Captain Wentworth's Love Letter

OMG, I just finished reading the book Persuasion by Jane Austen.  That Captain Frederick Wentworth puts Mr. Darcy to shame.  The love letter that Captain Wentworth wrote to Anne Eliot sent wonderful shivers through my whole body.  It is the most romantic and moving love letters I ever read.  Here it is word for word in Jane Austen's Persuasion.

I can listen no longer in silence.  I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach.  You pierce my soul.  I am half agony, half hope.  Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever.  I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago.  Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death.  I have loved none but you.  Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.  You alone have brought me to Bath.  For you alone I think and plan.  Have you not seen this?  Can you fail to have understood my wishes?  I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine.  I can hardly write.  I am every instant hearing something which over powers me.  You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others.  Too good, too excellent creature!  You do us justice, indeed.  You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men.  Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating in F.W.

I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible.  A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.

Love Letter written to Miss Anne Eliot from Captain Frederick Wentworth

The Book

 Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds portraying Anne Eliot and Captain Wentworth in the 1995 film Persuasion.

 Actor, Ciaran Hinds

 Actress Amanda Root

1995 Film version

Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins as Captain Wentworth and Anne Eliot in the 2008 film adaptation of Persuasion.

 Actor Rupert Penry-Jones

Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins

 Actress Sally Hawkins

2008 film adaptation of Persuasion

I have seen the 1995 film version but not the 2008 one.  The 1995 version was good but not a  great.  Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds look fabulous as the hero and heroine, but I found Mr. Hinds to be a bit stiff.  He could have been much more passionate, like Matthew MacFadyen was as Mr. Darcy.  Ciaran Hinds also appears to be a tad older than Captain Wentworth is in the book, but he still was a close match.  Mr. Hinds had that tanned and windswept look that a man who spent years at sea would have.    I would like to see Richard Armitage portraying Captain Wentworth.  OMG, I would LOVE IT!!!

I enjoyed reading Persuasion even though it went on and one a bit longer than I would really like.  Captain Wentworth doesn't finally let go and reveal his true feelings until close to the end.  It was definitely worth it but the lead up to it tried my patience a bit. 

 Captain Wentworth writing his love letter to Anne.