S05E02 Persuasion, Chapters 4 to 6

Reading Jane Austen

In this episode, we talk about how the backstory of Anne and Wentworth is presented without comedy, and yet is absolutely enjoyable. We then move on to the introduction of Mary, and why she is the way she is, the generational change we see in the Musgrove family, and the very unsympathetic portrayal of Dick Musgrove.

The character we discuss is Lady Russell. In the historical section, Ellen talks about social precedence, and for popular culture Harriet has watched the 1972 Spanish television adaptation of Persuasion.

Things we mention:

General discussion:

• Janet Todd and Antje Blank [Editors], The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen: Persuasion (2006)
• George Eliot, Middlemarch(1872)
• Maria Edgeworth, The Good French Governess (1801)
• Charlotte M. Yonge, The Daisy Chain (1856)
• Ethel Turner, Seven Little Australians(1894)

Historical discussion:

• Anthony Powell, The Acceptance World (1955)
• The Right Hon. the Countess of *******, Mixing in Society: A Complete Manual of Manners (1870)
• Debrett’s Tables of Precedence

Popular culture discussion:

• TVE, Novela: Persuasión (1972) – starring Maite Blasco and Juan Diego
  • Watch on YouTube: Playlist

Creative commons music used:

• Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 12 in F Major, ii. Adagio.
• Extract from Joseph Haydn, Piano Sonata No. 38. Performance by Ivan Ilić, recorded in Manchester in December, 2006. File originally from IMSLP.
• Extract from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonata No. 13 in B-Flat Major, iii. Allegretto Grazioso. File originally from Musopen.
• Extract from George Frideric Handel, Suite I, No. 2 in F Major, ii. Allegro. File originally from Musopen.
• Extract from Christoph Willibald Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice. File from IMSLP.
• Extract from Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major. File originally from Musopen.

Chapter

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. In which we discuss Chapters 4 to 6 (00:01:52)

3. In which we talk about Lady Russell (00:26:09)

4. In which Ellen talks about social precedence (00:32:01)

5. In which Harriet talks about the 1972 TVE (Spanish television) adaptation (00:42:19)

6. In which we respond to listener feedback (00:54:45)

7. End credits (00:59:06)