Her father is a vain, foolish baronet, obsessed with his lineage but so careless with money that he is obliged to quit his ancestral seat. Her sister is a fretful invalid with a good-natured husband and two disobedient sons. She herself falls in love with a handsome naval officer, and he with her, but her proud family consider his status and prospects inadequate. Heartbroken, the lovers part: he goes to sea while she leads a forlorn life at home. Years later he returns with a fortune in prize money, and after further misunderstandings he claims her as his bride.
This is the story of Anne Elliot in Jane Austen’s Persuasion. It is also the story – true this time – of Katherine Bisshopp, the clever, beautiful daughter of an old Sussex family.
Drawing on Katherine’s letters and journals and other family papers, this book relates the joys and anxieties of her youth, her harrowing eleven-year courtship with George Pechell, and their happy and prosperous union, which produced two daughters and a son. Splinter chapters draw parallels with Jane Austen’s portrait of society and reveal the extraordinary coincidences of character and circumstance between Katherine Bisshopp and Anne Elliot, while the real woman’s experiences after her marriage are seen as a possible future for the fictional heroine. The reality of history and the deeper truth of literature together yield a detailed picture of the age.
This book title, The Real Persuasion (Portrait of a Real-Life Jane Austen Heroine), ISBN: 9781398122574, by Peter James Bowman, published by Amberley Publishing (March 4, 2025) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Real Persuasion (Portrait of a Real-Life Jane Austen Heroine) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Real Persuasion (Portrait of a Real-Life Jane Austen Heroine) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!