簡・奧斯丁(1775―1817),英國十九世紀初期傑齣的現實主義小說傢。她齣生在英格蘭漢普郡一個鄉村牧師的傢庭,從小沒有上過正規學校,隻在父母的指導下閱讀瞭大量古典文學作品和流行小說。她終身未婚,二十歲左右開始寫作,先後寫齣六部反映英國鄉紳生活的長篇小說。一八一一年,匿名發錶瞭《理智與情感》,受到好評,以後又接連齣版瞭《傲慢與偏見》(1813)、《曼斯菲爾德莊園》(1814)、《愛瑪》(1815)。她逝世後的第二年,《諾桑覺寺》和《勸導》同時問世,並且第一次署上作者的真名。

Persuasion , by Jane Austen , is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics : New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. 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.

Austen may seem to paint on a small canvas, but her characters contain the full range of human passion and moral complexity, and the author’s generous spirit renders them all with understanding, compassion, and humor.

Susan ostrov Weisser is a professor of English at Adelphi University, where she specializes in nineteenth-century literature and women’s studies. Weisser also wrote the introduction to the Barnes & Noble Classics edition of Jane Eyre .