Captain Wentworth's Diary

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!

Captain Wentworth's Diary - I cannot get tired of reading and re reading all of Jane Austen books. To have something new by another author that will give us more or open our eyes to something new that perhaps was implied but not declared in Jane Austen books about our hero in "Persuasion" is like reading Jane all over again.

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 remininscences 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 extention 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.

Although I do not feel this book is as well done as is Grange's Mr. Darcy's Diary, I was pleased someone wrote from Captain Wentworth's point of view. We know so little about his life those years away from Anne Elliott; it is nice to have someone try to fill in the blanks for us Jane Austen fans. Grange makes a living out of these types of pieces, and she has mastered the formula for writing them. She has those by Darcy, Wentworth, Bertram, Knightley, etc. - all of Jane Austen's leading men.