Next on our Jane Austen special, we'll be talking about Mansfield Park, one of the less well known books. Our heroine is a poor, plain girl named Fanny Price, who is sent to her rich aunt and uncle, the Bertrams, because her family has too many kids and not enough money to feed them all. Fanny becomes a sort of servant, but recieves no wages, merely a room and meals. She is treated with some form of civility by most of the family, but her cousin Edmund becomes a true friend and, as so many young girls do, she fell in love with him as they grew up. [Marrying cousins was ok then, don't worry]. But like so many men, Edmund is entirely blind to her feelings. He loves her as his best friend, but that's where it ends. When some new neighbors come a-calling, interesting things begin to happen. Miss Crawford catches Edmund's eye, and who does he confess his growing admiration and affection to? Why, his best friend Fanny, who else? Poor girl has to suffer through that, plus seeing what Mr. Crawford is doing to Edmund's sisters, one of whom is engaged to be married, though you couldn't tell from her behavior. Then she gets married, and Mr. Crawford turns his attentions to Fanny! Poor child, she's the only one who has any sense in the whole family. Everybody encourages her to accept him, but she knows what he is really like, and...ugh! I won't tell you what happens there, but a lot of family catastrophes go on and people begin to realize what we already knew: that Fanny is the only one with any sort of sense or brains, and they can rely on her to keep things calm and settled. She's treated better FINALLY. The end.
Oh, of COURSE that's not all, but you didn't really think I'd tell you details did you? Get up and get the book for yourself! It's fantastic!
The original movie version from the 80s. Quite good, but VERY 80s.
A more recent version, which might be my favorite. Isn't Fanny cute?
An even mroe recent version from the BBC. I like it, but Edmund isn't as cool as I wished.
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