Tab Article

ratings: (4.4/5)
Genre: Classic Literature, Romance, Social Satire, Psychological Fiction

Book Review:
Of all Jane Austen's novels, 'Mansfield Park' is perhaps the most divisive—and the most rewarding for those willing to engage with its complexities. Its heroine, Fanny Price, is a radical departure from Austen's usual spirited, witty protagonists. She is quiet, shy, painfully vulnerable, and steadfast in her moral convictions. Some readers find her frustratingly passive, but others recognize in her a quiet strength and integrity that stands in stark contrast to the moral laxity of those around her. The novel is a profound exploration of morality and social pressure. Fanny is the still point in a turning world, and her unwavering principles are tested by the arrival of the Crawfords, two of Austen's most fascinating and ambiguous creations. Henry and Mary Crawford are charming, intelligent, and utterly captivating—but they are also morally compromised. The novel forces us to ask: what is more important, charm or goodness? Wit or integrity? Austen's irony is as sharp as ever, but it is tempered here by a deeper seriousness. This Penguin Classics edition, with Tony Tanner's superb introduction, is the definitive way to read the novel. Tanner's insights illuminate the book's themes and its place in Austen's career. 'Mansfield Park' may not be the easiest of Austen's novels, but it is one of the most thoughtful and ultimately satisfying.