

Loading... Mansfield Park (1814)by Jane Austen
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Digital audiobook narrated by Johanna Ward Miss Fanny Price is taken in by her rich relation, Sir Thomas Bertram, and his wife as an act of charity. Her family is poor and with seven children, resources are simply stretched too thin. Fanny is a quiet, sensible, obedient little thing, and grows into a quiet, sensible, graceful young woman. Her two cousins, Sir Thomas’s daughters Maria and Julia treat her well, but are far more interested in their own prospects. And there are several eligible, if not completely suitable, young men in the neighborhood. Ah, but I love spending time with Austen. Fanny is perhaps the ideal heroine, and reportedly Austen’s own favorite among her heroines. She is intelligent and thoughtful, pretty and graceful, keeps her own counsel, is modest and principled, and still has a loving heart. A couple of the gentlemen in the area seem interested in Fanny – she is very pretty, after all, and Sir Thomas is bound to leave her some money. But Fanny would rather be alone than marry a man she cannot love and respect. There is a certain predictable pattern to Austen’s novels, and this one is no exception. Our heroine will remain true to herself, and love will triumph. Johanna Ward does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. She brings Austen’s witty dialogue to life. I love this book even though almost nothing happened in it :D All the characters had faults and I don't think the reader will like any of them very much, but I had so much fun reading about their interactions. It is about a group of young men and women who live at or close to the high-end country estate of Mansfield Park. This is basically a book about how these young people interacted with one another. The main female character Fanny was a cousin of the Mansfield Park family. She was from a poor background. Everyone else was well-off. There are chapters and chapters that focus on the things they said or the walks they took (and of course the things they said during the walks.) Fanny held an unrequited love for one of the young men, who in turn was devoted to another young woman, Miss Crawford who Fanny thought didn't deserve his admiration. One thing happened after another and in the next-to-last chapter, the characters came to a state of quiet regret, helplessness and misery. If the story ended there, I think it would have been a better book. It would have been realistic and thought-provoking. The Crawford siblings are interesting characters. But the author gave us a happy ending at the last chapter. It was satisfying to see affections returned, and wrongdoings repented, but I'm having such a hard time believing things actually happened the way the author said they did lol In its tone and discussion of religion and religious duty, it is the most serious of Austen’s novels. The heroine, Fanny Price, is a self-effacing and unregarded cousin cared for by the Bertram family in their country house. Fanny’s moral strength eventually wins her complete acceptance by the Bertram family and marriage to Edmund Bertram himself. Belongs to Publisher SeriesClub Victòria (5) — 25 more Everyman's Library (23) Flipback (Classics 2) insel taschenbuch (1503) Modern Library Giant (isbn) Oxford English Novels (1814) Penguin Clothbound Classics (2011) Penguin English Library, 2012 series (2012-10) Prisma Klassieken (74) Virago Modern Classics (345) Is contained inEmma / Mansfield Park / Northanger Abbey / Persuasion / Pride and Prejudice / Sense and Sensibility / Lady Susan by Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility / Pride and Prejudice / Mansfield Park / Emma / Northanger Abbey / Persuasion by Jane Austen Folio Society Jane Austen Set (Seven volume set: Emma; Mansfield Park; Northanger Abbey; Persuasion; Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility; Shorter Works) by Jane Austen Emma/Mansfield Park/Northanger Abbey/Persuasion/Pride and Prejudice/Sense and Sensibility AND Catharine/Lady Susan/Sanditon/The Watsons by Jane Austen Is retold inHas the (non-series) sequelHas the adaptationIs parodied inIs replied to inInspiredHas as a studyHas as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guide
Mansfield Park is the study of three families--the Bertrams, the Crawfords, and the Prices. The story's heroine, Fanny Price, is at its center. She is adopted into the family of her rich uncle Thomas Bertram, and is condescendingly treated as a poor relation by "Aunt Norris." Of her cousins, only Edmund, a young clergyman, appreciates her fine qualities, and she falls in love with him. Unfortunately, however, he is drawn to the shallow and worldly Mary Crawford. Fanny's quiet passivity, steadfast loyalty, and natural goodness are matched against the wit and brilliance of her lovely rival. Jane Austen skillfully uses her characters' emotional relationships to explore the social and moral values by which they attempt to order their lives. No library descriptions found.
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![]() GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.7 — Literature English {except North American} English fiction Early 19th century 1800-37LC ClassificationRatingAverage:![]()
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Fanny herself has also grown on me. She is often described as meek and mild and maddeningly won't ever put herself first. But I didn't see her that way on this reading. I saw that she is quiet and introverted and has been taught that her opinion isn't wanted, but her interior comments are quite perceptive and intelligent. And humanizing her even more, her interior thoughts, when revealed, are often self-centered, can be petty, and stubborn. I like this.
I happily look forward to my next rereading of this book. (