Mansfield Park Read-along, the last

Edmond finally realizes that he loves Fanny.

The end. I have completed Mansfield Park and now I can say that I have read all of Jane Austen's books. Sigh! I couldn't stop myself at 50 pages this week.

Action: Fanny is at her parent's home in Portsmouth. She sees flaws in both her parents that she didn't realize existed. She is especially disappointed with her mother who is a poor manager of the household. Her only ally is her sister Susan since her older brothers have left for the Navy. She is very homesick for Mansfield Park and recognizes that she now thinks of it as home, not here with her family. Henry shows up for a visit and stays a few days.  He is charming and not too pushy. His motives and actions actually seem to have improved and Fanny softens a bit toward him. When he leaves, he promises that he is a changed person and will wait for her to come around. He is in love and will prove himself. But not long after he leaves, Fanny receives a letter from Mary asking her to ignore all the gossip about Henry and Mariah Rushworth. Then a newspaper article hits Portsmouth that details the affair: Henry and Mariah have run off together, breaking up Mariah's marriage. Not long after letters from Mansfield Park and from London fill her in on the details. These letters include alarming information about Tom's poor health. Poor Fanny is stuck in Portsmouth and cannot help anyone. Eventually Edmond comes to get Fanny. He tells her that he has broken things off with Mary because he realized he had been blinded to her real personality by her charms and looks. Finally, in the course of time, Edmond realizes that he loves Fanny. They wed and live....in the parsonage (you thought I was going to say, "happily ever after.")

Surprises: After Henry leaves Portsmouth, the majority of the action is captured in letters to/from Fanny. Even though she is the heroine of this story, she is on the sidelines for most of the action. In some ways it felt like Austen was trying to finish up the story and just wanted to speed things along. Austen also inserts herself as the author into the narration. For example, when Austen refers to the time period that passes before Edmond realizes that he loves Fanny, she says, "I purposely abstain from dates on this occasion..." It is an interesting literary device that I've noticed Austen uses in several of her books, it gives the feeling of hurrying the plot along. Just when we, the modern reader, think we are getting to the good stuff about Edmond and Fanny's love we are almost dismissed by statements like this:

I only entreat everybody to believe that exactly at the time when it was quite natural that it should be so, and not a week earlier, Edmond did cease to care about Mary Crawford, and became as anxious to marry Fanny as Fanny herself could desire.

Sigh. I wanted a few more lovey-dovey details than that! I knew to expect this rather abrupt ending to Mansfield Park because I had read the ending before I finished the book. Overall, however, the reading experience was very satisfying. It was very Austenesque. For the past few weeks I've been able to live alongside Fanny Price, having been transported back to the Regency time period by one of the world's truly great authors, Jane Austen.

Read-along fun. I want to encourage you, my reader, to consider joining me for my next read-along. It is a fun way to read the classics in small, weekly, bite-sized pieces that make the task quite doable. If you want to join me and want to weigh in on my selection, leave me a note in the comment section or send me an e-mail. I am leaning toward Middlemarch by Eliot or something by Dickens. But I could probably be persuaded to read some other classic if you will join me. Let me know.

If you'd like to book back on my previous updates/installments, follow the links:

• Mansfield Park Read-along begins -- Introduction
• Mansfield Park -- First Installment (50 pages)
• Mansfield Park -Second Installment
• Mansfield Park -- Third Installment
• Mansfield Park -- Half-Way Point
• Mansfield Park -- Fifth Installment
• Mansfield Park Read-Along, the 6th
• Last installment and conclusion -- you are reading it here.

Mansfield Park Read-along, the sixth

Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park, Miramax Films 1999

We are over 3/4th of the way through our read-along of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I'm actually not sure if anyone has joined me on this reading adventure but I am sure enjoying it, whether you are with me or not. Plus, I hope that you are enjoying my weekly updates.

50+ page goal met. Yes, I read over 50 pages this week. (Hope I am not leaving anyone in the dust! Ha!). I am up to XXXVIII. (I just love Roman numerals.)

Action: Henry Crawford asks Fanny to marry him and she refuses. Sir Thomas Bertram, her uncle, tries to talk her into marrying Henry. She still refuses. Edmond tries to convince her, though he tells her she shouldn't marry if she doesn't love Henry. Mary Crawford tries to convince Fanny to change her mind by telling Fanny what a catch Henry is and how many other women are chasing him. Edmond confesses to Fanny how much he loves Mary Crawford and implies that he will seek her hand. Fanny is miserable. When William once again comes for a visit, Sir Bertram decides that Fanny should visit her parents in Portsmouth, since she has an escort home in William, thinking that a few months of living with their poverty might help her change her mind about marrying Henry.

Surprises: I was surprised that Sir Bertram seemed more perplexed than angry about Fanny's refusal to marry Henry. Both Mansfield Park movies show him very angry with Fanny. In the 1999 version, it is this anger that causes him to send Fanny home to her parents making her even more wretched. I was also shocked by Mary's entreaty of Fanny to reconsider. It really was delivered in a gentler and kinder way than I would have expected. I am not surprised by how much I enjoy reading Austen, even this not-so-well-known book.

Quote: Fanny to Mary, about Henry:

I am persuaded that he does not think as he ought on serious subjects.

Mansfield Park Read-along, the fifth installment

Fanny Price with Henry Crawford at the dance.
Illustration by WC Brock

Mansfield Park Read-along is designed to break the book into bite-sized pieces suitable to easy reading and enjoyment.

50+ page goal met? Yes, to the end of Chapter XXX.

Action: Fanny's brother, William, is visiting Mansfield Park on leave from the Navy. The Bertrams attend a dinner party hosted by the Grants. Lady Bertram shows her true colors when she cannot play even the simplest card game and required Henry Crawford to tell her what cards to play every turn. As William's visit nears its end, Sir Thomas decides that it is high time for Fanny to come out and he decides to host a dance in her honor. Both Mary Crawford and Edmond give Fanny gold chains to wear with the amber cross given to her by her brother. The whole rest of the section is devoted to preparations for the dance, the dance, and the aftermath of the dance. Henry Crawford was quite devoted to Fanny the whole evening. The next day Henry and William leave for London where William will join back up with his unit. When Henry returns several days later he confesses to his sister how much he loves Fanny. He admits that he didn't start out with pure motives but he is now besotted by Fanny.

Surprises: Both Mansfield Park movies spend quite a bit of time on the dance and on Henry's attentions to Fanny Price. What surprised me was his lengthy revelation to his sister about how much he loves Fanny and how his motives toward her have changed from the beginning. I suppose that the movies don't have time for true love confessions but it explains a lot. Henry is no longer just trying to make a little hole in Fanny's heart, he is setting himself up for a broken heart himself. Of all Austen's Cads I have always liked Henry the best and after reading chapter 30 where he makes his true confessions it makes me like him even better.

Quote:
Henry to his sister, Mary...

'Yes, Mary,' said he, drawing her arm within his, and walking along the sweep as if not knowing where he was---'I could not get away sooner---Fanny looked so lovely! I am quite determined, Mary. My mind is entirely made up. Will it astonish you? No: you must be aware that I am quite determined to marry Fanny Price.'

Mansfield Park Read-along, half-way point

The Mansfield Park Read-along is an opportunity to read a favorite book at a pace that is doable each week. Join me.

Read 50+ pages. Goal accomplished this week. I have read up to Chapter XXV.

Action in this section: Sir Thomas Bertrand returned from Antigua before the group could put on their play, Lovers' Vows. He was not interested in allowing them to continue with their endeavor and within a few days of his arrival home the while stage was dismantled and the cast dispersed. Mr. Yates left to seek his dramatic talents elsewhere and Henry Crawford left for Bath. Maria Bertrand was quite distraught about his departure and within a few days of his leaving was more determined than ever to marry Mr. Rushworth to spite him. Once the wedding took place she and her sister Julia moved to Sotherton, the Rushworth estate ten miles from Mansfield Park. Later Julia joined her sister as she honeymooned in Brighton. Now Fanny was the only young female at home and Lady Bertram depended on her more than ever. Mary Crawford also befriended Fanny and invited her over to the parsonage often, much to Mrs. Norris' consternation. One night when Fanny and Edmond were invited to dine with the Grants and Mary Crawford they found that Henry had returned from Bath. At that time Henry made up his mind to make Fanny Price fall in love with him and to cause just a small hole in her heart. In the last chapter in this section we are introduced to William Price, Fanny's dear brother, home on leave from the Navy.

Surprises: this sections explains many of my questions I have had from viewing the film adaptations of the book. I often wondered why Sir Thomas Bertram was so uncaring toward his children when he returned from West Indies; Why Maria married Mr. Rushworth so soon after her father's return; and what was Henry Crawford's motivation for flirting with Fanny. Mr. Bertram isn't the monster that the films make him out to be; Maria Bertrand was in a rush to marry Mr. Rushworth because she had her feelings hurt by Henry when he quitted the parish so abruptly; and Henry clearly liked the idea of having everyone in love with him and enjoyed the chase and the challenge. He just didn't understand the determination inside Fanny to resist him.

Favorite quotes:
Mr. Rushworth to Sir Bertrand---

'If I must say what I think,' continued Mr. Rushworth, 'in my opinion it is very disagreeable to be always rehearsing. It is having too much a good thing. I am not so fond of acting as I was at first. I think we are a great deal better employed, sitting comfortably here among ourselves, and doing nothing.'

No wonder everyone thought he was a very dull fellow.

Edmond to Fanny in reference to a compliment that her uncle paid her---

'You must really begin to harden yourself to the idea of being worth looking at. You must try not to mind growing up into a pretty woman.' 

Mansfield Park Read-Along, the third

Mansfield Park, illustration by C.E. Brock, shows Fanny sewing away under the direction of her aunt, Mrs. Norris

Mansfield Park read-a-long is a chance to read a classic book by a favorite author in bite-sized pieces making it doable for the average reader like me.  It is not too late to join in. Grab a book or download it for free on your Kindle and let's go.  Here is the intro to the read-along.

1. Page goal met? Almost. I read 51 pages, breaking at the end of chapter XVIII.

2. The action in this section mainly center around the return of Tom Bertrand and his friend Mr. Yates who are determined to act out a play, Lovers Vows. Edmond is determined to thwart the attempts his older brother makes to put on the play saying their father most certainly wouldn't approve. Yet he eventually decides that he will join the cast. Great jealousy is developing between sisters Maria and Julia because of the obvious preference that Mr. Crawford shows toward the elder sister. No one except Fanny will rehearse with Maria's fiance, Mr. Rushworth, even though he has two and forty speeches. Mrs. Norris and Tom both are tremendously unkind toward Fanny because she refuses to join the cast of actors. Even though Fanny won't join in she is indispensable for all the preparations, making costumes, rehearsing lines, running errands.
It is in this section that we learn about how unkind Mrs. Norris has been to Fanny ever since she entered the house over eight years before, not allowing her a bedroom among the family members or even allowing for a fire in her grate.

3. Surprises in this section? No real surprises but I was struck by two things.The first being how "small" the lives of folks living in the Regency period when Austen was alive. They worried about the appropriateness of putting on a play just for themselves and they could only include people who were also from the gentry class. The second thing that struck me was how tedious this section was to read. I kept thinking, "No wonder this is Austen's least favored book."

4. Which brings to mind this question, was life during Austen's life really like this? Days and days of preparations for an event that would serve as entertainment only for themselves? I try to think what life would be like with no TV, radios, movies, phones, computers. We would be forced to make our own entertainment, wouldn't we?

Mansfield Park read-a-long, the second

Mansfield Park read-a-long is a chance to read a classic book by a favorite author in bite-sized pieces making it doable for the average reader like me.  It is not too late to join in. Grab a book or download it for free on your Kindle and let's go.  Here is the intro to the read-a-long.

1. My goal is to read 52 pages each week (your page count will be different according to the edition of the book you are using.) Was the goal met? Yes, up to the beginning of chapter XII.

2. What has happened so far? Mary Crawford is worming her way into Edmund's heart. Austen goes so far as to say that he is falling in love. Fanny feels slighted and ignored. She seems to like Mary but also appears to be jealous. Mary's harp has finally been delivered and everyone enjoys hearing her play. Maria Bertrand is engaged to Mr. Rushmore but she actually has her eye on Henry Crawford, as does her sister, Julia. There appears to be a competition between the two sisters for his attentions. They made a day trip to visit Mr. Rushton's estate which seemed to delight Mrs. Norris more than anyone else.

3. Surprises? Fanny does not whine or complain but she seems to be a bit of a wimp. She tires out during a walk and has to sit while others walk on. She gets faint after four days of not being able to ride her horse. The movie pays just as much attention to Henry as to his sister, Mary. This section of the book is mainly about Mary and how she is ingratiating herself to Edmond.

4.A question- Does anyone else have trouble with Austen's writing style here? I found several occasions where I couldn't figure out who was speaking.

Mansfield Park Read-a-long, the first

A slightly silly cover for Mansfield Park since Fanny and her cousins are only young for a few pages of the book.

Mansfield Park Read-a-long is a chance to read a classic book by a favorite author in bite-sized pieces making it doable for the average reader like me.  It is not too late to join in. Grab a book or download it for free on your Kindle and let's go.  Here is the intro to the read-a-long.

1. My goal was to read 52 pages each week (your page count will be different according to the edition of the book you are using.) Did I make this goal? No. I am on page 41 which is in the middle of chapter 5.

2. What has happened so far? We meet the Bertram family and learn why they invite their niece, Fanny Price, to live with them. She is neglected and friendless until cousin Edmond comes to her rescue. As the years pass she still views herself as inferior to the rest of the family. Fanny is now 18 and we have just met Mary and Henry Crawford, who are quite full of themselves.

3. Surprises? There were lots of differences between the book and the movies made from it. For one thing there is more information about about the sisters---Mrs. Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price. They had a falling out over Mrs. Price marrying below herself so they didn't communicate for many years. Not until she was pregnant for the ninth time did she write her sisters and ask for help. She wanted to send her eldest son off to the Navy, instead the older sisters asked her to send them Fanny.

One other thing that surprises me is how much of the story has already happened and I am only 1/10 of the way through the book. It seems like the movie is already over 1/4th over at this point. Based on this I think I will encounter many parts of the book that I will not be familiar with at all in future weeks.

4.A question I've wondered as I read this section. Did Jane Austen really like Fanny Price? She seems so docile compared to her other heroines. The author of the Introduction, Amanda Clayburgh, suggested that Austen probably actually liked Mary Crawford better because she had more of Austen's personality.

See you next week. I will try to catch up on this week's unread pages so that I will be back on track.

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen read-a-long starts today

Barnes and Noble Classics edition

Two years ago, if anyone had asked me, I would have told them that I had read all of Jane Austen's books. I think I thought that because I was so familiar with the stories because I owned all of the Austen films and mini-series on DVD. I couldn't actually remember reading Emma, Mansfield Park, or Sense and Sensibility but I thought I must have read them because I was such a big fan. Then I accepted a reading challenge over at Roof Beam Reader to read Austen in August (or some such titled challenge) and I decided to reread Emma.  The only thing was, as I started reading it, I realized that I was actually reading it for the first time. As I inched along it became apparent that I needed some incentive to cause me to read Emma faster. At the pace I was going it would take me something like ten years to read the whole book. Ha! Thus the Emma Read-a-long was born. Within six weeks I had finished the book and enjoyed it immensely, I might add. I attacked Sense and Sensibility next using the same read-a-long format and finished it in less than five weeks.

Now, today, begins my last Austen read-a-long with Mansfield Park. Join me. I'd love the company.



Here is the format I will use:

1. Divide your book into eight sections. Mine is 412 pages long so 1/8th of that is roughly 52 pages. That is my weekly page goal.
2. Ask yourself, as you read along, what is the main action of the section?
3. Next, if you are as familiar as I am with the Mansfield Park DVDs, see if you can find something surprising in the section. For me this generally means that there is some action/dialogue/character not included in the movie.
4. Lastly ask yourself a question about the section. It can be any thought that comes to your mind. For example, perhaps you will wonder why Austen didn't speak up more about the political issues of the day or what treatments for alcoholism existed at that time. You don't have to answer them unless you want to. Just ask and ponder. It makes the reading more active.
5. I will post a weekly update here at headfullofbooks. If you want to blog about this on your site, but leave me your web address so I can visit your site, too.

And we're off with the first line...

     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.

The edition I will be reading from:
Austen, Jane. Mansfield Park. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2004. Print.