Mansfield Park

I enjoyed visiting the civility of Miss Austin's 1814 society.
It took a few pages to get used to the style of a different
century but armed with a good dictionary, I enjoyed her
with alacrity. The periodic illustrations by Hugh Thomson
were a felicitous complement to the words.

Fanny, the heroine, is quietly observant. She is rescued
from her lower society upbringing to live with her relatives
in Mansfield Park but the difference in her rank is not
forgotten. Her disposition and principles far exceed that of
her benefactors and this provides ample room for Austin's
wit and satire.

Love interests abound, as well as scandal and disgrace but
Austin romantically ties the package together.

As most readers, I felt akin to Fanny for "her own
thoughts and reflections were habitually her best
companions." I like Fanny and her writer for their
introspections. I like that although Fanny was overlooked
at first, in the course of time, her value was eventually
realized. In doing this for Fanny, I believe that Austin
wrote for the quiet, unassuming women of the world and
gave them their happy ending.

I loved the subtle change in Fanny, for although she is
written as though she is faultless, she does have one thing
to overcome and by the end of the last chapter, she
learned it well.

I loved being at Mansfield Park and now that I have left, I
miss it too.