Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (1814)

Jane Austen impressed me first time around with Pride and Prejudice... could the follow up novel be even better?

The author must have set out to show she had more than one good plot in her, creating a heroine whose situation and character could hardly be more different from P&P's Lizzie Bennett. The story centres around the amusingly named Fanny Price (all the more perfect for being set in a time when marriage was very transactional) who is as timid and insecure as Lizzie was determined and confident.

Placed in the care of her rich and kindly but severe uncle at the age of 10, we see Fanny grow up to be a young woman while falling in love with her cousin Edmund. Fanny and Edmund then arouse the romantic interests of Henry and Mary Crawford, a brother and sister staying with their neighbours. The Crawfords eventually prove themselves to be highly unsuitable and true love wins out, uniting the 2 cousins at the novel's close.

What was good about this book

Just as with Pride and Prejudice it's hard to believe this book was written 200 years ago, thanks to the fast pace and accessible style. The rascals of the story, the Crawfords and mean Aunt Norris, are especially well portrayed. There were some nicely unpredictable situations, and Fanny's eventual fate doesn't become clear until very near the end.

What was bad about this book

I imagine most modern readers will find it hard to warm to shy and cautious Fanny or the excessively pious and moralising Edmund. The fact that love between cousins has fallen out of favour a little over the past two centuries makes it harder to root for them getting together, and I found the selfish and careless Crawfords growing on me instead.

The ending is the worst part of the book, with the reader learning of some of the more exciting events only through letters received by Fanny rather than first hand. The happy ending is hurriedly described in a few lines and I was left feeling like I had been cheated out of another 20 pages or so. 

Lastly, despite the huge scope for innuendo arising from the name of our heroine, Austen gives us only one line to snigger over, as the womaniser Henry Crawford remarks "No, it is 'Fanny' that I think of all day, and dream of all night."

Rating 6/10 - Jane shows promise but must be more consistent in the quality of her work.

Coming Next "Our Mutual Friend" - which I have a feeling may be a little edgier.