S05E04 Persuasion, Chapters 9 and 10

In this episode, we talk about how how Jane Austen has solved the problem of the infodump, the realism of the scene with little Walter, how she shows the relations within families, and how events on the walk to Winthrop affect Wentworth’s feelings.

The characters we discuss are Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove. In the historical section, Ellen talks about curates, and for popular culture Harriet discusses the 2007 ITV film 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)
• Maria Edgeworth (reference in the Persuasion footnotes is to A Memoir of Maria Edgeworth with a Selection from her Letters (1867), vold. 2, pp. 5-6.)

Character discussion:

• Irene Collins, Jane Austen and the Clergy (2002)

Historical discussion:

• Anthony Trollope, The Last Chronicle of Barset (1867)
• Stipendiary Curate Act 1713 

Popular culture discussion:

• Clerkenwell Films, Persuasion (2007) – starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones
  • Watch on YouTube
  • Stairs on the Cobb (photo)
  • Louisa’s fall (this YouTube video shows the same scene from four different adaptations of Persuasion)

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 Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major. File originally from Musopen.