A satisfying and romantic read about love, friendship and political engagement – and what Jane Austen might be able to teach a young woman looking for love in the 21st century.

Twenty-five-year-old Hazel is reading the classics, starting with ‘A’. It’s one way to pass the time when you’ve quit your job and lost your way.

But then she has a chance encounter with an irresistible older man. When Hazel is partnered with him on a political campaign, her attraction is deepened by the strength of his convictions. Adam seems to be attracted to her too – but why is he resisting? And what does Jane Austen have to teach a young woman about life, love and literature in the 21st century?

Susan Midalia grew up in the Western Australian wheatbelt and has lived in Perth for most of her adult life. She is the author of three collections of short stories, A History of the Beanbag, An Unknown Sky (written with the assistance of an Australia Council grant), and Feet to the Stars. Her collections have been shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Award and twice for the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award. She retired from teaching in 2007 to become a full-time writer and freelance editor. The Art of Persuasion is her first novel.