Persuasion

Back to our regularly scheduled program: On tonight's special, Jane Austen's final completed work, Persuasion. It was published posthumously [which means after she died for those of us who don't speak big word] and is generally regarded as her most autobiographical.

*Note: this does NOT mean that it IS an autobiography and should not be confused as such

Perusasion tells the story of Anne Elliot, a plain spinster of 28 with a wealthy [and VERY snobbish] family who had fallen into financial ruin. Anne's family removes to Bath to live more simply and her house is rented to an Admiral Croft and his wife. Big deal here is that Mrs. Croft is the sister of the man whom Anne was persuaded to refuse almost 9 years ago. We learn right away that Anne never stopped loving Captain Frederick Wentworth [ladies, does that name not instantly send flutters flying?] and is relieved to be going to her sister's family and in-laws, the Musgroves, instead, as her family doesn't really want her in Bath.

Trouble is, Captain Wentworth came to visit his sister. And Anne's old home is near the Musgroves. And the Musgroves meet Captain Wentworth and form a friendship with him. Anne is forced to face him once more, only to find that he is cold, bitter, and unfriendly towards her. Worse than that, the Musgrove daughters start to 'attach' themselves to Captain Wentworth and he seems to reciprocate.

Then there's a whole deal with Anne's supposedly attractive cousin, who is seemingly enchanted with her...
Will Anne's heart be crushed a second time by her own youthful folly? Does any part of Captain Wentworth's heart belong to her still? Could the competition for Anne's hand push Captain Wentworth over the edge? Read it (or watch it) and see...

The 1995 version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds. Classic, passionate, and lovely. Totally brilliant.

The 2008 BBC version starring Sally Hawkins [who just won a Golden Globe for another movie] and Rupert Penry-Jones [who is gloriously good-looking]. Amazing and cute and heart-wrenching.

Basically, you can't lose.