Persuasion | Jane Austen

More than seven years prior to the events in Persuasion, Anne Elliot fell in love with a handsome and ambitious, but poor, young naval officer, Frederick Wentworth. The Elliots were dissatisfied with her choice, feeling he was not distinguished enough for their family. Her older friend and mentor, Lady Russell, persuaded her to break off the match.

At age 27 and considered a spinster, Anne reencounters her former fiancé. Now Wentworth is an early captain and very wealthy due to his warfare successes in the Royal Navy and prize-money for capturing enemy ships, but he still harbors enmity towards Anne for her rejection of him. Meanwhile, the self-interested machinations of Anne's father and other family members constitute important Persuasion subplots.