Was Jane Austen’s PersuasionInspired by Real-Life Events?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

What if Jane Austen’s Persuasion was more autobiographical than fiction? What if Miss Austen’s poignant and powerful novel of lost love and second chances was in some part taken from her own life’s experience? Except that in her novel…she wrote the happy ending she knew she would never have…

Emotional, expressive, and enthralling – Searching for Captain Wentworth is quite unlike anything I’ve read before! With multiple romances, dual realities, and many hidden parallels and nods to Jane Austen’s Persuasion, this novel had me entranced. It was unpredictable; I found myself torn and undecided about the two men in Sophie’s life. In addition, like Sophie, I became embroiled in the past and the mysteries uncovered there; feeling all her eagerness and excitement at discovering what Jane Austen was doing and experiencing during those “silent Bath years.” Not wanting to give away all the delicious surprises and revelations to be divulged in this novel, I’ll just make a quick mention that I found the resolution to be profoundly satisfying, inspiring me to feel something akin to what Meg Ryan felt at the end of You’ve Got Mail – “I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly…”

Ending scene of You’ve Got Mail.  One of my favorites!

One aspect of Jane Odiwe’s writing that brilliantly shines through in this novel is her keen artistic eye. As some as you may know, Ms. Odiwe is not just a talented author, but a gifted artist as well!* In Searching for Captain Wentworth, Ms. Odiwe’s descriptive and vivid narrative filled my head with distinct and tangible sights, sounds, and scenes. Whether she is writing about rain in modern-day Bath, illustrating the blossoming verdure of Sydney Gardens, or describing the physical attributes of the handsome Charles Austen, Ms. Odiwe utilizes such eloquent and sensatory language that readers will feel they are inside the story, experiencing and observing it all firsthand.

Jane Austen at Her Desk by Jane Odiwe

To close, I felt it might prove useful to leave readers with this questionnaire:

– Do you enjoy Austenesque novels inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion?

– Do you enjoy Austenesque novels that have Jane Austen as a main character?

– Would you like to read a fictional take on Jane Austen’s mysteriously “silent Bath years?”

– Do you enjoy novels where the romance is unpredictable and not cliché?

– Do you want to visit to Regency Bath and Lyme Regis?

– Do you ever wish you could travel to Jane Austen’s time?

If you’ve answered yes to at least ONEof the questions above, then you need to get a copy of Searching for Captain Wentworth in your hands, pronto! Sumptuous, vibrant, and utterly charming! I highly recommend!

*Ms. Odiwe’s lovely artwork and illustrations can be viewed at Austen Effusions.

Are you a fan of Jane Odiwe’s writing?  What novel of hers is your favorite?