Mansfield Park – An Annotated Edition : An Annotated Edition

In her notes and introduction to this final volume in Harvard’s annotated Austen series, Deidre Shauna Lynch outlines the critical disagreements Mansfield Park has sparked and suggests that Austen’s design in writing the novel was to highlight, not downplay, the conflicted feelings its plot and heroine can inspire.

“Jane Austen lovers worldwide will cherish these books...Prepare yourself for a major treat.” —Christian Science MonitorEvery moment has its pleasures, and its hope. Mansfield Park is Jane Austen’s most complex and ambitious novel. Fanny Price—the story’s meek, determinedly moral protagonist—is almost too good to love. Is she admirable, or (as Austen’s own mother declared) “insipid”? Is her uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, a warm benefactor or a stifling tyrant? In her introduction and annotations, Deidre Shauna Lynch suggests Austen’s intentions were to highlight, not to downplay, these ambiguities; in fact, they may be central to appreciating Mansfield Park. Enjoy the multifaceted story anew with this extraordinary collector’s edition. For beginners and experts alike—immerse yourself in Jane Austen’s world: For the modern reader, our annotations provide clear explanations and illuminating context for period language and references. For the enthusiast, they offer fresh, exciting analysis—a passionate friend in the margins. A work of art—the ideal gift: Perfect for gifting, collecting, and cherishing, this grand hardcover (9” x 9.5”) brims with hundreds of full-color illustrations that vividly recreate Austen’s world—its fashions, carriages, libraries, and estates. The story: “I was quiet, but I was not blind.” The eldest daughter of an impoverished couple, Fanny Price is taken in by her much wealthier aunt and uncle—and their children, Edmund, Tom, Maria, and Julia—at Mansfield Park. This generosity comes as a cost: with the exception of Edmund, Fanny’s relations treat her with scorn. Content to suffer in silence, she may frustrate readers, or even be mistaken for a satirical figure. But Austen rewards Fanny’s steadfast heart with a happy ending. When the wealthy bachelor Henry (who is having an affair with the married Maria) schemes to win Fanny’s affections, she rejects him time and again. Edmund, realizing his love for Fanny, recognizes that she is a canny reader of character—judging others for their actions, not their words.