 The idea for a film version of the 1817 Austen novel Persuasion began with the English producer Fiona Finlay , who had wanted to create an adaptation for several years . The novel had last been adapted by ITV in a 1971 serial starring Ann Firbank . Finlay felt that the " very romantic " story was one " everyone can relate to . There 's something very touching about long @-@ lost love " . She approached the writer Nick Dear about adapting it for television ; Finlay had enjoyed his contributions to theatre , particularly his play about William Hogarth , The Art of Success . Dear first suggested they try one of Austen 's other works — either Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice — but agreed to adapt Persuasion after reading it . Dear considered the novel — the author 's last completed work — a maturer story than the others . 
