Anne Elliot, heroine of Austen's last novel, did something we can all relate to:
Long ago, she let the love of her life get away. In this case, she had allowed
herself to be persuaded by a trusted family friend that the young man she loved
wasn't an adequate match, social stationwise, and that Anne could do better. The
novel opens some seven years after Anne sent her beau packing, and she's still
alone. But then the guy she never stopped loving comes back from the sea. As
always, Austen's storytelling is so confident, you can't help but allow yourself
to be taken on the enjoyable journey.