Lines From Literature

Lines I've been loving lately

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A few lines from some of my favourite writers, past and present. This week I’m taking inspiration from Jane Austen’s Persuasion.

Persuasion, Jane Austen's final completed novel, tells the story of Anne Elliot, a 27-year-old woman who is intelligent, kind, and sensitive but has been persuaded by those around her to break off an engagement with the love of her life, Captain Frederick Wentworth, due to his lack of wealth and status.

Eight years later, Wentworth returns as a successful naval officer, and their paths cross once again. The novel explores themes of love, regret, and social class as Anne navigates the rekindling of old feelings and the possibility of a second chance at happiness with Wentworth. As they both struggle with the past, Anne's quiet strength and constancy are highlighted, leading to a deeply satisfying conclusion where love triumphs over societal expectations and persuasion.

Persuasion is a poignant exploration of the complexities of relationships and the enduring nature of true love.

This quote seemed rather apt considering I’ve started this substack. I think all we really want in life is to be loved, friendship & good conversation - Oh! and maybe chocolate - you can’t forget chocolate.

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Persuasion On Screen

On another note have any of you watched the recent Netflix adaptation starring Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot? I had mixed reviews on this film - although attempting to bring a fresh, contemporary energy to the classic story, it somehow felt like a misstep. What did you think about it? I’m intrigued!

One of the film's most controversial choices is its breaking of the fourth wall - with Johnson's Anne Elliot frequently addressing the audience directly. While this technique has been successful in other modern period dramas, such as Fleabag or Enola Holmes, it feels jarring and out of place in Persuasion.

Austen's novels are known for their sharp social commentary and subtle wit, but the film's attempts at humour and self-awareness came across as forced and anachronistic. The screenplay often veers between attempting to remain faithful to Austen's original prose and inserting awkward, modernised dialogue, which can be disorienting for both Austen purists and new viewers alike.

Visually, the film is appealing, with lush landscapes and period-appropriate costumes that evoke the Regency era. However, the adaptation of Emma, in my opinion did this so much better. Performances by Richard E Grant as Sir Walter Elliot, and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Mary Elliot, totally stole the show. Mia in particular - one pout at a time.

Ultimately, this adaptation of Persuasion seems to struggle with its identity. It wants to honour Austen's legacy while also appealing to a contemporary audience, but in trying to do both, it doesn't fully succeed at either. The film is an interesting experiment in modernising a classic, but it falls short of capturing the timeless elegance and emotional complexity that make Austen's Persuasion so enduring.

Saying all this, I found it highly watchable and I think new generations being introduced to Austen in this refreshing format might enjoy it more than this Austen purist

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Discover Laci Fowler

Whilst In Hatchards - the oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom, I stumbled upon these really charming painted editions of some of the modern classics - including Jane Austen’s last novel Persuasion.

I loved how textured these gift editions looked and was startled by the beautiful art that adorned the covers. Upon further digging I found that artist Laci Fowler designed and hand painted the covers. The way she captures nature with her abstract pattern mixing and dramatic paint flourishes give life and energy these classic tales.

Each book comes with golden edged pages and beautiful ribbon markers - perfect for housing in your home library.

You can buy the full range of painted edition’s by Harper Muse here.

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