Come on now, why is Pride and Prejudice Austen’s most beloved novel when Mansfield Park is so much better! No, I know, Elizabeth Bennett is far more witty and lively than Fanny Price, who, uh, isn’t either of those things. Mr. Darcy is far more dreamy than Edmund Bertram, who is rather a bore. And the love story in P&P throws sparks all over the damn place, while the main love story in Mansfield Park is so not the point that it only gets a desultory narrator’s treatment in the last couple of pages of a 400 page novel. I imagine Austen going “Yeah, okay, you expect it, so here it is, it happens, whatever.”

Mansfield Park though is a far more complex novel, wide ranging, touching on issues like nature vs nurture, ethical vs factual education, the identity and nature of home, even the slave trade and the moral quandary of indirectly benefitting from the morally indefensible, for good measure. Meanwhile, Fanny suffers nobly as a bit of a doormat, but then resists what she knows is bad, although materially highly rewarding, with an admirably stubborn and immovable will, while her cousins from the rich side of the family make poor decisions and completely fall apart. She’s the steady and under-appreciated bit of good surrounded by glitz and glam, an underdog worth rooting for. ( )

It took me about half of the book to finally get into the rhythm of Austen's voice. Once there, her voice was natural in my head. I'm so glad I pushed forward (or in the words of Austen - improved). I struggle to call Fanny Price a "hero". In my view, she is simply a faithful saint. She is fraught with fears and insecurities, but her bravery is in her choice to do right. I like that about her.

I think Austen likes to show struggles and vices like so many marks on a pendulum. Idleness, busyness. Lady Bertram, almost completely idle. Mrs. Norris, always busy (and even a busybody). Fanny shows the middle. Weak, but sitting and observing and learning. Yet busy - attending to a host of needs. The Crawford siblings are conspirators - the far side of the pendulum of self and independence. Fanny and Edmund are "sibling" confidants in the middle. The other siblings in the book are estranged and backbiting. I think the author likes us to see the Christian as not perfect, not foolish, but faithful.

The characters have sucked me into the Austen universe - and I think I will not only remember these, but will happily discover all of the others. ( )

Surprisingly entertaining; the introduction warns that this is one of Austen's serious books.

We never learn much about Sir Thomas's Antigua estate, but it may have been worked by enslaved people. All we have is this conversation in which Edmund encourages Fanny to talk more in public:

[Fanny] “But I do talk to him more than I used. I am sure I do. Did not you hear me ask him about the slave-trade last night?”

[Edmund] “I did—and was in hopes the question would be followed up by others. It would have pleased your uncle to be inquired of farther.”

[Fanny] “And I longed to do it—but there was such a dead silence! And while my cousins were sitting by without speaking a word, or seeming at all interested in the subject, I did not like—I thought it would appear as if I wanted to set myself off at their expense, by shewing a curiosity and pleasure in his information which he must wish his own daughters to feel.” [p. 135]

Mary Crawford's ultimate fault is that she sees adultery as a folly which could be mitigated, and not a capital offense. Unfortunately, in her eyes, her brother, Henry, does not marry Maria and make an almost honest woman out of her; even more unfortunately, Henry and Maria were caught, thereby ruining Henry's hopes of marrying Fanny, who could have made a decent man out of him. Although, given his succumbing to vanity and Maria, it would have been a difficult task. I must admit that I side with Mary more than Sir Thomas, who believes it is only right that Maria go off to another country with Mrs. Norris and live in shame far away.
And another thing: while Sir Thomas is concerned at the beginning of the story about first cousins marrying, he is quite happy to see this happen at the end.
Unlike many another story, the heroine's quiet but true worth is appreciated by others. (I'm thinking in particular of The Moonstone, which I recently finished , and Miriam Halcombe. ( )

Set in Mansfield Park, shy Fanny grows up with her cousins and another family. There are developed romantic interests between the two families, and the downhill spiral of relationships starts. There is a lot of drama within the families, which starts off slow at the beginning and quickly at the end as the relationships fall apart. Meanwhile, Fanny's life is the only constant as she always likes Edmund. As well as relationships, the story demonstrates the different social and wealth statuses.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ( )

I think I would've liked this a lot more if I weren't so icked out by the cousin thing. Yes, in Austen's time there was nothing wrong with marrying your first cousin. But, still, just...gross. If he had at least been her second cousin once removed or something, I might have let it pass. But, thinking of their genetically disadvantaged children, I wanted Fanny to give up Edmund and really try to make it work with Henry. Or even just be single at the end of the book! Heck, she's only 18. Maybe let the story end with Fanny still looking for a nice, moral, not closely related guy. Moreover, it's not super romantic to end up with a man who was desperately in love with someone else through the whole novel and only turned around in the very last pages.

In other criticisms, I also felt that the first half of the book could've used some paring down, while the end of the book was too rushed. And I have to agree with readers who don't super love Fanny Price as a heroine. Yes, Fanny is overly judgmental and uptight (not to mention boring and pathetic). I did admire her adherence to a strict moral code, but I was put off by her coldness. She didn't have to marry Henry or be super BFFs with Mary, but she could've showed a little human kindness towards them, a little softening at their good intentions. With all her lack of self-confidence, it still seemed to me that Fanny's immunity to her neighbor's charms was caused by moral arrogance. Mary's not good enough for Edmund and Henry isn't good enough for her. Is it lonely up there on your high horse, Mr. Darcy? I'm sorry...Fanny?

What if things had turned out differently? If Henry had (and I think this is entirely plausible) had the sense not to go after Maria again, it would totally change the story. Mary and Edmund would've gotten married and probably been happy. Henry might have moved on and found a different girl to make him happy. And we'd have Fanny left alone with only her nerves and Lady Bertram to keep her company.

One last thing: Do you think J.K. Rowling named Filch's cat Mrs. Norris after Fanny's odious aunt? That is too perfect. ( )