OMG that was a long book. I have to admit that it was easier to get through than an Anthony Trollope novel of comparable length, even if the first 100 pages were almost as tedious as Trollope might have made them. I am not exactly opposed to long books, and perhaps if I were the sort of reader who loves reading sermons and sporting news, I would have found the long accounts of fox hunts and the verbatim sermons included within this narrative. I am not at all a fan of fox hunting, finding it a barbaric tradition that ought to have been stopped years ago for ecological and moral reasons. And, I was not at all interested in reading the full sermons from the various funerals and other services that Edmund leads in this book.

So, while the story itself was good and captured nicely the depressingly constrained lives men and women led during the 1800's, I was too relieved to be done with it to justify giving this book a full 5 stars. The 1550 page length seemed excessive, and there were enough natural breaks in the story that it seemed like this book might with some editing have become several shorter, less daunting books. Thankfully for the author, not all readers are as annoyed by fox hunts and sermons, and I could definitely see recommending this book to fans of Regency Era historical fiction.

I won my copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. ( )

I received Edmund Persuader as a Goodreads giveaway and I am so delighted that I did. I do not say this lightly, but it is one of the best books I have ever read. Even after having read all 1500 pages, I was disappointed when it was over. The prose of this book is so eloquent that I found myself rereading certain passages that were beautifully written.

This novel is set in the early 19th century with Edmund Percy as the main character. He is the third son of a proud English gentleman and Edmund’s older brother Christopher will inherit the family estate. Edmund has studied Theology at Oxford and plans to enter the Church to earn his living. However, just before he takes orders, he is asked by his father to visit the West Indies and straighten out the family’s sugar cane plantation which has been abandoned by a corrupt estate manager. While there Edmund has a crisis of faith as he learns about the brutally harsh lives of slaves that are used to work his family’s plantation. He also meets, falls in love with, and has a sexual relationship with a mulatto slave. This brings about his second moral crisis because he believes he has committed fornication and can in no way serve in the Church of England after committing such a sin.

When he finally finds his way back to England and takes his order, he finds his way to his Aunt Andromeda in Hampshire who, widowed and childless, serves as a second mother to him. It is in Hampshire that he receives a position in the church, first as curate and then later as rector. While in Hampshire he meets and falls in love with daughter of a local squire. It is evident, as the novel unfolds, that she is deeply in love with Edmund as well but she has a dark secret that keeps her from accepting his offer of marriage. Edmund must find out what this secret is and use his keen powers of persuasion to win over the object of his desires.

There are several themes that this book explores that are seldom explored in novels set in 19th century England. Edmund finds great pleasure in his physical relationship with the mulatto slave in Antigua and he fears that he will never find a proper English woman who will also fulfill his physical needs. The theme of pride and the mistakes and prejudices that are the result of excessive pride are also explored. This book also examines the idea that humans make mistakes but that these mistakes can be overcome through redemption and the love of others. The most important theme in this book is that, although we may feel at times that it is impossible to affect changes in society at large, it is important that we show kindness, love and understanding to those in our immediate circle on whom we can have a more immediate and positive effect.
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