Captain Frederick Wentworth's Persuasion: Jane Austen's Classic Retold Through His Eyes Paperback – February 18, 2014

When I came across Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion by Regina Jeffers, I couldn’t resist reading. I was curious when I read the title and then the blurb: The love affair behind Jane Austen's classic, Persuasion, rests at the heart of this retelling from Captain Frederick Wentworth's point of view. Could the author have captured the essence of my hero and retold the story from his point of view successfully? Could she have clarified what Jane Austen did not fully describe?The answer is, yes, she did. I loved every minute I spent reading this novel, and I felt very upset when I finished, although it has become one of my personal classics, so I’m sure I’ll be rereading it, too.Ms. Jeffers explains many things which Ms Austen didn’t. She uncovers the fears, prejudice, and immaturity which led to Anne and Frederick’s first separation. Anne was only 19, the same age Jane Eyre was when she married Rochester, practically a teenager by contemporary standards. Her father and godmother advised her against the marriage, so she might have been afraid to leave everything and everyone she knew behind, and travel in a war ship with her husband.Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion starts at sea. Anne and Frederick are both living on a war ship during the Napoleonic Wars. When Wentworth is gravely wounded, during his delirious recovery, he recalls his first meeting with Anne, their brief courtship, and her family’s disapproval. He then remembers what happened nine years after Anne turned down his proposal. Wentworth returned to Bath as a wealthy war hero, while Anne’s family’s fortune had diminished, although her father retained his baronetcy and his pompous airs. At first Frederick feigned indifference towards Anne, and pretended to flirt with Louisa Musgrove. We understand his misery, as he gradually realises it is Anne Elliot whom he still loves. There is plenty of conversation and telling instead of showing, as the tension builds and their relationship slowly unfolds. The rest of the diverse characters also come to life. Members of Wentworth’s crew, Wentworth’s brother and sister and their loving family, are portrayed in stark contrast to Anne’s arrogant and conceited sisters and their families.But the best is yet to come. Once Ms. Jeffers has arrived at the final point of Ms Austen’s novel, she moves the story on, and towards the end of the novel, a surprisingly complex political plot unfolds including the intervention of the Prince Regent.I was devastated. I needed more. Fortunately, Ms Jeffers has informed me that in her next novel, The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin, we will encounter Rear Admiral Wentworth once again. I can’t wait!If you loved Persuasion, read it, you will love it. If you haven’t read Persuasion, read it, too, you will discover Anne and Frederick’s love story from a contemporary perspective, and then, if you like, read Persuasion!In any case, if you enjoy reading well-written historical romance, with a good plot, and wonderful characters, you’ll enjoy Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion.

Being an Austen fan, I read A LOT of JAFF and this one is a very well-written work. As the title implies, it is told with Captain Wentworth's POV. The tone and language are true to Miss Austen's original and the main body is not a true variation in that the story is simply retold. Capt. Wentworth is totally human with his doubts, resentments, joys and despairs and every other character is true to form with Anne's immaturity at age 19 and Lady Russell's true selfishness coming through. If the story ended with the card party at Camden Place it would have gotten five stars, but the continuation with the wedding and after is where it really becomes a variation and to me it just seemed a little far-fetched. I know that JAFF is full of these improbable storylines and truthfully that is why I read them. But with the first three-fourths of the book trying to stay so close to the original the last chapters just seemed silly and with a predictable cliffhanger with the ominous new character I suspect that there will be a sequel in the near future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Persuasion adaptation. It began when Anne and Frederick first met, then to their reconciliation 8 years later, then to their marriage and first year of marriage. I really enjoyed the story after they married and had a HEA. If you are a fan of Jane Austen, and a good love story, you will enjoy this book!

This is a well written novel by Ms. Jeffers novel and very interesting. Ms. Austen would be very proud of this novel as to the way it was presented. I really liked the history of events that were written as to how Capt. Wentworth saw them. A nineteen year old miss and a young captain fall in love and to be denied that love in each others arms for so long and then to find it again is amazing.As Anne grows older and the captain meet again, trials, fears, temptations, arise and then they rise to the occasion of denying each other happiness.Her pompous father and elder sister accept them only due to raising themselves up in society.After the Prince Regeant bestows honor on them with conditions do they agree with the conditions? You will have to read the novel to find out what happens next.This is one of the most interesting novels I have read and learned a few things about the naval happenings in Regency England. Who would have thought that wives go on the ship with the husband? Also who would have thought of radical warfare back in that time? Very interesting indeed!

Deliciously emotional rendition of Persuasion in Captain Wentworth's point of view. In addition, the story contains some scenes from prior to the book and it continues after they marry.I particularly liked heart-wrenching moments when Wentworth thought all hope was lost and the twist to their lives after their marriage.I have deducted a star because the first half is written in dream sequences. The book enters after they had married and shifts back and forth between the past and the presence. It disturbed the flow and gave it a disjointed feel.Recommend

I have to admit that I was really eager to read Persuasion from Captain Wentworth’s perspective because after reading Darcy’s P&P and Edmund Bertram’s MP, I could not wait until reading lovely Frederick’s account of the story: when he decided that Anne was his soul mate after arriving at Kellynch, his thought about the Miss Musgroves or Anne's family, his almost extreme jealousy, etc.From my point of view Regina Jeffers has recreated his thought well enough. However, the part that I have enjoyed more is what is not told by Jane Austen in Persuasion: what happens after the engagement?Could you imagine Anne standing up to his father and Lady Russell? Could you imagine Anne being a bit cheeky when talking about Mrs Benwick with Frederick? Could you imagine Anne being secretive? Maybe you could but I highly recommend reading how Regina Jeffers has described her and how her personality glows when she is with her love, Frederick.How do you think Anne deals with the life in a ship during war time? What happens if she almost loses his husband? What happens when she is facing a better life than she ever expected?I like the way Anne is developed and obviously I enjoy the adoring Captain Wentworth and his undying love for Anne.As you could have realised my favourite part is the sequel to Persuasion, this sequel is intertwined with the story by Jane Austen, Regina Jeffers starts on the same point as the original but mixes that story with the sequel. It is a good idea as Wentworth is thinking about his life with Anne while he is severely wounded.I have read several JAFF books by Regina Jeffers and I highly recommend them, have a look on Amazon for instance and check the reviews, I will post reviews of her books as soon as I can. However, I have already reviewed one of her books that I really liked: Mr. Darcy’s Fault. I have read a few that I would like to reread but I have also taken advantage of her amazing sale for Mother’s Day and I bought three more that I did not have!

Absolutely loved loved loved this book. I can't say enough how much I loved it. As soon as I was finished, I started reading it again. Fabulous! Frederick is not too squeaky clean. He is a strong dude with realistic levels of self-doubt. I loved the humour between Frederick, his brother, sister & Haville. Anne's strength & determination reminds me of scenes in Persuasion 2007. I can't imagine how anyone who loves Persuasion can be disappointed in this lovely story.

Very repetitive and the ending tied nothing up. The language and phraseology more 21st century mid-Atlantic than 19th century England. I really cannot envisage Wentworth, w hen questioned by his sister, saying. "Leave it, Sophia". There are many other such anomalies.

I really enjoyed this book it completed the story and I loved the timeframe elements in the book and how it all melted together. Persuasion has always ben my favourite JA book and this did what I wanted the original to do give a completed rounded story and to build the characters. Enjoyed the whole book

Amazing - basically anything to do with Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot is totally and utterly amazing as far as I am concerned and this story is no less - thank you for this and I hope many others read it too as it is well worth the read! Superb!