Persuasion: Penguin Classics

The history of the Elliot family is recounted at the start of the novel as it was preserved in The Baronetcy, the favorite book of Sir Walter Elliot. The Elliots are a respected family and landowners. Sir Walter’s wife, Lady Elliot, has been dead for fourteen years. Their daughters are Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Of the three only the youngest, Mary, is married. Her husband is the rich Charles Musgrove, and they live nearby. Sir Walter lives extravagantly which has plunged the family into debt. The family advisor, Lady Russell, has told the family that it needs to cut back expenses but Sir Walter cannot fathom the thought of forsaking any of his creature comforts, although he is ultimately convinced that he must, thus leading to the decision to rent out their estate, Kellynch Hall. Sir Walter finds Admiral Croft and Mrs. Croft to be acceptable tenants even though as a rule he does not like Navy men. Anne is excited by the prospect of renting to them as she realized that Mrs. Croft is the sister of a man with whom she was once in love. That romance ended when Lady Russell decided that Captain Wentworth was not socially acceptable and Anne cancelled their engagement. Now, she is filled with the anticipation of perhaps seeing him again.