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Persuasion full cast audiobook

by Jane Austen

Released · Updated · 8h 23m · 26 voices

The story (no spoilers)

Anne Elliot, twenty-seven and overlooked by a vain father and sister, watches her family leave Kellynch Hall in Somerset when debt forces Sir Walter to let the estate to a naval admiral and his wife. Eight years earlier, Anne let herself be persuaded to break her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, a young naval officer with no fortune and no name to recommend him. She has never stopped regretting it. Now the tenants' connection to Wentworth brings him back into her circle, and he is no longer poor; the war at sea has made him rich, admired and free to choose a wife. Anne must meet him in drawing rooms and country lanes, among the Musgroves of Uppercross and the fashionable crowd of Bath, while hiding what she feels. In Regency England, where rank and money govern every match, the question is whether a love given up in youth can be reclaimed, or whether pride and old hurt have closed the way for good.

The cast

20 speaking roles are listed; walk-on parts are not. Each voice was designed, or chosen from our library of designed voices, to fit how the book describes the character, and it stays with them from the first chapter to the last. Portraits are illustrated impressions of each character.

  • Illustrated portrait of Anne Elliot: about 27, soft light-brown hair pinned in a low loose knot, fawn pelisse over a high-waisted gown, Regency style

    Anne Elliot

    Female, about twenty-seven years old, an Englishwoman of the gentry in Regency England in 1814, the unmarried daughter of a baronet. She speaks in a soft, refined received pronunciation accent, with a gentle, slightly low mezzo-soprano and a clear, warm timbre. Her pace is slow and measured, her tone quiet and thoughtful, and her manner modest, patient and tender, with restrained feeling.

  • Illustrated portrait of Captain Wentworth: about 32, tousled chestnut-brown hair, sun-lightened and windswept, navy-blue naval officer's coat with gilt buttons and white stock

    Captain Wentworth

    Male, about thirty-one years old, an Englishman in Regency England in 1814, a middle-class naval captain risen by merit. He speaks with a clear, confident educated received pronunciation accent, in a warm, light baritone with an open, athletic timbre. His pace is brisk and easy, his tone frank and bantering, and his temperament charming, assured and quietly proud.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mary: about 26, jet-black ringlets under a cap edge, lilac muslin gown with a lace fichu

    Mary

    Female, about twenty-five years old, an Englishwoman of the gentry in Regency England in 1814, a baronet's daughter married into a country family. She speaks in a genteel received pronunciation accent, in a thin, high, slightly nasal soprano. Her pace is quick and fretful, her tone plaintive and exclamatory, and her temperament self-pitying, restless and easily aggrieved.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mrs Smith: thinning mousy-grey hair under a cap, mended maroon shawl over a plain grey-brown gown

    Mrs Smith

    Female, about thirty-one years old, an English widow in Bath in 1815, of reduced means and living in modest lodgings. She speaks in a gentle Hampshire-tinged middle-class accent, in a bright, light, slightly frail mid-pitched voice. Her pace is lively and conversational, her tone cordial and arch, and her temperament cheerful, sociable and quick to smile despite her ill health.

  • Illustrated portrait of Sir Walter Elliot: about 54, carefully curled sandy-blond hair, faintly thinning at the crown, plum velvet coat with a buff waistcoat and starched white cravat

    Sir Walter Elliot

    Male, about fifty-four years old, an English baronet and landowner in Regency England in 1814, wealthy by birth and vain of his looks. He speaks in a haughty, drawling upper-class received pronunciation accent, in a smooth, slightly nasal baritone. His pace is slow and ponderous with rhetorical flourishes, his tone pompous and disdainful, and his temperament proud and self-admiring.

  • Illustrated portrait of Charles Musgrove: about 25, short black hair, tousled, olive-green shooting coat with a mustard neckerchief

    Charles Musgrove

    Male, about twenty-seven years old, an English country gentleman and sportsman in Somerset in 1814, from a landed family. He speaks in an easy, educated accent with a light West Country colouring, in a relaxed mid-range baritone with a plain, open timbre. His pace is unhurried, his tone good-humoured and practical, and his temperament easy-going and mildly impatient.

  • Illustrated portrait of Admiral Croft: about 58, bald crown with white fringe over the ears, faded teal-blue frock coat with loosened white neckcloth

    Admiral Croft

    Male, about fifty-five years old, an English naval admiral in Regency England in 1814, middle-class and weathered by decades at sea. He speaks in a bluff, hearty seafaring English accent with a gruff Norfolk flavour, in a booming, gravelly baritone. His pace is loud and rolling, his tone plain and jovial, and his temperament blunt, kindly and a little absent-minded.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mrs Musgrove: about 55, faded ginger-grey hair in tight curls beneath a cap, rich burgundy gown with a cream shawl

    Mrs Musgrove

    Female, about fifty-two years old, a stout English country gentlewoman in Somerset in 1814, the mother of a large family. She speaks in a comfortable West Country accent, in a low, soft, slightly breathy contralto with a motherly warmth. Her pace is slow and rambling, her tone sentimental and confiding, and her temperament kindly, fond and easily moved to tears.

  • Illustrated portrait of Captain Harville: about 38, short black hair with early grey at the temples, rust-brown frock coat with a plain black stock

    Captain Harville

    Male, about thirty-six years old, an English naval captain of modest means living by the sea in Dorset in 1814, tall and slightly lame. He speaks in a soft southern English accent, in a deep, quiet bass-baritone with a rounded, sympathetic timbre. His pace is slow and gentle, his tone sincere and feeling, and his temperament kindly, sensible and affectionate.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mr Elliot: about 35, sleek jet-black hair, oiled and combed flat, black mourning coat with a silver-grey waistcoat and crisp white cravat

    Mr Elliot

    Male, about thirty-four years old, an English gentleman of large fortune in Regency England in 1815, heir to a baronetcy. He speaks in a polished, refined received pronunciation accent, in a smooth, light, silky tenor. His pace is measured and deliberate, his tone courteous and flattering, and his temperament composed, agreeable and carefully charming.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mrs Croft: about 45, brown hair streaked with grey, pulled back tight, sea-green spencer jacket over a plain gown

    Mrs Croft

    Female, about forty-five years old, an English naval officer's wife in Regency England in 1814, middle-class, weathered by years aboard ship. She speaks in a plain, clear standard English accent, in a firm, strong alto with a square, vigorous timbre. Her pace is brisk and direct, her tone forthright and practical, and her temperament spirited, rational and plain-speaking.

  • Illustrated portrait of Elizabeth Elliot: about 29, glossy dark chestnut-brown hair in an elaborate coiffure, rose-pink silk gown with a gold chain at the neck

    Elizabeth Elliot

    Female, about twenty-nine years old, an English baronet's eldest daughter in Regency England in 1814, upper-class and proud of her family. She speaks in clipped, cool received pronunciation, in a hard, low-mid, slightly cold voice. Her pace is slow and curt with short answers, her tone detached and affected, and her temperament proud, formal and unbending.

  • Illustrated portrait of Lady Russell: about 50, smooth silver hair in a neat chignon with side bands, deep purple pelisse with a white lace collar

    Lady Russell

    Female, about fifty-five years old, an English widow of rank and a baronet's neighbour in Regency England in 1814. She speaks in refined, dignified received pronunciation, in a warm, rich, composed contralto. Her pace is unhurried and reasoned, her tone kind and gently persuasive, and her temperament sensible, motherly and calmly authoritative.

  • Illustrated portrait of Louisa Musgrove: about 19, curly golden-blond ringlets, sky-blue spencer over a white gown

    Louisa Musgrove

    Female, about twenty years old, an English country gentleman's daughter in Somerset in 1814. She speaks in a light West Country gentry accent, in a bright, clear, mid-high voice with a lively, ringing timbre. Her pace is quick and eager, her tone warm and enthusiastic, and her temperament spirited, outgoing and a little headstrong.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mr Shepherd: about 52, thin mouse-brown hair streaked grey, combed over a receding hairline, snuff-brown tailcoat with a black stock

    Mr Shepherd

    Male, about fifty-eight years old, an English country attorney and land agent in Somerset in 1814, middle-class and deferential. He speaks in a careful provincial professional accent with a Somerset tinge, in a thin, dry, reedy tenor. His pace is cautious and hesitant, his tone humble and ingratiating, and his temperament obliging, flattering and watchful.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mrs Clay: about 30, red-tinged auburn hair in smooth curls, coral-pink gown with a white fichu

    Mrs Clay

    Female, about thirty years old, an English attorney's daughter and widow in Regency England in 1814, middle-class and eager to please. She speaks in a soft, sweet West Country accent, in a light, breathy, honeyed soprano. Her pace is smooth and flowing, her tone flattering and gently astonished, and her temperament ingratiating, soft-spoken and calculating in a polite way.

  • Illustrated portrait of Charles Hayter: about 24, light brown hair, short and neat, black clerical coat with a mossy-green waistcoat

    Charles Hayter

    Male, about twenty-five years old, an English country curate in Somerset in 1814, from a modest gentry family. He speaks in a soft, educated Midlands-tinged accent, in a slightly high, earnest tenor with a youthful, nervous timbre. His pace is a little hurried and careful, his tone sincere and mildly vexed, and his temperament amiable, polite and earnest.

  • Illustrated portrait of Henrietta: about 19, copper-red hair in short curls at the brow, primrose-yellow gown with a white tucker

    Henrietta

    Female, about nineteen years old, an English country gentleman's daughter schooled in Exeter, living in Somerset in 1814. She speaks in a soft, genteel received pronunciation accent, in a high, sweet, slightly breathy soprano. Her pace is gentle and flowing, her tone fond and chatty, and her temperament fashionable, happy and sweetly agreeable.

  • Illustrated portrait of Mr Musgrove: about 60, thick iron-grey hair, tousled, bottle-green coat with a buff waistcoat

    Mr Musgrove

    Male, about fifty-eight years old, an English country squire in Somerset in 1814, prosperous and hospitable. He speaks in a broad, hearty Somerset country accent, in a deep, loud, round baritone with a rich, jovial timbre. His pace is leisurely and booming, his tone cheerful and generous, and his temperament warm, grateful and good-natured.

  • Illustrated portrait of Lady Dalrymple: about 55, dark hair streaked iron-grey in stiff sculpted curls, sapphire-blue silk gown with a lace collar

    Lady Dalrymple

    Female, about sixty-two years old, an English titled viscountess in Bath in 1815, wealthy and aloof. She speaks in a languid, aristocratic received pronunciation accent, in a dry, slightly creaky, lowish voice. Her pace is slow and drawling with long pauses, her tone condescending and bored, and her temperament dignified, cool and unconcerned.

Chapters

24 chapter markers; each link opens the video on YouTube at that point.

  1. Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2
  3. Chapter 3
  4. Chapter 4
  5. Chapter 5
  6. Chapter 6
  7. Chapter 7
  8. Chapter 8
  9. Chapter 9
  10. Chapter 10
  11. Chapter 11
  12. Chapter 12
  13. Chapter 13
  14. Chapter 14
  15. Chapter 15
  16. Chapter 16
  17. Chapter 17
  18. Chapter 18
  19. Chapter 19
  20. Chapter 20
  21. Chapter 21
  22. Chapter 22
  23. Chapter 23
  24. Chapter 24

About this recording

Narrator
Vera Wynn, our house narrator voice
Runtime
8h 23m (complete and unabridged)
Voices
26
Channel
Best Free Audiobooks on YouTube
Released
Updated
Author
Jane Austen
First published
1817
Kind
romance novel
Source edition
Project Gutenberg eBook #105
Public domain (US)
Persuasion (1817) by Jane Austen is in the public domain in the United States; text from Project Gutenberg.