Persuasion

In her final novel as in her earlier ones Jane Austen uses a love story to explore and gently satirize social pretensions and emotional confusion. Persuasion follows the romance of Anne Elliot and naval officer Frederick Wentworth. They were happily engaged until Anne's friend Lady Russell persuaded her that Frederick was unworthy. Now eight years later Frederick returns a wealthy captain in the navy while Anne's family teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. They still love each other but their past mistakes threaten to keep them apart.