Verily magazine once published an amusing ranking of Jane Austen men (which I’m unable to dig back up, alas). Mr. Darcy, of course, held up nicely, as did Emma’s Mr. Knightley. Edmund Bertram, of Mansfield Park fame, did not fare well, but despite its main male character’s shortcomings, this Austen novel claims the first spot in my list of her works. Regrettably, this lengthy tale is heartily disliked by many readers, with its uninspiring male characters and a (seemingly) weak leading lady. The supporting characters have significantly more charm but are shallow and immoral. With these apparent flaws, who can blame the novel’s detractors for their distaste? Take a closer look, though, and we shall see how this Austen masterpiece brings us a worthy heroine, a despicable villain, and some pointed observations of human nature.
Dear Fanny Price — what are we to do with her? Sent at a young age to live with her rich Bertram relations, Fanny is taken from all she knows and loves and placed in their imposing country estate, Mansfield Park. There, she comes into her own while dealing with four dramatically different cousins, an oppressive uncle, and two ridiculous aunts. She’s painfully shy, easily fatigued, and can seem prudish. With Fanny, though, it’s important to dig much deeper into her character and background to uncover who she truly is. As I wrote back in 2020:
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