Mansfield Park - A Review
Posted on Feb. 20, 2008 at 3:17 PM
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Last May I finished reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.
Jane Austen lived in England from December 16, 1775 to July 18, 1817. She never married and lived with her family until her early death. She was the seventh of eight children. She had one older sister, Cassandra and six brothers. Her father was the rector of the parish in Steventon for about 40 years. She wrote several other works including, Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey. All of her works, published in her lifetime, were done so anonymously. The author of the books was known as “a Lady”. Mansfield Park was Miss Austen’s third published novel.
Miss Austen started writing Mansfield Park around 1811. And was finished in 1813. It appears that the book was first published in the year 1814. The book was three volumes in one, each 18, 13, and 17 chapters long. More modern versions of this book are usually one volume containing 48 chapters. The version I read was an Oxford Illustrated and was as like as possible to the first edition, with a few modifications from the 1816 publication.
Mansfield Park centers around a young lady named Fanny Price. Her family is in a state of great poverty so at the age of 10 she goes to live in the house of her rich uncle and his family at Mansfield Park. Fanny grows up rapidly and by Chapter 3 she has reached the age of 18, where she stays for nearly the rest of the book. Fanny is very timid among her relations when she first arrives. Sir Thomas her uncle is very stern looking, grave and reserved. His wife Lady Bertram does not frighten her - Fanny loves her. Tom and Edmund her cousins, are rather older than her and being quite tall they intimidate her. Their sisters Maria and Julia look down upon her and make her uncomfortable and Mrs. Norris, another of here aunts is always giving her too many rules and trying to make Fanny feel as low and humble as possible. After Edmund befriends her, Fanny gradually becomes much more comfortable. Tom is kind to her and Fanny is always happy to be with her Aunt Bertram. The books shows Fanny as she watches the behavior of her cousins as they prepare for marriage. She struggles as she watches and listens to the hopes and plans of the man she loves, of marrying a women whose character is deficient of the good qualities it ought to posses. The man is blind to her character deficiencies. The book ends very well.
My favorite character is Fanny Price. She is so gentle, sweet, unselfish and loving to everyone, whether it be her rather lazy Aunt Bertram, her nagging and bossy Aunt Norris, proud Mary Crawford, her beloved brother William or her kind cousin Edmund. She is always ready to do anything (as long as it is not wrong) for anyone.
I would recommend this book as highly as Sense and Sensibility and that is very high. Mansfield Park is definitely one of my new favorites!
Rebekah ~ The Lord’s Daughter
Untitled Comment
Note left by Jocelyndixon on Feb. 21, 2008 at 10:11 AM - Link
I have never read the book.. planning to soon.. but I did watch it on Masterpiece Theater and it was a wonderful. I was so giggly at the end where Edmond realizes he loves Fanny. I am not sure if it was true to the book, but I shall soon fin out!
Love
Jocelyn
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Note left by pianolove on Feb. 23, 2008 at 1:25 PM - Link
I want to read that. :)
Have you seen the BBC movie? I did a couple weeks ago. I liked it, but some of the ladies wore dresses with very low necklines.
Heather
The Insider
Note left by TheInsider on Feb. 25, 2008 at 12:24 AM - Link
Hi Rebekah!
We're just commenting on people's blogs to let them know about our HSB reporting blog. We basically report on recent, (even random) events about different bloggers and their latest posts and such. Let us know if you would like to be included in our reports (you can visit our blog for more information)...
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Note left by AuthorElf on Feb. 26, 2008 at 1:37 PM - Link
Thank you for the review. I guess you've noticed that BookFreak hasn't posted in some time. She's really depressed about the entries that she writes and doesn't think they are good. She is in need of encouragement. If you could write her a note that would be great. Just PM it to me, and I'll get it in an email and send it to her. Thanks!
~AuthorElf
Very nice :)
Note left by 15Proverbs1 on Feb. 26, 2008 at 1:46 PM - Link
That was a very nice book review. I also like Fanny she is very unselfish and loving.
I remember liking it when you read it to me. :)
I love you,
Love your sister,
Bethany
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Note left by Raora on Feb. 26, 2008 at 5:18 PM - Link
Hi! Thanks for the comment! I'll be posting on the cultural experiences I been having here soon!
Wow, I never knew Jane Austen published her books as Anonymous. That's really interesting!
Sincerely,
Raora
Thanks!
Note left by TheInsider on Feb. 27, 2008 at 12:15 PM - Link
Hello,
Thanks for the permission for reports! Hopefully The Insider will be a place you can rely on for news and events. We'll keep you in mind for future issues!
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P.S. Feel free to add us to your friends list!
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Note left by LittleSparow on Feb. 28, 2008 at 6:47 PM - Link
Hi!
I really like your blog! I'm a big fan of Jane Austen, and I enjoyed your review. Mansfield Park is one of my favorites.
SURPRISE!!!
Note left by TheInsider on Feb. 29, 2008 at 10:54 AM - Link
SURPRISE!!! You have been featured on The Insider's latest issue!
-Anne Truly, Eva Surely & John Shannon
P.S. Also, come find out what's in the URGENT WARNING section!
Oh my
Note left by SuperAngel on Mar. 1, 2008 at 11:05 PM - Link
I can't believe I didn't come comment on this... I know I read it!
We got to watch this when it was on Masterpiece Classic and I loved it! I can't wait to read the book! I hope it they made it the same!
Wonderful review! Great job!
Love,
Miss Amanda
http://superangelsblog.com
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