desertcart.com: Mansfield Park (Penguin Classics): 9780141439808: Austen, Jane, Sutherland, Kathryn, Sutherland, Kathryn, Sutherland, Kathryn: Books Review: Deep, dark & often deliciously funny - Re-reading Jane Austen is one of the most rewarding things in life. I thought I knew Mansfield Park, having read it years ago. But the novel surprised and enthralled me all over again. In Mansfield Park, first published in 1814, everyone pretty much gets what he or she deserves. And there's something tremendously satisfying about that. The timid heroine, Fanny Price, is brought to Mansfield Park at age ten to relieve her struggling parents of a mouth to feed. She's destined to be the invisible, insignificant, useful, poor relation living by charity in the grand household of her uncle Sir Thomas Bertram, his wife and their two sons and two daughters. As the lowest and least among them, Fanny becomes a keen observer of human nature. And while her own feelings are constantly getting trampled upon or ignored, she develops tremendous compassion for everyone, even those who despise her. All the wrong people fall in love with each other, and Fanny is no exception. Mansfield Park is a feast of love tangles, power struggles and shocking behavior over money and position. I won't say anything about the plot, except that it's complex and utterly engrossing - or the characters, except that they're a wonderful mix of witty, worldly, naïve, infuriating, endearing and absurd. The introduction (best read last) more than fulfilled my desire for scholarly insights. Among other things, June Sturrock draws a compelling parallel between Sir Thomas's domestic tyranny and his slave plantation, uncovers depths of character in Fanny beneath her quiet exterior - and cleverly analyzes the curious prose style of the novel's ending. Whether you're reading this novel for the first time or replacing a tattered old copy, I'd definitely recommend the Broadview edition of Mansfield Park. Review: A Relationships story of the British Uppercrust through Austen's Keen Insight - 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.
| Best Sellers Rank | #18,848 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #70 in Teen & Young Adult Classic Literature #370 in Classic Literature & Fiction #924 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (11,439) |
| Dimensions | 7.84 x 5.05 x 0.96 inches |
| Edition | Reissue |
| ISBN-10 | 0141439807 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0141439808 |
| Item Weight | 13.1 ounces |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 544 pages |
| Publication date | April 29, 2003 |
| Publisher | Penguin Classics |
| Reading age | 18 years and up |
P**O
Deep, dark & often deliciously funny
Re-reading Jane Austen is one of the most rewarding things in life. I thought I knew Mansfield Park, having read it years ago. But the novel surprised and enthralled me all over again. In Mansfield Park, first published in 1814, everyone pretty much gets what he or she deserves. And there's something tremendously satisfying about that. The timid heroine, Fanny Price, is brought to Mansfield Park at age ten to relieve her struggling parents of a mouth to feed. She's destined to be the invisible, insignificant, useful, poor relation living by charity in the grand household of her uncle Sir Thomas Bertram, his wife and their two sons and two daughters. As the lowest and least among them, Fanny becomes a keen observer of human nature. And while her own feelings are constantly getting trampled upon or ignored, she develops tremendous compassion for everyone, even those who despise her. All the wrong people fall in love with each other, and Fanny is no exception. Mansfield Park is a feast of love tangles, power struggles and shocking behavior over money and position. I won't say anything about the plot, except that it's complex and utterly engrossing - or the characters, except that they're a wonderful mix of witty, worldly, naïve, infuriating, endearing and absurd. The introduction (best read last) more than fulfilled my desire for scholarly insights. Among other things, June Sturrock draws a compelling parallel between Sir Thomas's domestic tyranny and his slave plantation, uncovers depths of character in Fanny beneath her quiet exterior - and cleverly analyzes the curious prose style of the novel's ending. Whether you're reading this novel for the first time or replacing a tattered old copy, I'd definitely recommend the Broadview edition of Mansfield Park.
J**L
A Relationships story of the British Uppercrust through Austen's Keen Insight
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.
C**N
Reviews call this the darkest of Austen's novels. It has a psychological dept that her other books, lighter and more satyrical, lack. A good insight on trauma, love and honor.
H**I
Ich habe dieses Buch gewählt (in Englisch - meine zweite Muttersprache), weil ich ein großer Fan von Jane Austen bin. Da ich es zuletzt in meiner Jugend gelesen hatte, wollte ich es einfach gern noch einmal lesen und war wieder angetan über die Art und Weise, wie uns Jane Austen die Menschen der damaligen "höheren" Schicht und ihre Doppelmoral darbringt. Die Sprache natürlich vom Feinsten, wenn man das alte noch sehr elegante Englisch mag. Sicherlich aber mehr ein Buch für Frauen, die gern über Liebe und Leiden lesen mögen. H. Redington-Narewski
P**E
On retrouve des thématiques chères à Austen, entre une vieille tante méchante avaricieuse qui rappellera (en encore plus mesquin) la Fanny de Raison et Sentiments; une pauvre mère (celle de l'héroïne) qui donne littéralement sa fille pour qu'elle ait un futur; un amour entre deux personnes de rang inégal (quoique) et enfin, un beau mariage pour une jeune fille méritante, au caractère trempé, à la morale inflexible, mais à la timidité bien d'époque. Admirable dans la manière dont le récit est cadré, et ambiance délicieuse. Enfin, excellente édition pas chère et de qualité, permettant d'acheter et de racheter les volumes, dans le cadre de voyages.
N**I
ジュリエット・スティーブンソンによる『マンスフィールド・パーク』の 朗読ＣＤ（完全版：Unabridged）について。 ＣＤ14枚で約16時間50分。 ジュリエット・スティーブンソンの声はクリアでとても聞きやすいです。 また皮肉っているところなどは、くすっと笑わずにはいられないほど、です。 登場人物毎に声や話し方を変えるので、聞いているうちに情景が目に浮かぶようです。 さらにそれぞれの人のやさしさやずるさなど、色々なものが聞いているうちに、 すっと心に入ってきます。 声の強弱や力の入れ方などが巧みで、はらはらどきどきしながら 「この先、どうなるのだろう？」と聞いています。 朗読者の声や話し方、スピードなどが不安であれば、版元のNaxos AudioBooksで 試聴できるので、そちらでまずはお試し下さい。 なお、硬い紙箱の中に、厚紙で１枚ずつ包装されています。 ジュリエット・スティーブンソンの朗読はとても聞きやすいので、オススメします。
A**R
wonderful read. I love the characters. Jane has turned ordinary people into snarks, louts, borderlines, and a few quite lovely people.
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