S05E07 Persuasion, Chapters 16 to 18

From Reading Jane Austen by Harriet and Ellen

August 25, 2025 · 60 min · Season 5 · Episode 7

About this episode

The episode discusses social dynamics and character interactions in chapters 16 to 18 of Persuasion, along with historical insights.

In this episode, we talk about the upward and downward social interactions taking place, what the implications are behind the Dalrymples being Irish aristocracy, the introductions of Mrs Smith and Nurse Rooke, the comedy of Mary’s letter and Admiral Croft’s meeting with Anne, and the fact that in the book’s timeline it is only a month before Napoleon Bonaparte will escape from Elba. The characters we discuss are Admiral and Mrs Croft. In the historical section, Ellen talks about nurses, and f...

People in this episode

Host: Ellen

Topics covered

social interactions
Irish aristocracy
character introductions
comedy in letters
historical context

Keywords

Dalrymples
Mrs Smith
Nurse Rooke
Mary's letter
Admiral Croft
Napoleon Bonaparte

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: S05E07 Persuasion

Places: Elba