Customer Reviews

Captain Wentworth's Diary

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This novel is Amanda Grange's attempt to fill in some of the blanks left for the reader of the Jane Austen novel Persuasion. It gives us the perspective of the happenings in that novel from Captain Frederick Wentworth's point of view.

I enjoyed reading this book. I did not realize that the first 117 pages would all be this authors imaginings of the meeting and then gentle courtship between Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth. We are given much detail of the meetings between these two characters and are allowed to see how their admiration for each other turns to love. Commander Wentworth (his rank at that point in the story) was understandably stunned when Anne Elliot told him that she could not accept his offer of marriage after all. He reacted in a completely normal way, he was hurt, surprised, and very angry. So angry that he immediately left the area determined never to think about her again.

The story picks up eight years later. I am glad that the author did not give us any details of what happened to Wentworth (now having the rank of Captain) during the time of his battling the French in the war with Napoleon. Instead, we see what he was doing during these years through reminiscences with Harville and Benwick. When Frederick goes back into Somersetshire he feels Anne has lost her youth, her beauty and her bloom. Yet after only a short time of being around her he finds himself wondering if he has actually managed to erase all tender feelings for her after all.

I have now read three of these 'interpretations' of Jane Austen novels as written by Amanda Grange. Of Mr. Darcy's Diary, Mr. Knightley's Diary, and Captain Wentworth's Diary, I can definitely say that I enjoyed Mr. Darcy's Diary the most. After that would have to come Captain Wentworth's Diary. I thought Ms Grange managed to write about the time when Anne and Frederick were meeting and falling in love very well. She made me see Frederick as a caring, concerned, loving suitor for Anne. As always, Ms Grange followed the original novel very closely except in places where there was no information given in the original. I enjoyed this book and can say that I think Jane Austen fans who are not quite so determined in having an author follow the exact example set down by Miss Austen will be able to enjoy this book. Anyone expecting to read an exact extension in wording and thoughts of the Austen works will not be quite so satisfied.

I was too anxious to wait for the US release so I impatiently paid a small fortune early September to get a hardback from the UK. From the time UPS delivered it until I finished it sometime around 3 am, I was thoroughly engaged. As in Mr Darcy's Diary, Amanda Grange masterfully writes Captain Wentworth with a strong, clear voice lightly seasoned with a sense of humor. I so enjoyed reading his observations and his interpretations of each situation. My heart was all static each time Anne and he would have any conversation or when he would recall anything about her. It was most delightful to read his innermost thoughts as he discovered, or admitted rather, his unyielding love for Anne. Most satisfied and highly recommended.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen and Persuasion (Oxford World's Classics) I am sure you have wondered about how Captain Wentworth and Anne met, how they fell in love, what happened eight years ago and how does what happened eight years ago affect them later on. I have read Persuasion by Jane Austen and I admire it very much, but I have always felt unsatisfied not knowing how the story began. Of course we may never know what Jane Austen had in mind for Wentworth and Anne, but Amanda Grange makes a bold attempt at how the first meeting between the two went.

This is my third book by Amanda Grange and by far my favorite. I like this book the most because it gives such new insight into the character of Captain Wentworth. The story starts in the year 1806 just before he meets Anne for the first time. This was a pleasant surprise because I was expecting it to start like "Persuasion" did with Kellynch hall being rented by the Croft's. The first 100 or so pages were like a "prequel" to "Persuasion."

My favorite thing about this book is how well we got to know Captain Wentworth, we got to see other sides of him. In "Persuasion" he is mostly angry, proud, resentful. Now we see his character develop. We see more history, depth, passion. He is a more well-rounded character.

Of course the writing is not in the style of Jane Austen, Captain Wentworth is our narrator, and I don't think anyone will argue with me when I say he does not have Jane Austen's wit and language! The author does a great job portraying Wentworth's thoughts and feelings and the story (when it resumes in the year 1814) follows very closely the timing and events taking place in Jane Austen's "Persuasion."

I highly recommend this to any Jane Austen, "Persuasion," or Captain Wentworth fan!

After watching the new PBS production of Persuasion, I was led to read the novel again. After completing that, I still found myself wanting more...as I always do whenever I read one of Miss Austen's books. I happened to look and found this book on Amazon.com at about 12:30AM, May 6th. The book was releasing on May 6th, so I decided I must get it. I was able to purchase the book the next day from a local bookstore and was unable to put this book down.

Ms. Grange does a fantastic job telling a beloved Austen story from the perspective of our Hero, rather than our Heroine. While this book did contain an above average number of typos, and a few historical inaccuracies (compared to the original Novel), I found it delightful to read.

In seeing Captain Wentworth's perspective (through Ms. Grange's eyes), I was able to put a new spin on this lost and found again relationship that I had never considered before. I saw how my own prejudices always aligned with Anne's and was taught to see afresh, how things might look from someone else's eyes.

If you are an Austen fan, or just a fan of period romance novels, I highly recommend this book.

An extended version on Jane Austen's "Persuasion" that speaks through Captain Frederick Wentworth regarding his relationship the middle sister of the Elliott's, Anne. I loved this story because of it's simplicity to understand and because you get to know what Frederick is feeling, thinking and why he was so cold and distant towards Anne in Persuasion. A really great read for any Austen lover.

Amanda Grange's writing style is always very pleasant to read and this book was no different. She continues her theme of writing some of Jane Austen's stories from the hero's point of view, supposedly in diary form (although I doubt any gentlemen of that era would have written diaries quite like these!)

Captain Wentworth is the hero of 'Persuasion', a book which starts eight years after the characters had first met, become engaged, broken the engagement and moved on to separate lives. In Amanda Grange's book almost half of the text is given up to that time in 1806 when Wentworth and Miss Anne Elliot first meet and fall in love. We see how they meet each other, how they get to spend a little time with each other and how Wentworth gradually begins to realise the value of Anne and that she and he have compatible minds and ideas. The second half of the book follows Austen's story from Wentworth's point of view with many scenes and dialogue the same and others extended. Much less attention is paid in this book to some of the other characters (for example the younger Mr Elliot) and in fact the book seems to go by quite quickly.

Although we are reading events and feelings written by Captain Wentworth I didn't feel I knew him any better after this book than I had from reading Austen's one, and Anne less so. However the story was very enjoyable to read, even if one knew how it would end, and I didn't feel the author took any liberties with Austen's ideas. There were a few little slips into American English (the verb 'to quit' was used a few times and the concept of 'visiting with' someone used in a non-English way) but mostly this was a very successful read and one that would appeal to most Austen fans, particularly those who would have liked to know how Wentworth and Anne Elliot first got to know each other.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

I have to say I heartily disagree with the negative reviews of this book. I loved the initial courtship and subsequent retelling of the original from Capt. Wentworth's viewpoint. I think his character is much more developed and I felt that my understanding of Anne's character was deepened, as well. It made me think of how a person's behavior can radically alter when they experience heart break. I think Grange gets the language just right (or right enough that it doesn't distract me from enjoying the book.) She didn't violate any of my feelings about the characters from the original work, but she added dimensions that were not fleshed out by Austen. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of Persuasion. Another thing I really liked? Grange didn't delve into salacious descriptions of sex or anything else Austen would have never done. ENJOY!

Great to see other Jane Austen books rewritten other than Pride and Prejudice. This view of Persuasion was really good.

I really enjoyed this book. The first half is all about how they first fell in love and then became seperated. The last half is eight years later when they are again re-united and fall in love all over again. Hearing the story from Wentworth's point of view was a lot of fun!

I enjoyed reading this book. The author did a good job of telling the parallel story to 'Persuasion' and gave a good setting as to why Captain Wentworth was so bitter.