Persuasion: A Norton Critical Edition

“This edition firmly anchors the novel in its cultural moment, both highlighting the imperial history against which it was written and offering a robust sampling of its reception history. This new edition is rich, nuanced, and urgently needed.”

—Patricia Matthew, Montclair State University

“On the surface, Persuasion is a simple story of love, loss, and reunion, but the realities of early nineteenth-century life become poignantly clear in Jane Austen’s brilliant hands. Though never overtly political, as Norton’s Third Critical Edition of Persuasion demonstrates, Austen is surprisingly adept at treating global concerns and understanding the triumphs and tragedies of the turbulent changes that marked her world.”

—Rebecca Posusta, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

This Norton Critical Edition includes:

• The first edition text of the novel (dated 1818, but likely issued in late 1817), accompanied by Rae Greiner’s revised and expanded explanatory footnotes.
• The two canceled chapters that compose the original ending of Persuasion.
• A rich selection of background material—all but one item new to the Third Edition—centering on the British navy, slavery, and colonialism as well as Persuasion’s initial reception.
• Fourteen critical essays—all new to the Third Edition—centering on the novel’s major themes.
• A chronology of Austen’s life and work and a selected bibliography.