Character Will Out

What made the experience of listening to Mansfield Park the most enjoyable?

Many fans of "Pride and Prejudice" or "Emma" have a difficult time enjoying Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park." The first part revolves around the disapproval of the heroine, the impoverished Fanny Price, for an amateur theatrical performance arranged by her cousins and their alluring guests, Henry and Mary Crawford. Fanny's wealthy uncle Sir Thomas Bertram, is away, and the young people feel their inhibitions evaporate -- all except Fanny. But if it's hard for modern readers to sympathize with the particular situation, the larger issues involve the character of these young adults: when the parents aren't looking, what kind of integrity, self-control, and sympathy for others will they exhibit? How will they handle jealousy and disappointment--and will they sacrifice the happiness of another for their own advantage?As the plot thickens, Austen brings out the underlying character of Fanny, her cousins, and their suitors with her mixture of charm, satire, and 'regulated hatred.' She complicates the issue by showing how a character's bad upbringing and social surroundings can turn a good nature sour. Character will out, and the play-acting early in the book leads to life-altering choices by the end. Of all her novels, "Mansfield Park" may provoke the most reflection on the roles of nature and nurture in human character.Frances Barber's reading is superb, with subtle vocal changes to distinguish the characters -- all pitch perfect, to align with their inner qualities.

21 people found this helpful

Good narration

Mansfield Park is one of my 3 favorite Austen works. It is a classic and not much to say about i that hasn't already been said.

What I can say is that Frances Barber does a very good job with this. For me, great narration is when I become unaware of the reader and can just get lost in the story. Barber managed that with this reading.

It is well worth the time.

17 people found this helpful

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL

The only sadness I feel for this book is that it is OVER! I loved it. I felt, because of the recent movie by this title, that I would not enjoy this as much as other Jane Austen's book. However, it had been years since I had read the book. As usual the book is different from the movie! I loved the REAL story as read by the narrator. I LOVED the way the narrator allowed one to FEEL how Fanny felt, how Mary sounded and acted, and how all the other characters had their own personalities along with the voice rendition. Buy it, you will love it!

25 people found this helpful

A More Favorable Review than Anticipated

Mansfield Park is not my favorite of Austen's works. The heroine herself is nervous and mousy, and the secondary characters are rarely redeemable in any sense. However, Frances Barber's reading of this novel lends it some entertainment that I had not got from reading it to myself. Her precise English diction threw me off for the first chapter or so, but then it grew on me and by the end, I added her name to my (very short) list of favorite narrators. I am pleased with this recording and when the time comes to listen through all of Austen's novels again, I will look forward to Mansfield Park almost as much as I do to the rest of Austen's books.

19 people found this helpful

Performance didn't work for me -

I love this book, but Frances Barber's performance was irritating to my ears. I'm a musician and very picky, so maybe it's just me -- but the pacing was odd and I did not like how she interpreted the characters with her inflection. It was grating, overdone and unnatural to my ears.

17 people found this helpful

Beautifully read!

The only thing that can improve Jane Austen's writing is a superior narration. The voices of the characters are represented here with a clever understanding of the nature of each. I thoroughly enjoyed this reading.

7 people found this helpful

Not my favorite Austen novel

Frances Barber does an amazing job of narration. If you love Austen, you’ll love the book. Mansfield Park is my one of least favorite Austen novels, but that’s like naming your least favorite cheesecake. It’s still Austen and it’s still wonderful.

6 people found this helpful

Amazing reader

France's Barber is the best reader ever for Jane Austen--just wonderful. Sensitive, tasteful, and with a sly sense of humor, just like the writing!

9 people found this helpful

Well Read Classic

"Mansfield Park" is probably my favourite Jane Austen novel, so it was nice to find this unabridged recording. Frances Barber generally does a very good job of the the narration, and I enjoyed listening to it very much. My only complaint about her narration is that she made Fanny Price sound as if she was about twelve. To modern readers, Fanny is probably the most difficult to understand of Austen's heroines, because she is so timid and self-effacing; but though she constantly aims to please the rich relations who patronise her and take her for granted, she is actually one of those quiet people with a hidden strength. Jane Austen intends us to admire Fanny for her integrity (which comes from neither nature--her sordid home at the Portsmouth naval base--nor nurture, in the hedonistic surroundings of Mansfield Park). It's hard to do that when the narrator makes her bleat like a child.

10 people found this helpful

Very enjoyable

Loved the book. Loved the reader. Was sorry to say goodbye to these characters.

6 people found this helpful