Kinx's Book Nook: Jane Austen Soiree & Giveaway

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Jane Austen Soiree & Giveaway


Maria Grazia from My Jane Austen Book Club is hosting a lovely soiree for Jane's 237th birthday. To celebrate this wonderful day, I'm picking my favorite Miss Austen book and passage from that book. Plus I will be giving away this fabulous book! My choice is Captain Wentworth's letter to Anne Elliot from Persuasion. I've never read a more moving and romantic letter. It left me breathless!
Persuasion
Captain Wentworth's Letter to Anne Elliot
Chapter XI

The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was almost beyond expression. The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to "Miss A. E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so hastily. While supposed to be writing only to Captain Benwick, he had been also addressing her! On the contents of that letter depended all which this world could do for her. Anything was possible, anything might be defied rather than suspense. Mrs. Musgrove had little arrangements of her own at her own table; to their protection she must trust, and sinking into the chair which he had occupied, succeeding to the very spot where he had leaned and written, her eyes devoured the following words:

"I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in

F. W.




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12 comments:

  1. Impossible for me not to agree with your choice: I love Persuasion and Captain Wentworth is my favourite Austen hero :-)
    Thanks for accepting my invitation to celebrate Jane Austen all together.
    Happy celebration, everyone.

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  2. I woke up this morning convinced that P&P was my favorite, but all you Persuasion fans are making it difficult. I guess it depends on my mood. If I want over-the-top funny and snarky, then P&P, but if I want intense, then it has to be Persuasion.

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  3. As I am currently re-reading PERSUASION...I am madly in love with Capt Wentworth...so I heartly agree with your choice...but I also adore Mr Knightley and Mr Darcy...Happy Birthdya to Ms Austen...I love all your storyies and all your heroes...thanks from the bottom of my heart..

    Stephanie

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  4. There is something about the words of love that putting them into a letter increases their value. I always wish Jane Austen had done the same for Colonel Brandon in Sense & Sensibility (my favorite of her novels). Alas.

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  5. Lovely extract and what a beautiful book cover! So pleased I found your blog.

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  6. Persuasion is my favorite book, not just of Austen's but of any writer. She has such a way of making you feel you are there with them and a part of their lives.

    Danielle
    drcopeland(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  7. I just caught that version of Persuasion the other day and really enjoyed it (even though Captain Wentworth looked like Uncle Bud from Urban Cowboy) LOL! Still a great movie.

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  8. Oh you picked well. That's my favorite too. "You pierce my soul." Swoon.

    Thank you for the giveaway and happy holidays!

    Lisa
    slapshinyhappy at yahoo dot com

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  9. Sigh...I love Jane Austen :) Pride & Prejudice is my all time favorite. It's classic and beautiful and ohhh Mr. Darcy! :)

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  10. I am torn between 2. Pride and Prejudice since it got me into reading and Jane AUsten. Persuasion since I love the letter wentworth wrote to Anne and both are so romantic

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  11. I love all of her books, but Persuasion has always been my favorite. I loved the way it takes its time to show how they fell back in love. It is such refresher from the inst love we see in most romance books.

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  12. This is a tough one. I love "Emma" because I think it's so funny and I love that plot. I don't find it terribly romantic though. "Pride and Prejudice" on the other hand is heartbreakingly romantic but not as funny.

    mestith@gmail.com

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I love any and all comments! It keeps me honest!