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Description edit
Adultery is not a typical Jane Austen theme, but when it disturbs the relatively peaceful household at Mansfield Park, it has quite unexpected results. The diffident and much put-upon heroine Fanny Price has to struggle to cope with the results, re-examining her own feelings while enduring the... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters edit
- Fanny Price: The leading lady of the novel. A shy and meek girl with very high sensibility
- Edmund Bertram: Fanny's cousin who is very kind and loving towards her when she first came to Mansfield Park. Her best friend and very kind gentleman.
- Sir Thomas Bertram: An owner of Mansfield Park estate and Fanny's uncle, is very cold and distant and is not thought of affectionately by his children.
- Mrs. Norris: She favours Maria out of all the Bertram children and is cruel to Fanny, constantly debasing her.
- Thomas Bertram: The eldest Bertram, an impulsive and foolish man who spends beyond his means though his parents hope he'll eventually mature.
- William Price: Fanny's eldest brother, closer to her than the rest of her family. He is strong and hardworking, with much experience despite his young age. Serves for the navy.
- Maria Bertram: The eldest of Fanny's cousins. Very forward and pretty, but spoilt by her Aunt Norris.
- Julia Bertram: Maria's younger sister who is used to being second in the limelight. Can get quite jealous, likes to avoid trouble. Very pretty.
- Henry Crawford: Brother to Mary Crawford, a relentless flirt who gains the attentions of both Maria and Julia
- Mary Crawford: Sister to Henry Crawford, a vain and improper woman who has captured Edmund's heart, despite his misgivings about some of her ways.
- Susan Price: Fanny's younger sister. Aspires to be as ladylike as possible but is held back by her family's situation.
- Lady Bertram: Mother to the four Bertram children, believes herself constantly ill and is more affectionate for her dog than to the people.
- Betsey Price: Fanny's youngest sister. favored by her mother more than her sisters to the point of becoming spoiled.
- Rebecca: Maid servant at Fanny's parents' house in Portsmouth
- Mrs. Fraser: Mary Crawford goes to London to house with her and her husband. But she spoils Mary Crawford horribly.
- Mrs. Norris: Aunt to Fanny and the Bertram children. A thrifty widow who is self-centered and ambivalent towards Fanny's comfort.
- Mr. Rushworth: Engaged to Maria Bertram, is wealthy but not very intelligent.
- Mrs. Rushworth: Mr. Rushworth's mother
- Mrs. Price: Fanny's mother. partial to her boys and to her youngest daughter Betsy.
- Mr. Price: Fanny's father. distant and uncaring father. Somewhat unrefined in his behavior and speech.
- John Price: Fanny's younger brother.
- Richard Price: Fanny's younger brother.
- Sam Price: Fanny's younger brother.
- Tom Price: Fanny's brother.
- Charles Price: Fanny's brother.
- Mary Price: Younger sister of Fanny, deceased.
- Mr. Yates: Friend of Tom Bertram, a younger brother in his family. spoiled and tries to win the heart of Julia Bertram
- Mr. Grant: Husband to Mrs. Grant and the curate at Mansfield Park, is very picky with his food and habits
- Mrs. Grant: Half sister to Henry and Mary Crawford, wife of Dr. Grant
- Charles Maddox: A neighbor of the Bertams, and participant in a play the family planned.
Quotes edit
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“"But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them."”
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“To me, the sound of Mr. Bertram is so cold and nothing-meaning, so entirely without warmth or character! It just stands for a gentleman, and that's all. But there is nobleness in the name of Edmund. It is a name of heroism and renown; of kings, princes, and knights; and seems to breathe the spirit of chivalry and warm affections.”
Fanny Price -
“The nonsense and folly of people's stepping out of their rank and trying to appear above themselves makes me think it right to give you a hint, Fanny, now that you are going into company without any of us; and I do beseech and entreat you not to be putting yourself forward, and talking and giving your opinion as if you were one of your cousins - as if you were dear Mrs. Rushworth or Julia. That will never do, believe me. Remember, wherever you are, you must be the lowest and last.”
Mrs. Norris -
“...And she was willing to hope, secondly, that her uncle's displeasure was abating and would abate further as he considered the matter with more impartiality, and felt, as a good man must feel, how wretched and how unpardonable, how hopeless and how wicked, it was to marry without affection.”
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“A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.”
Setting & Locations edit
Mansfield Park, Northamptonshire, England.
- Mansfield Park: Bertrams' family abode.
- Portsmouth: The place where Prices live
- Parsonage: Aunt Norris' abode which turned into Grants' abode later.
- Thornton's Lacey: Edmund's abode after he becomes a clergyman
- Wimpole Street: Mr Rushworth's abode in London.
- Brighton: The location of Maria and Mr. Rushworth's honeymoon
- Antigua: Sir Thomas Bertram goes to Antigua on business.
First Sentence edit
About thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton, and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet's lady, with all the comforts and consequences of a handsome house and large income.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 937 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
This book is in Penguin Classics. (publisher edition list)
This book is in Wordsworth Classics. (publisher edition list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 12 of 101 in Penguin English Library. (publisher series)
This book is in Barnes & Noble Classics. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Jane Austen (Author)
Other Contributors:
- R. W. Chapman
- James Kinsley
- Kathryn Sutherland
- Jane (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Thomas Egerton, Whitehall
Country: England
Publication Date: July 1814
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 424
Publisher: Thomas Egerton, Whitehall
Country: England
Publication Date: July 1814
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 424
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PZ3.A93 M25 PR4034.M3
- Dewey: 823.7
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Project Gutenberg: Free e-book, full text
- Librivox: Free audio book read by Karen Savage (Total running time: 14:27:00)
Movie Connections edit
- Mansfield Park (1999) (IMDb): Directed by Patricia Rozema. Staring Frances O'Connor and Jonny Lee Miller
- Mansfield Park (2007) (TV) (IMDb): Staring Billie Piper and Blake Ritson
- Mansfield Park (1983) (TV) (IMDb): TV Mini-series of six episodes. Staring Sylvestra Le Touzel and Nicholas Farrell
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