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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Mansfield Park of the title, a magnificent, idyllic estate which is home to the wealthy Bertram family, stands as a bastion of English tradition and stability. The novel's heroine, Fanny Price, is a "poor relation" living with the Bertrams, acutely conscious of her inferior status and yet daring to love their son Edmund--but from afar. However, with five marriageable young people on the premises, the peace at Mansfield cannot last. Courtships, entertainments and intrigues throw the place into turmoil, and Fanny finds herself unwillingly competing with a dazzlingly witty and lovely rival. As critic Margaret Drabble has pointed out, the house becomes "full of the energies of discord--sibling rivalry, greed, ambition, illicit sexual passion, and vanity," and the novel becomes ever more engrossing as it builds to Mansfield's final scandal and, finally, a satisfying conclusion. Unique in its moral design and brilliant interplay of the forces of tradition and change, Mansfield Park was the first novel of Jane Austen's maturity, and the first in which the author turned her unerring eye on the concerns of English society at a time of great upheaval.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Review
This has been called Jane Austen's finest work but it is probably the least popular, due to the unsympathetic nature of her heroine, Fanny Price, who, it cannot be denied, is a smug little Goody Two-Shoes. This is the novel in which nasty Aunt Norris commits outrage after outrage and finally gets her come-uppance. But it also contains the incomparable Lady Bertram, idlest woman in fiction, and, in fat ill-tempered Pug, Jane Austen's only dog. Review by Ruth Rendell, whose crime novels include 'The Bridesmaid' (Kirkus UK)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
ABOUT thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton,* and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet's lady,* with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
ABOUT thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton,* and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet's lady,* with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent pocket sized edition of Jane Austen's most serious novel. The type is clear and a reasonable size and the book is nicely produced with an interesting introduction.
Fanny Price at the age of ten goes to live with her aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram at Mansfield Park. She has a shy and retiring character and prefers not to be in the limelight. At first to some readers she might seem a rather boring character, but there is more to Fanny than meets the eye which quickly becomes clear as the story progresses. The peace of life at Mansfield is stirred up by the arrival in the area of Henry and Mary Crawford, brother and sister, who are staying with the Grants at the Vicarage a short distance from Mansfield Park. About the same time, Sir Thomas takes an extended trip to his estate in Antigua along with his eldest son - Tom - leaving his youngest son Edmund in charge of the family.
The story that follows hinges very much on the characters of the people involved; the indolent Lady Bertram, serious Edmund, flirtatious Mary Crawford and her untrustworthy brother, the objectionable Mrs Norris - sister of Lady Bertram, and various minor characters. Is everyone exactly what they seem? How will Sir Thomas react when he returns from his trip to find the young people rehearsing a very risqué play in the billiard room?
I used to think `Mansfield Park' a somewhat boring story lacking the lightness of touch of Austen's other novels. But a recent re-reading has convinced me otherwise and I have warmed to Fanny as a heroine. If you have felt the same about this book then give it another chance as it is well worth re-reading.
Fanny Price at the age of ten goes to live with her aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram at Mansfield Park. She has a shy and retiring character and prefers not to be in the limelight. At first to some readers she might seem a rather boring character, but there is more to Fanny than meets the eye which quickly becomes clear as the story progresses. The peace of life at Mansfield is stirred up by the arrival in the area of Henry and Mary Crawford, brother and sister, who are staying with the Grants at the Vicarage a short distance from Mansfield Park. About the same time, Sir Thomas takes an extended trip to his estate in Antigua along with his eldest son - Tom - leaving his youngest son Edmund in charge of the family.
The story that follows hinges very much on the characters of the people involved; the indolent Lady Bertram, serious Edmund, flirtatious Mary Crawford and her untrustworthy brother, the objectionable Mrs Norris - sister of Lady Bertram, and various minor characters. Is everyone exactly what they seem? How will Sir Thomas react when he returns from his trip to find the young people rehearsing a very risqué play in the billiard room?
I used to think `Mansfield Park' a somewhat boring story lacking the lightness of touch of Austen's other novels. But a recent re-reading has convinced me otherwise and I have warmed to Fanny as a heroine. If you have felt the same about this book then give it another chance as it is well worth re-reading.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's impossible for anyone not to love Pride and Prejudice and Emma. The light touch of Austen is at it's most adept in those novels and while the serious and tragic business of life is not far away, things are never allowed to become too awful.
In Mansfield Park, Austen was pushing her art and her ability into a new arena. She created in Fanny Price, a far more complex heroine, whose vulnerability and shyness is painfully clear and often irritating until you understand the appalling circumstances that she has been forced to live with since she was 10 years old. Living as a poor relation in a wealthy household must have been worse than being a servant and Fanny is never at ease, never among equals, always on parade and at everyone's beck and call. Only when she goes home to her natural family is she among equals only to discover that she has gotten used to a higher standard of living and that they aren't her equals any longer.
There is still a tremendous amount of toe-curling humour and wicked exasperation with the appalling Mrs. Norris. The romantic aspirations and faux pas of many of the characters is still there to entertain and exercise the mind but this time there is a deeper point being made. Austen must have been aware that the world was changing with the industrial revolution just around the corner and a faster, cruder way of life rising to the surface. Shallow, superficial ways of behaving were beginning to gain currency. The crueulty of playing with people's emotions in a dishonest and careless way is someting Austen is clearly targetting. Fanny and Edmund are flung around by this prevailing wind until they both regain their moral compasses. To some readers this is going to seem dull and pompous but if you take Fanny's state of mind as your starting point, her vulnerability and need for a safe haven you can understand their disapproval more easily.
In Mansfield Park, Austen clearly wants to show that society is on a collision course with itself if the 'anything goes' mode of living becomes the norm - a point of view that is still relevant today and that is what makes this Austen novel her most interesting and wide ranging in terms of ideas and debate about the human condition.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Judging by the lack of other customer reviews, it would seem that 'Mansfield Park' has the unfortunate reputation of being Austen's most unpopular novel. The fact that the few film and television adaptations of it have all turned out to be complete disasters also doesn't help much (although many people claim that the BBC- miniseries of 1983 is rather good; it at least sticks closely to the original plot). Patricia Rozema's 2000 film turned out to be a rather daring and risqué version, loosely based on the book, while the ITV- production of 2007 was utter drivel from beginning to end. Perhaps its just one of those novels from which you can attain its true message through reading only...?
Fanny Price, the heroine of the novel, is probably the main cause of its unpopularity, because she doesn't act like a heroine at all. As Tony Tanner mentions in the introduction, she is a girl `who accomplishes by doing nothing.' Not that she doesn't do anything, but she certainly doesn't do anything worthwhile to earn her the honour and status of `heroine': she is almost passive, and suffers mentally, but solves it by crying it out most of the time. Compared with Elizabeth Bennet from 'Pride and Prejudice' and Emma Woodhouse, Fanny is rather dull and mousy in regards to character (though she is described as `beautiful' several times). Even so, physical attractiveness is not enough to make a character a hero or heroine.
But like any other protagonist, Fanny must overcome a few obstacles in order to achieve greatness.
Fanny is adopted into the house of her rich family, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, at Mansfield Park, due to the current poverty of her family. Once there, she clearly begins to feel her social inferiority with regards to the treatment enhanced by her cousins: spoiled Tom, Maria and Julia. Their brother Edmund is the only one of them who treats Fanny with kindness and who goes out of his way for her. Fanny values her friendship with Edmund, and as she matures, her feelings for him do likewise.
The trouble begins a few years later, with the arrival of handsome Henry Crawford and his sister Mary; the latter being a most beautiful and accomplished woman. Once there, they openly flirt their way into the lives of the Park: Maria (already engaged) and Julia fall head over heels for Henry Crawford; and Edmund, upright and responsible fellow that he is, becomes attracted to Mary. Fanny is the only one who dislikes and mistrusts the Crawfords and their actions. As the drama heightens, Fanny's dislike of them and her fear of their influence become more and more clear, as this influence leads to disastrous consequences.
'Mansfield Park' is, at its core, a very dramatic work, much more than either 'Northanger Abbey', 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Pride and Prejudice'. It is rightfully described as being the first of Austen's `mature' novels. The comedy scenes are much fewer, though there are quite a number of scenes to entertain her reader, and the references to other books, authors, and contemporary happenings occur frequently. These elements, however, make it a bit of a difficult read, and consequently an unpopular one.
In the end, I advise any first-time Janeites out there NOT to read this as their first one, for the risk of it putting you off forever from Austen is rather high, and that is the last thing I want to see happening. But after you've got two or three of her works under the belt (you MUST at least have read 'Pride and Prejudice'), then a serious yet entertaining novel awaits your reading appetite.
Fanny Price, the heroine of the novel, is probably the main cause of its unpopularity, because she doesn't act like a heroine at all. As Tony Tanner mentions in the introduction, she is a girl `who accomplishes by doing nothing.' Not that she doesn't do anything, but she certainly doesn't do anything worthwhile to earn her the honour and status of `heroine': she is almost passive, and suffers mentally, but solves it by crying it out most of the time. Compared with Elizabeth Bennet from 'Pride and Prejudice' and Emma Woodhouse, Fanny is rather dull and mousy in regards to character (though she is described as `beautiful' several times). Even so, physical attractiveness is not enough to make a character a hero or heroine.
But like any other protagonist, Fanny must overcome a few obstacles in order to achieve greatness.
Fanny is adopted into the house of her rich family, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, at Mansfield Park, due to the current poverty of her family. Once there, she clearly begins to feel her social inferiority with regards to the treatment enhanced by her cousins: spoiled Tom, Maria and Julia. Their brother Edmund is the only one of them who treats Fanny with kindness and who goes out of his way for her. Fanny values her friendship with Edmund, and as she matures, her feelings for him do likewise.
The trouble begins a few years later, with the arrival of handsome Henry Crawford and his sister Mary; the latter being a most beautiful and accomplished woman. Once there, they openly flirt their way into the lives of the Park: Maria (already engaged) and Julia fall head over heels for Henry Crawford; and Edmund, upright and responsible fellow that he is, becomes attracted to Mary. Fanny is the only one who dislikes and mistrusts the Crawfords and their actions. As the drama heightens, Fanny's dislike of them and her fear of their influence become more and more clear, as this influence leads to disastrous consequences.
'Mansfield Park' is, at its core, a very dramatic work, much more than either 'Northanger Abbey', 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Pride and Prejudice'. It is rightfully described as being the first of Austen's `mature' novels. The comedy scenes are much fewer, though there are quite a number of scenes to entertain her reader, and the references to other books, authors, and contemporary happenings occur frequently. These elements, however, make it a bit of a difficult read, and consequently an unpopular one.
In the end, I advise any first-time Janeites out there NOT to read this as their first one, for the risk of it putting you off forever from Austen is rather high, and that is the last thing I want to see happening. But after you've got two or three of her works under the belt (you MUST at least have read 'Pride and Prejudice'), then a serious yet entertaining novel awaits your reading appetite.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very different from Pride and Prejudice, but a worthwhile read.
The book took me six weeks to read, and, whilst it wasn't exactly a riveting read, it was a very pleasant, interesting and thought-provoking read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by D. Took
The Weakest of Austen's Novels
Dull, dull, dull - this surely is the most tedious of Austen's books; loaded up with backplot instead of moving the story forward, characters wheeled on and off stage like wooden... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Brownbear101
Perfect writing, not sure about the heroine!
Fanny Price? Hmmm! First met her at school, studying the book for A Level. I didn't think a lot of her then and time, much time, has not changed my opinion a lot. Read more
Published 9 months ago by smartesthorse
A Novel with Heart and Mind
I have re-read Mansfield Park and found it very enjoyable. Somehow over the years I had the impression of Fanny Price sitting uncomplaining in her cold attic, wheras of course the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Sabina
Love it :o)
I've always loved Jane Austen and now have all her books. There's not much to say really, if you buy the book it's because you want to read it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Daisy Girl
Great book, poor e-book
One of my favourite of the Austen novels. Fanny improves each time on further reading and one grows to love her. She does not deserve to win Henry. Read more
Published 14 months ago by MarleneHemmes
excellent Austen
Mansfield Park is Jane Austen's third novel. Dr Ian Littlewood describes it in his introduction as her first "fully mature work". Read more
Published 14 months ago by Cloggie Downunder
Highly underated
Definitely worth a read - and in my opinion it's one of Austen's best novels rather than her worst as it is normally branded. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ms. J. Green
Classic
One of Jane Austens lesser read novels but still a great read. Full of humour and good characters but not in the leagues of Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion.
Published 22 months ago by Dottie33
Timeless classic
In my opinion not the best of Jane Austen's novels but a classic all the same and a great read.
Published 22 months ago by Dottie33
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