Mansfield Park
by Jane Austen
'Mansfield Park' Summary
Fanny Price, at age ten, is sent from her impoverished home in Portsmouth to live as one of the family at Mansfield Park, the Northamptonshire country estate of her uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram. There she is mistreated by all but her elder cousin Edmund. Her aunt Norris, the wife of the clergyman at the Mansfield parsonage, makes herself particularly unpleasant.
When Fanny is fifteen, Aunt Norris is widowed and the frequency of her visits to Mansfield Park increases, as does her mistreatment of Fanny. A year later, Sir Thomas leaves to deal with problems on his plantation in Antigua, taking his spendthrift eldest son Tom. Mrs Norris, looking for a husband for Maria, finds Mr Rushworth, who is rich but weak-willed and considered stupid, and Maria accepts his proposal.
The following year, Henry Crawford and his sister, Mary, arrive at the parsonage to stay with their half-sister, the wife of the new incumbent, Dr Grant. With their fashionable London ways, they enliven life in Mansfield. Edmund and Mary then start to show interest in one another.
On a visit to Mr Rushworth's estate, Henry flirts with both Maria and Julia. Maria believes Henry is in love with her and so treats Mr Rushworth dismissively, provoking his jealousy, while Julia struggles with jealousy and resentment towards her sister. Mary is disappointed to learn that Edmund will be a clergyman and tries to undermine his vocation. Fanny fears that Mary's charms are blinding Edmund to her flaws.
After Tom returns, he encourages the young people to begin rehearsals for an amateur performance of the play Lovers' Vows. Edmund objects, believing Sir Thomas would disapprove and feeling that the subject matter of the play is inappropriate for his sisters. But after much pressure, he agrees to take on the role of the lover of the character played by Mary. The play provides further opportunity for Henry and Maria to flirt. When Sir Thomas arrives home unexpectedly, the play is still in rehearsal and is cancelled. Henry departs without explanation and Maria goes ahead with marriage to Mr Rushworth. They then settle in London, taking Julia with them. Sir Thomas sees many improvements in Fanny and Mary Crawford initiates a closer relationship with her.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1814Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors
Jane Austen
England
Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often...
Books by Jane AustenDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books
Black Folk Tales by Erick Berry
Erick Berry's collection of 13 Hausa folktales from Nigeria offers a captivating glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the region. Originally enc...
My School Days by E. Nesbit
This memoir by E. Nesbit offers a glimpse into the author's formative years. It details her experiences at school, including her relationships with te...
Tom Swift in Captivity by Victor Appleton
Tom Swift in Captivity, or, A Daring Escape by Airship, is Volume 13 in the original Tom Swift novel series published by Grosset & Dunlap. The work wa...
Guerra de la Independencia: Extractada para uso de los niños by Benito Pérez Galdós
This book, an adaptation of the first ten volumes of Benito Pérez Galdós's *Episodios Nacionales*, presents a simplified and accessible narrative of t...
The Iliad for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church
Echoing Homer’s epic poem The Iliad, Church offers a simplified rendering of the classic siege of Troy, as he retells the story which is regarded as o...
Little Homer's Slate by Eugene Field
Eugene Field's "Little Homer's Slate" is a whimsical poem collection centered around a young boy's adventures and mishaps. Field&#...
Molly Brown's Sophomore Days by Nell Speed
Molly Brown's Sophomore Days follows Molly as she navigates the complexities of her second year at Wellington University. She finds herself facing bo...
My Very Own Fairy Stories by Johnny Gruelle
In the enchanted realm of "My Very Own Fairy Stories" by Johnny Gruelle, whispers of magic and tales spun from dreams come to life. Imagine a world wh...
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Set in nineteenth century New England, Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters-Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg. The novel is a classic rites of...
Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
This book presents a collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen, a renowned Danish author. Published in 1884, it includes both well-known an...
Reviews for Mansfield Park
No reviews posted or approved, yet...