by Jane Austen
36. Her friends wish her tenderness to be less because it makes her worry more about the dangers that a naval captain inevitably runs whenever he goes to sea.
37. During the time when the novel is supposed to finish, early 1815, Napoleon escaped from his exile in Elba, reassumed the throne of France, and caused a renewal of warfare. But this lasted only a few months, at the end of which Napoleon was defeated for good, and it led to little action on the part of the navy. Jane Austen, writing in 1816, would have known that, but she could not have known that the British navy would not experience another major war until a hundred years later.
38. pay the tax: suffer the burden.
A landaulette. The front seat is for a driver.
[From Ralph Straus, Carriages and Coaches (London, 1912), p. 232]
Chronology
Persuasion is the one Jane Austen novel whose year can be precisely identified, for the text indicates at an early point that it is “the summer of 1814.” Austen also provides exact birth dates for several important characters and states the year during which background events occurred. At the same time, she did not consult a calendar when writing the novel, for at one point February 2 is described as a Tuesday (see below) but in fact February 2, 1815, was a Thursday.
VOLUME I
March 1, 1760
Birth of Sir Walter Elliot
1780
Birth of Mr. Elliot
Says in letter of 1803 that he has lived 23 years.
July 15, 1784
Marriage of Sir Walter and Lady Elliot
June 1, 1785
Birth of Elizabeth Elliot
August 9, 1787
Birth of Anne Elliot
November 20, 1791
Birth of Mary Elliot
1801
Death of Lady Elliot
Text says 1800, but it is almost certainly 1801 (this was possibly a printer error). Just below it says the marriage lasted 17 years, Elizabeth and Anne were 16 and 14, and 13 years had passed (here). This same information is repeated at later points.
1801–1804
Anne attends school in Bath
She went for three years after her mother’s death.
1802
Mrs. Smith (then Miss Hamilton) leaves school
She is described as “remaining another year at school” after Anne’s arrival.
1802–1803
Sir Walter and Elizabeth seek out Mr. Elliot
They saw him two springs in London, and in a letter of July 1803, Mr. Elliot writes he has seen them this year and last year (here).
Late 1803 or Early 1804
Marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith
She married shortly after leaving school, but she says a letter of July 1803 was prior to the marriage (here). Also it was approximately 11 years before January 1815, for she is 30 then (here), and she was 19 when she met Mr. Elliot, presumably just after her marriage to Mr. Smith (here).
1804
Marriage of Mr. Elliot
After not seeing Mr. Elliot in 1803, Sir Walter’s “next tidings were that he was married.” It occurred after the Smith marriage, for Mr. Elliot confided in Mrs. Smith about his plans (here and here).
February 1806
Battle of St. Domingo, as a result of which Frederick Wentworth was made commander
Summer 1806
Visit of Captain Wentworth in Somerset; romance and engagement with Anne
Late 1806
Engagement broken; Captain Wentworth departs
Their acquaintance lasted “a few months.”
Late 1806 or Early 1807
Captain Wentworth given command of the Asp
He strongly wished to be at sea and doing something then (due to his rejection by Anne).
Autumn 1808
Return of Captain Wentworth to England; promotion to captain; assignment to the Laconia
He later says it was in 1808 (here).
1809 or 1810
Anne refuses Charles Musgrove’s offer of marriage
She was “about two-and-twenty.”
December 16, 1810
Marriage of Charles and Mary
1812
Death of Dick Musgrove
Severe wound suffered by Captain Harville
Both events occurred “two years before.” (here)
1812–1813
Engagement of Captain Benwick and Fanny Harville
“They had been a year or two waiting” to marry before her death in the summer of 1814.
Death of Mr. Smith
It was “about two years before” January 1814. (here)
1813
Mrs. Smith becomes ill and arrives in Bath
Description implies this occurred soon after Mr. Smith’s death.
June 1814
Death of Fanny Harville
Summer 1814
Beginning of action of novel; death of Mrs. Elliot
In February 1815 “Mr. Elliot’s wife has not been dead much above half a year” (here).
Late July 1814
Return of Captain Wentworth to England
Happened “the week before” following event.
1st Week of August
Return of Captain Benwick to England
August 1814
Crofts visit Kellynch and agree to rental
After the visit, there was “no time to be lost” in preparing their departure (see below).
Beginning of September 1814
Sir Walter leaves for Bath; Anne goes to Lady Russell
This is four weeks before the arrival of the Crofts on September 29 (see next two entries).
Early September (1 week later)
Lady Russell departs; Anne goes to Mary’s
Anne is “to spend the first week” with Lady Russell.
September 29
Arrival of Crofts at Kellynch
This is 3 weeks after Anne’s arrival at Mary’s.
Beginning of October
Crofts are visited; they return visit and see Anne
Mary and Charles visit “on an early day.”
Early October
Arrival of Captain Wentworth at the Crofts’
This is a “very few days” after Crofts’ visit, and the Musgroves’ remembrance of Dick Musgrove (here).
Early to Mid October
Injury to little Charles Musgrove
Account suggests this happens less than a week after Captain Wentworth’s arrival.
Next Day
Charles and Mary dine out and leave child with Anne
Day After
First meeting of Anne and Captain Wentworth
Mid- to Late October
Neglect of Charles Hayter by Henrietta
After being away two Sundays he comes back to find her focused on Captain Wentworth.
Late October
Captain Wentworth rescues Anne from child
This is “very soon after” a dinner that Anne did not attend, at which Mary noticed Henrietta’s lack of attention to Charles Hayter (here).
Beginning of November
Charles Hayter decides to stay away
This is best estimate of when this happened, based on the sequence of other events.
Early November
Walk in country, Henrietta and Charles Hayter reunite
Described as November; later events suggest it was early.
Visit of Captain Wentworth to Captain Harville in Lyme (here)
Mid-November Day 1
Arrival of party from Uppercross at Lyme
Anne’s visit is said to have been “two months” (here), and she came to Uppercross in early September, but mid-November fits in better with later events than early November.
Mr. Elliot arrives in Lyme from Sidmouth (here)
Day 2
Sighting of Mr. Elliot; his departure for Bath;
Louisa’s accident; return of Anne from Lyme (here and here)
VOLUME II
Day 3
First accounts
from Lyme of Louisa
Day 3 or 4
Mr. Elliot’s departure from Bath for London
He would have arrived in Bath the day he left Lyme. He tells Sir Walter he was there 24 hours (here); a later account says it was “a day or two” (here).
Day 4
Charles Hayter brings word about Louisa
Day 5
Musgroves leave for Lyme; Anne goes to Lady Russell’s
Approximately 3 Days Later
Anne receives note from Captain Wentworth
Occurring day before event below.
Late November
Lady Russell calls on the Crofts
She decides to go after being back with Anne for “three or four days.”
End of November
The Crofts leave to see relatives elsewhere
Trip is announced soon after above visit. This is a probable estimate of when it occurs.
Beginning of December
Mary and Charles return from Lyme
They stayed two weeks at Lyme. This is the most likely time.
Early December
Visit of Mary and Charles to Lady Russell
They came “as soon as possible after their return,” which suggests a few days later.
Departure of Captain Wentworth from Lyme
He says he stayed “about a fortnight.”(here) It may have been a little longer: Mary’s description suggests he was still there when she left (here).
Early to Mid-December
The Musgroves return from Lyme
Time is not specified, but it is mentioned just after Lady Russell’s loss of interest in Captain Benwick, which occurs one week after the visit from Mary and Charles.
Captain Wentworth in Plymouth for a week
He talked of doing this, and later Admiral Croft says he did go to Plymouth (here).
Mid-December
Captain Wentworth goes to his brother in Shropshire
He later says he was there for six weeks (here), though the rest of the chronology suggests it should have been a little longer.
Mr. Elliot’s arrival in Bath (here)
He had been there “about a fortnight” when Anne arrived at the beginning of January (see below).
Late December
Lady Russell pays a Christmas visit to the Musgroves
Beginning of January
Arrival of Anne and Lady Russell in Bath
At the beginning of February Anne has “been a month in Bath” (here).
January
Anne getting to know Mr. Elliot
Arrival of Lady Dalrymple in Bath
Anne reestablishes friendship with Mrs. Smith (here)
Henrietta returns from Lyme (here)
January 31
Musgroves’ children return to school
Mary, writing on February 1, says they left yesterday.
February 1
Mary begins her letter to Anne
Musgroves’ carriage goes to Lyme to fetch Louisa
February 2
Louisa returns; engagement is announced
The carriage was to return the next day.
This is later described as a Tuesday, which conflicts with the 1815 calendar (see above).
February 3
Mary finishes her letter
She probably finished the day after the above events, for she mentions learning of them “in the evening.”
Early February
Crofts arrive in Bath and deliver letter to Anne
This is probably a day or two after Mary finished her letter. She writes on February 1 that “the Crofts are going to Bath almost immediately”.
Early to Mid-February
Captain Wentworth learns of Louisa’s engagement
He quickly resolves to be in “Bath on Wednesday.”
Captain Wentworth writes to his sister about the news
Admiral Croft says Captain Wentworth had just learned the news from Captain Harville (here).
1–2 Days Later
Mrs. Croft receives letter from Captain Wentworth
Mid-February
Anne walks with Admiral Croft
This was “about a week or ten days after the Crofts’ arrival [in Bath],” in early February. It is the day after they received Captain Wentworth’s letter (here).
From this point on, for the only sustained period in the novel, the events can be precisely chronicled. The overall sequence would occur in mid- to late February.
Wednesday
Captain Wentworth arrives in Bath
He was on his way to Bath on the day of Anne’s walk with Admiral Croft (here). It would probably take a little more than a day to go from Shropshire to Bath, which would mean his arrival happened the next day and Anne’s walk with the admiral happened on Tuesday.
Thursday
Anne encounters Captain Wentworth at Molland’s shop
He says he arrived in Bath “yesterday” (here). It is also “the very next time Anne walked out” after her walk with the admiral (here).
Friday
Anne and Lady Russell see Captain Wentworth
It was “the following morning.”
Saturday–Sunday
Anne does not see him again and anticipates the concert
“A day or two passed [after above sighting] without producing any thing.”
Sunday
Nurse Rooke leaves Mrs. Wallis
She was attending her after childbirth.
Monday
Mrs. Smith sees Nurse Rooke
Mrs. Smith hears of the rumors of Anne and Mr. Elliot.
Wednesday
Anne sees Mrs. Smith briefly during the day
She calls on her the day of the concert.
Evening concert; Anne talks to Captain Wentworth
Bath concerts normally occurred on Wednesday evenings (see note 34).
Thursday
Anne visits Mrs. Smith and learns Mr. Elliot’s history
Mr. Elliot joins Sir Walter’s family in the evening (here)
Friday
Mr. Elliot leaves for Thornberry Park
He said on previous day he would be away “tomorrow.”
Arrival of Musgroves in Bath
Anne joins Musgroves and sees Captain Wentworth (here)
Mr. Elliot seen meeting Mrs. Clay (here)
Saturday
Anne goes to the Musgroves’ rather than to Lady Russell’s
Wentworth proposes to Anne (here)
Party at Elliots’ in the evening (here)
Invitations given by the Elliots on the previous day were for “to-morrow evening” (here).
Soon After
Announcement of Anne and Captain Wentworth’s engagement
Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay depart Bath together
Bibliography
EDITIONS OF PERSUASION
Chapman, R. W., ed., The Novels of Jane Austen, Vol. V: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion (Oxford, 1933)
Spacks, Patricia Meyer, ed., Persuasion: A Norton Critical Edition (New York, 1995)
Todd, Janet, and Antje Blank, eds., The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen: Persuasion (Cambridge, 2006)
WORKS BY JANE AUSTEN
Jane Austen’s Letters, ed. by Deirdre Le Faye (Oxford, 1995)
Jane Austen’s “Sir Charles Grandison,” ed. by Brian Southam (Oxford, 1980)
The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen, 6 vols., ed. by R. W. Chapman (Oxford, 1988)
WORKS RELATING TO JANE AUSTEN
Biographical
Austen, Caroline, Reminiscences of Caroline Austen (Guildford, 1986)
Austen-Leigh, J. E., A Memoir of Jane Austen and Other Family Recollections (Oxford, 2002; originally published 1871)
Austen-Leigh, William, and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh, Jane Austen: A Family Record, revised and enlarged by Deirdre Le Faye (Boston, 1989)
Harman, Claire, Jane’s Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World (Edinburgh, 2009)
Honan, Park, Jane Austen: He
r Life (New York, 1989)
Le Faye, Deirdre, Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels (New York, 2002)
Mitten, G. E., Jane Austen and Her Times (Philadelphia, 2003; originally 1905)
Myer, Valerie Grosvener, Jane Austen: Obstinate Heart (New York, 1997)
Ross, Josephine, Jane Austen: A Companion (New Brunswick, NJ, 2003)
Critical
Auerbach, Emily, Searching for Jane Austen (Madison, 2004)
Axelrad, Arthur M., Jane Austen Caught in the Act of Greatness (U.S.: 1st Books, 2003)
Babb, Howard S., Jane Austen’s Novels: The Fabric of Dialogue (Columbus, OH, 1962)
Bush, Douglas, Jane Austen (New York, 1975)
Cecil, Lord David, A Portrait of Jane Austen (New York, 1979)
Craik, W. A., Jane Austen: The Six Novels (London, 1965)
Dadlez, E. M., Mirrors to One Another: Emotion and Value in Jane Austen and Hume (Chichester, 2009)
Duckworth, Alistair M., The Improvement of the Estate: A Study of Jane Austen’s Novels (Baltimore, 1971)
Dwyer, June, Jane Austen (New York, 1989)
Emsley, Sarah, Jane Austen’s Philosophy of the Virtues (New York, 2005)
Gard, Roger, Jane Austen’s Novels: The Art of Clarity (New Haven, 1992)
Gomme, Andor, “On Not Being Persuaded,” Essays in Criticism 16, 1966: 170–184
Gooneratne, Yasmine, Jane Austen (Cambridge, 1970)
Graham, Peter, Jane Austen and Charles Darwin (Aldershot, 2008)
Grey, J. David, ed., The Jane Austen Companion (New York, 1986)
Hardy, John, Jane Austen’s Heroines: Intimacy in Human Relationships (London, 1984)
Harris, Jocelyn, A Revolution Almost Beyond Expression: Jane Austen’s Persuasion (Newark, DE, 2007)
Jones, Vivien, How to Study a Jane Austen Novel (Basingstoke, Hampshire, 1987)
Kennedy, Margaret, Jane Austen (London, 1950)
Konigsberg, Ira, Narrative Technique in the English Novel: Defoe to Austen (Hamden, CT, 1985)
