First published in 1818, Persuasion was Jane Austen's last work. ; Its mellow character and autumnal tone have long made it a favorite with Austen readers. ; Set in Somersetshire and Bath, the novel revolves around the lives and love affair of Sir Walter Elliot, his daughters Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary, and various in-laws, friends, suitors, and other characters, In Anne Elliot, the author created perhaps her sweetest, most appealing heroine. ; At the center of the novel is Anne's thwarted romance with Captain Frederick Wentworth, a navy man Anne met and fell in love with when she was 19. ; At the time, Wentworth was deemed an unsuitable match and Anne was forced to break off the relationship. ; Eight years later, however, they meet again. ; By this time Captain Wentworth has made his fortune in the navy and is an attractive "catch." However, Anne is now uncertain about his feelings for her. ; But after various twists and turns of fortune, the novel ends on a happy note.;
