In this much-delayed episode (recorded months ago, but stuck in editing limbo), we look at Chapter 21, and the original version of Chapter 22, which Jane Austen rewrote before publication to become the Chapters 22 and 23 we now have. This cancelled chapter is available in many modern editions of the book. We talk about Mrs Smith’s infodump about Mr Elliot, her change in tone, her patronising attitude towards Nurse Rooke, how in the cancelled chapter Anne was more of an observer (compared to the much better final version where she has regained her voice), and the fact that the cancelled chapter is unpolished, and even if Jane Austen had retained that, it would still have been improved before publication.

The character we discuss is Mr Elliot. In the historical section, Michael talks about the engagements, and for popular culture Harriet reflects on the various film adaptations of Persuasion, considering some of the characters, as well as how each adaptation deals with three key scenes (presenting the backstory, Louisa’s fall, and the scene at the White Hart Inn).

Things we mention:

General discussion:

Janet Todd and Antje Blank [Editors], The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen: Persuasion (2006)
Paul Wray, ‘Persuasion: Why the Revised Ending Works So Well’, Persuasions Online (2017), Volume 38, No. 1, Winter 2017.

Historical discussion:

Rory Muir, Love and Marriage in the Age of Jane Austen (2024)

Popular culture discussion:

Podcast Into the Austenverse
BBC, Persuasion (1971) – starring Ann Firbank and Bryan Marshall.
- Watch on YouTube: Part 1 and Part 2
TVE, Novela: Persuasión (1972) – starring Maite Blasco and Juan Diego
- Watch on YouTube
BBC Film, Persuasion (1995) – starring Amanda Root and Ciarán Hinds
- Watch on YouTube
Clerkenwell Films, Persuasion (2007) – starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones
- Watch on YouTube
Netflix, Persuasion (2022) – starring Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis
Louisa’s fall from the Cobb (this YouTube video shows the same scene from the 1971, 1995, 2007 and 2022 adaptations of Persuasion)

For a list of music used, see this episode on our website.