Mansfield Park (Penguin Classics) Paperback – April 29, 2003

Edition Review: The Chiltern classics are classy, collectible, and most definitely giftable. Each copy is a work of art in the gorgeous raised cover art, gilt-edged pages, thick paper stock, ribbon bookmark, and well formatted pages and font. Just above the size of a paperback and comfort-cushioned hardbound feel in hand. Readers will love this edition.Book Thoughts:Most people would turn their heads and stare to know that I love this second when I rank the six Jane Austen novels. I felt an urge to pick up this well-narrated audio version and listen in once again. I will share a ramble of thoughts on what jumped out at me this go around rather than a well-constructed review.As a teen, I think I related to Fanny's shyness, awkwardness, and I knew an underdog when I saw one. None of those early reactions of changed. Oh, granted, I've noticed her youthful immaturity come into play with her jealous condemnation or quick repudiation of some of those around her without the softer way an adult can hold to conviction with compassion and understanding (note I say 'can' because even as adults, we are quick to pounce on other people's mistakes or missteps at times).It's easy to forget Fanny is but eighteen here and she is the youngest of all the principal characters. She possesses a poise and gravity that her fickle, vain female cousins and even her aunts do not. Mary Crawford is the only of the female characters who can come close to rivaling her in intellect when she makes an effort while at Mansfield, but once back in the bosom of her shallow London friends, she shelves her brains to conform (and no, I'm not grudging people some frivolity and entertainment now and then) that it's okay to detest one's spouse and the only serious consideration when choosing said spouse is advancement or money. One can gripe to their friends about their misery and have their fun afterward even if it means sporting with or shattering another marriage.And, that sporting with other people's affections and lives is what struck me so hard this time about Henry Crawford and Mrs. Norris. Gasp, I know. I put two such people in the same sentence. He's rakish and she's parsimonious so they don't appear to have a lot in common. But, in their own ways, they share a liking for twisting people to do their will and take pleasure in it.And, that segues me nicely into why I appreciate this one. Austen is both poking fun at the all too serious folks with conviction while also giving them the grave nod that one should have discernment. The movie adaptions make most of the characters shine so they appeal while the book paints them all with a darker shade so their unappealing sides are more visible. Mary Crawford's character is where I see that most and, I do not blame the filmmakers for this choice. Someone has to be likeable, right? We wink with her over her flaws, but the book presents her with more mercenary designs that Fanny sees because her partiality shields her from the dazzle and attraction of the Crawfords. And, to give due credit, Fanny's educated and thought-filled mind help her parse out what her Bertram cousins can't and won't see particularly in Henry Crawford.Wanda McCaddon did well with the range of voices from old to young, gender, class, and personality so that I had no trouble delving into the story each time I clicked it on.The fact is I enjoy this book because I see it as part cautionary tale, part entertainment as Austen rolls out so many disparaging characters and brings them together at MP, but also part subtle complexity in that things are not only one faceted from the characters to the plot. Timid Fanny doesn't sparkle or have great appeal, but she has an inner strength that stands pat when she hits a pivotal moment of decision with everything and everyone ranged against her.

When Mansfield Park first appeared in print in 1814, it was thought of as the least romantic novel by Jane Austen.In the story, as the result of her aunt Norris’s guiles, Fanny Prices comes to live with her Aunt Lady Bertram and Uncle Sir Thomas Bertram at Mansfield Park at a young age. Fanny Price’s own family has nine children and the father is an old sailor who drinks, as Fanny’s mother, unlike her two sisters Lady Bertram and Aunt Norris, has married beneath her.The Bertrams have four children--two boys, Tom and Edmund and two girls, Maria and Julia. Of all the four children Edmund is the one who befriends and helps Fanny. Although Fanny’s situation in Mansfield Park is much better than what it would have been in the home that she was born, she is nevertheless beneath the family’s own children and often is the receiver of Aunt Norris’s contempt.Still, Fanny becomes an indispensable companion to Aunt Bertram, and although she is shy and deferential, she is better accepted once all the children reach young adult status. At this time, both Maria and Julia have come out (as debutantes) in the society, but nobody has thought of Fanny, and Fanny has never been to a ball. Edmund still is a best friend to Fanny and is becoming ready to be ordained.In the meantime, Sir Thomas leaves for Antigua to take care of his plantations. About the same time, the Crawford siblings Henry and Mary arrive in the neighborhood, Henry begins flirting with Maria, who falls for him, and Edmund goes after Mary while Fanny has secretly fallen in love with Edmund. Then all the young people get involved in the production of the play.Up to here in the story, I had to force myself to read on because the social class distinctions and the fake politeness of speech and manner got to me, which I am sure, an author of Austen’s caliber correctly portrayed the English society of early nineteenth century. With the production of the play and the events that followed it, the story finally captured me and I read it to its end.As to its end, nearly everyone gets married and is not all that happy, except for Edmund and Fanny. Although I am not all that much in favor of first cousins marrying, it has been done in most societies and the twists and turns just before that have made the reading of this novel quite interesting.The writing style of the author is insightful not only where the characters are concerned but also with the social structure, scenery and settings, and civility and ethics requirements of the times. One thing that separates Austen’s style from that of today’s understanding of style is that author information as to Austen’s judgment is inserted quite often and especially during denouement; however, the writing is detailed and empathetic specifically where Fanny is concerned. Also, the author begins by showing a setting or an event, and then she zeroes into the characters. As such, most of the internal story is told by the author and not shown by the dialogue or other tools of fiction.Characterization is exquisite with most of the primary characters’ behaviors differing from one another.The ending is told not shown and it ends abruptly with the author saying, she is purposely not showing the details of events or the realization of the change in Edmund. “ I purposely abstain from dates on this occasion, that every one may be at liberty to fix their own, aware that the cure of unconquerable passions, and the transfer of unchanging attachments, must vary much as to time in different people. I only entreat everybody to believe that exactly at the time when it was quite natural that it should be so, and not a week earlier, Edmund did cease to care about Miss Crawford, and became as anxious to marry Fanny as Fanny herself could desire.”Unlike most readers who love Victorian or Georgian Romance Novels, I had always stayed away from them because of what I deemed as pretentiousness that turned me off. After reading Mansfield Park, however, I am getting warmed up to reading another such novel.

This book is stunning! I am glad I bought it and am slowly buying the other Jane Austen titles this publisher offers.This volume is heavy and feels lovely. It is aesthetically pleasing and I love how it looks next to the other Austen volumes.My minor quibbles are that the pages produce a glare under some artificial light and that there isn't a volume of Austen's unfinished and juvenile work. I will keep checking to see if they release one.I am thrilled to own this copy of Mansfield Park!