We can probably all agree that the most popular Austen novel would be Pride and Prejudice. It has more retellings and film adaptations than any of the others and its fanfiction.net listing is significantly longer.

Pride and Prejudice was certainly my first Jane Austen, and if it weren’t for that, well, who’s to say if I’d have become a writer at all.

As to the number two, by popular opinion, if I had to take a guess, I’d say Emma. It’s not in my top three, but it’s the favourite of all my most literary friends.

One of whom won the freakin’ Booker and then wrote an Emma screenplay.

The rest are all fair-ish game for number three. Not many jump out of their seats for Mansfield Park, although the YouTube series did a proper number on me, not gonna lie.

Northanger Abbey is a bit of an odd one out, and I’ve come across several people who put it top of the list. It’s certainly pacey and fun. What’s not to love?

I do love Sense and Sensibility. Bit of a slow start in the book, but once you’re in you’re away. In a lot of ways it’s similar to Persuasion, in fact. The heroine spends most of the story convinced her soul mate is going to end up with someone else.

And in both narratives, while everyone around them is spinning wildly out of control, the heroine keeps her cool.

Well, almost the whole time…

So, why is Persuasion my favourite? I’ve been trying to put my finger on it.

Is it a parallel to my own love story? My husband and I were close friends when we were teenagers. I had a crush but nothing came of it. We didn’t see each other for a long time and then, seven years later, fell in love. So maybe that’s part of it – that similarity.

Perhaps it’s more universal though. The story really captures certain experiences everyone has encountered: that of being overlooked, that of being misunderstood, that of life not going to plan.

Another universal element in Persuasion is the way the past can sneak up on you and feel all-of-a-sudden VERY present. Combined with that bizarre realisation that everyone around you is completely unaware of how hard a memory just slapped you upside the head.

For another thing, I quite like the assurance it will all be alright in the end. When things seem hopeless – as they surely do in Persuasion – and still, somehow come to a fitting and satisfying resolution, despite everything – I love that!

I do think Persuasion captures something we all want: to be truly seen. Anne is relied upon by many, but there are few who really get her. Even Lady Russell, her closest friend, fails to truly understand her. But Frederick does – or he does by the end of it.

Perhaps, as much as anything else, it’s a story of a love that lasts – robust and steady in a stormy world.

I’ve tried to do it justice, in Within My Reach. No pressure or anything… Jane Austen looking over my shoulder every step of the way.

This book has been a few years in-the-works now. Looking at old photos, I realise I must have been drafting this almost exactly three years ago – there’s a photo of us hiking around Diamond Harbour on Election day in 2017, between these…

That’s one way to plot out the scenes and have them all visible at once. The things we do to trick ourselves into feeling like it’s all under control.

Dear reader, it was not.

But here we are, just weeks away from another election, and in as much need of delightful distraction as ever!

Anyone for a Jane Austen marathon? It’s about time I introduced my kids to some of these!