot’s view of life? What does his reaction to Lady Russell’s proposals suggest about the kind of man he is?
What do we come to learn (and when do we learn it) about Sir Walter’s three daughters—Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary? Describe them. How does Sir Walter treat each of them, especially the two eldest, Elizabeth and Anne?
How would you describe Lady Russell? Does her—or did her—influence over Anne work toward Anne’s betterment or detriment?
When younger, was Anne right to have followed Lady Russell’s advice? Did it show passivity on Anne’s part or good judgment to have allowed herself to be guided by her elders? Contrast her with Louisa Croft’s assertion later in the book that she would never be dissuaded from following her own desires.
Talk about the Musgrove family and their affection for and interactions with one another. How do they feel about Mary Elliot Musgrove as their daughter- and sister-in-law? How do they receive Anne? What do you make of Anne’s first visit when all complain to her, behind the others’ backs, about how the two boys are raised?
Do you find Mary’s hypochondria funny…or irritating…or what? Consider, also, the scene where Mary manipulates Anne into looking after young Charles so that she, Mary, can go dinner at the Musgrove’s and meet Captain Wentworth!
Describe the kind of marriage that Admiral and Mrs. Croft seem to have. How do they view one another? How does their marriage differ from, say, Charles and Mary Musgrove’s? Is the Croft’s relationship typical of that era, do you suppose?
With their newfound wealth, both Captain Wentworth and Admiral Croft are able to join the upper ranks of English society. How have sailors such as Captain Wentworth and Admiral Croft made their fortunes? What is Austen’s opinion of this? What is yours? What other options are available for social mobility in the early 19th century? Discussion Questions - Page 4 - Page #1
