Annotated Persuasion

Informationen zum Autor Jane Austen Annotations by David M. Shapard Klappentext From the editor of the popular Annotated Pride and Prejudice comes an annotated edition of Jane Austen's Persuasion that makes the beloved novel an even more satisfying and fulfilling read. Here is the complete text of Persuasion with hundreds of annotations on facing pages, including: ? Explanations of historical context ? Citations from Austen's life, letters, and other writings ? Definitions and clarifications ? Literary comments and analysis ? Plentiful maps and illustrations ? An introduction, a bibliography, and a detailed chronology of events Packed with all kinds of illuminating information-from what Bath and Lyme looked like at the time to how "bathing machines" at seaside resorts were used to how Wentworth could have made a fortune from the Napoleonic Wars-David M. Shapard's delightfully entertaining edition brings Austen's novel of second chances vividly to life. Volume One Chapter One   Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch-hall, in Somersetshire (1), was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage (2); there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one; there his faculties were roused into admiration and respect, by contemplating the limited remnant of the earliest patents; there any unwelcome sensations, arising from domestic affairs, changed naturally into pity and contempt, as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last century (3)—and there, if every other leaf were powerless, he could read his own history with an interest which never failed—this was the page at which the favourite volume always opened:   "ELLIOT OF KELLYNCH-HALL.   "Walter Elliot, born March 1, 1760, married, July 15, 1784, Elizabeth, daughter of James Stevenson, Esq. (4) of South Park, in the county of Gloucester (5); by which lady (who died 1800) he has issue Elizabeth, born June 1, 1785; Anne, born August 9, 1787; a still-born son (6), Nov. 5, 1789; Mary, born Nov. 20, 1791." (7)   Precisely such had the paragraph originally stood from the printer's hands; but Sir Walter had improved it by adding, for the information of himself and his family, these words, after the date of Mary's birth—"married, Dec. 16, 1810, Charles, son and heir of Charles Musgrove, Esq. of Uppercross, in the county of Somerset,"—and by inserting most accurately the day of the month on which he had lost his wife.   Then followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable family, in the usual terms: how it had been first settled in Cheshire (8); how mentioned in Dugdale (9)—serving the office of High Sheriff (10), representing a borough in three successive parliaments (11), exertions of loyalty, and dignity of baronet, in the first year of Charles II., (12) with all the Marys and Elizabeths they had married (13); forming altogether two handsome duodecimo (14) pages, and concluding with the arms and motto (15): "Principal seat, Kellynch-hall, in the county of Somerset," and Sir Walter's handwriting again in this finale:   "Heir presumptive, William Walter Elliot, Esq., great grandson of the second Sir Walter." (16)   Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character; vanity of person (17) and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did; nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society (18). He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion.   His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment; since to them he must have owed a wife ...

Product details

• Authors: Jane Austen, David M. Shapard
• Assisted by: David M. Shapard (Editor)
• Publisher: Anchor Books USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 05.10.2010
• EAN: 9780307390783
• ISBN: 978-0-307-39078-3
• No. of pages: 544
• Dimensions: 135 mm x 203 mm x 28 mm
• Series: Anchor Books
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature