Fiona Stafford

Karen O'Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, explores Jane Austen's life and her last novel, 'Persuasion.' Fiona Stafford from Oxford highlights themes of love and regret through Anne Elliot’s journey. Paddy Bullard discusses the novel's critique of social status and its literary context. The conversation delves into Anne's emotional evolution, societal pressures, and the experimental storytelling techniques Austen employed. Listeners gain insights into how Austen's health and personal experiences influenced her writing, rendering 'Persuasion' a profound exploration of human relationships.