In our final episode on Persuasion, we talk about how much more satisfactory this is than the original ending, the purpose of the discussion between Mrs Croft and Mrs Musgrove, the conversation between Anne and Captain Harville, Wentworth’s letter, his feeling that he had a moral obligation to marry Louisa and the wrap-up of the story.

The character we discuss is Anne Elliot. In the historical section, Michael talks about the British Navy at the end of, and after, the Napoleonic Wars, and for popular culture Harriet discusses various modernised versions of Persuasion.

Things we mention:

General discussion:

• Janet Todd and Antje Blank [Editors], The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen: Persuasion (2006)

Character discussion:

• YouTube video: Karolina Żebrowska, Why Does Hollywood Hate Gentle Characters? ‖ Netflix “Persuasion” Review (2022)

Popular culture discussion:

• Melissa Nathan, Persuading Annie (2000)
• Sara Marks, Modern Persuasion (2017)
• Sonali Dev, Recipe for Persuasion (2020)
• Sarah Dass, Where the Rhythm Takes You (2021)
• Uzma Jalaluddin, Much Ado About Nada (2023)
• Melodie Edwards, Once Persuaded Twice Shy (2024)
• Rhombus Media, Slings and Arrows (2003-2006) [mentioned but not a Persuasion adaptation]
• Diana Peterfreund, For Darkness Shows the Stars (2012)
• John Wyndham, The Chrysalids (1955) [mentioned but not a Persuasion adaptation]
• Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (2008) [mentioned but not a Persuasion adaptation]

Creative commons music used:

• Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 12 in F Major, ii. Adagio.
• Extract from Joseph Haydn, Piano Sonata No. 38. Performance by Ivan Ilić, recorded in Manchester in December, 2006. File originally from IMSLP.
• Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 13 in B-Flat Major, iii. Allegretto Grazioso. File originally from Musopen.
• Extract from George Frideric Handel, Suite I, No. 2 in F Major, ii. Allegro. File originally from Musopen.
• Extract from Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major. File originally from Musopen.