Does Persuasion stand the test of 208 years?

This episode’s pick: Persuasion by none other than Jane Austen, the patron saint of slow-burn and witty banter. We don’t know how many copies it’s sold but if people are still reading our books in a couple of centuries time, we’ll consider that a resounding success. Persuasion - the last novel our dear Jane ever finished - is a quiet story about love that refuses to die despite a whole cast of characters believing they know better!

In this episode, we cover:

Which authors will still be being read in 250 years.

How Jane should be ‘loving herself sick’ - term borrowed from friend of the pod Sophie Green.

A little constructive criticism for Jane.

How modern writing may have ruined us all.

One of the most romantic letters ever written!

💋 And, of course, we rate it: Kiss, Kill, or Marry.

⏰ Timestamps

00.0 Intro – Jane Austen – Happy Birthday - and thanks for Colin Firth!

2.49 Jane Austen - 250 years old and she’s still got it. (Kind of)

4.40 Long Careers, like Jane, Emily Henry, Trent Dalton and Tim Winton

5.48 Jane Austen – rom com queen

8.25 Persuasion blurb – like a regular blurb, only classier

9.07 Jane Austen’s bio – look, she’s dead, so she’s not been up to much recently.

12.24 Goodreads Ratings – more than an elegant sufficiency

14.28 Rach and Anthea rate Persuasion – Three, two, one – and curtsey to your partner

15.17 Rachael craps on Jane Austen’s grave (Anthea is all astonishment.)

20.00 Rachael teaches Jane Austen a thing or two about writing… (cheeky..)

22.51 Anthea defends Jane, offers constructive criticism (and considers asking for Colin Firth’s number..)

27.01 Rachael’s favourite line from Persuasion, other than THE END

28.18 Mary, kind of a dick – but also a feminist icon

30.27 Persuasion adaptation, with that chick who was dating Chris Martin

32.00 Jane Austen - a light, whimsical read

34.30 Frederick – Hot, or Not? (Rach says not!)

36.43 How to eat a pair of jeans, and other reviews

37.30 Persuading Rachael..

40.48 What’s next for RBD??

📖 Coming up next:

👉Next Ep we’re chatting to Sally Hepworth about A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

In January we will answer our own regular reading questions for the first episode and the second episode we’ll discus Circe by Madeline Miller with Virtually Annie - can’t wait!

In February, we’re diving into The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore and guest author Kayte Nunn will make us read My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite.

Thanks for following.

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