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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
slow-paced
I first read this book in July 2024, and I very fittingly reread it in July 2025. My rating has gone up from 4* to 4.25*, which admittedly isn't a big jump, but it feels like one considering how many people think of this as Jane Austen's worst novel. Since I read a different edition this time, I get a second chance at writing a review, but I reread my review from last year and it is surprisingly good, so I'm going to copy and paste that below. My new reflections from this read will follow it. I still agree with everything I wrote back then (except that I have since reread Sense and Sensibility and Emma, and loved the former but not the latter).
First read: 4* (July 2024)
First read: 4* (July 2024)
"Here’s harmony!" said she; "here’s repose! Here’s what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only can attempt to describe! Here’s what may tranquilise every care, and lift the heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night as this, I feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of nature were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by contemplating such a scene."
Mansfield Park has such a burden to bear within the legacy of Jane Austen's works, published in between Pride & Prejudice and Emma, two of her most beloved books. Fanny Price only worsens this burden: she's a weak-willed and quiet girl, less of a heroine than any of Austen's other protagonists. And yet I would argue that she is also the strength of the novel. Fanny, excluded from the rest of the cast, illustrates how privilege and wealth can dehumanise people, while still allowing them to feel inherently superior. Here, Austen presents some of her most unlikeable side characters (and there are a lot in her books, it's one of her strengths!), unlikeable to the point that they poison the tone and atmosphere of the whole book. It is difficult sometimes to read about the way Fanny is treated, and then her failure to react, especially since the pace is so slow.
However, this makes Fanny all the more remarkable. As the other characters are warped and twisted by one another, she persists. Her strength of character is not in her wit and charm, as with other Austen heroines, but in her sheer persistence and goodwill, traits that go unnoticed for much of the book. Some of my favourite scenes of the book were ones such as that quoted above, where Fanny draws happiness from the world around her. She is so lovely and sweet, and her sweetness does penetrate the vileness of the other characters, even if it sometimes seems as though it never will. Persuasion is my favourite Austen book, and it is often seen as her most mature and reflective work. No wonder, then, that I enjoyed Fanny's innocent ruminations as well.
My main gripe with the book was that I wished
Second read: 4.25* (July 2025)
Last year, I wrote quite a thoughtful review about the merits of Fanny Price. I still think that one of the main reasons I love the book is because Fanny is gentle and lovely and sees the good in things despite despite despite. However, I do want to be a touch more critical this time, by saying that certain aspects of the book that are intended to be its best features, are not in fact why I like it so much.
Lucy Worsley argues that Sense and Sensibility is the modern reader's least favourite Austen novel, but I think that title goes to Mansfield Park. It is easily, in my opinion, the least subversive and the most conservative of her work, particularly when we look at Edmund as a love interest. In a way, Edmund almost raises Fanny to be his perfect wife, which is gross on multiple levels. Her aunts have raised her to be the perfect assistant. One of the final lessons of the book is a sort of found family message which suggests that Fanny has chosen her family at Mansfield Park, as opposed to her biological mother and siblings, who are much poorer and have worse manners. This doesn't work for me!
That is the crux of why I find it so difficult to verbalise what I love about this book. I do still like Fanny as a protagonist, regardless of how passive she is compared to every other Austen heroine. This time, however, I had a lot more fun with all the drama. There is so much scandal going on, and it's fun! I don't know if I can frame that in a more intellectual way. It's entertaining! Fanny has an unwanted love interest, and he is also a blast. I know it's slow and long and whatever, but I had a great time.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sicuramente non il mio preferito della Austen. Fanny è un po' una balla al piede, molto moralista. Ma la zia Norris è davvero la rovina del libro, che per fortuna alla fine si prende quello che si merita.
E sorvoliamo sul matrimonio tra cugini
Like, I get it but lord that was not it. Love you Miss Austen, but this one was rough.
3.5
honestly my least favorite austen (but that doesn’t really mean much objectively because i still enjoyed the book)
felt a little too long for me, i severely disliked edmund and fanny’s pairing but knew it was coming since the beginning of the book and if was resolved well maybe i’d have enjoyed it but it read so much like a sister-brother relationship and then they got married within the last few pages. also disliked pretty much all of the characters. but i thought it was a good commentary on hypocrisy + nature vs nurture, and i enjoyed the irony of it all
honestly my least favorite austen (but that doesn’t really mean much objectively because i still enjoyed the book)
felt a little too long for me, i severely disliked edmund and fanny’s pairing but knew it was coming since the beginning of the book and if was resolved well maybe i’d have enjoyed it but it read so much like a sister-brother relationship and then they got married within the last few pages. also disliked pretty much all of the characters. but i thought it was a good commentary on hypocrisy + nature vs nurture, and i enjoyed the irony of it all
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes