女主角安.艾略特與溫特伍上校相戀,但年輕的溫特伍上校既沒有財富、也沒有地位,安的家人極力勸她解除與溫特伍上校之間的婚約。然而時隔八年後,兩人又再度相遇,此時的溫特伍不再是過去的泛泛之輩,而從海軍生涯退役後,搖身變得財力雄厚的有錢人,反觀安的家庭,因家中危機,安的父親華特艾略特爵士被迫出租祖宅而舉家搬至巴斯,然而危機不只一件,溫特伍上校似乎移情別戀,不再鍾情於安,安此時終於明白過去拒絕溫特伍上校,似乎是一件錯誤,然而一切似乎已成定局。《Persuasion》一書為奧斯汀成書最晚的一部,但有部份評論家認為是奧斯汀最好的一部小說。
Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. Al the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?
Jane Austin once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work.