Mansfield Park

[MrsKyloRen]

I’m reading this for the thousandth time, I just love it. Does anyone else ever feel utterly bemused that Fanny Price doesn’t marry Henry Crawford, is never even really tempted?! I think I’m a bit in love with him myself!

I love Mansfield Park though I know many people don't. And I'm rather fond of Fanny Price

As for Henry Crawford - no, he's a git and completely manipulative. I mean, initially, he deliberately plans to break Fanny's heart. She is quite right not to accept him.

Isn't he just the 'charming cad' figure who almost leads the heroine astray? I think of him as equivalent to Frank Churchill in Emma or Wickham in Pride and Prejudice, handsome, charming but ultimately lacking in substance.

I always feel a bit sorry for Henry in the end. I think both he and Fanny would have been improved by a relationship with each other.

In my opinion Henry Crawford is way worse than either of those two. Frank Churchill, whilst he behaves very badly, is desperately trying to deflect attention from the true object of his affection. Wickham, I grant you is out for whatever he can get, whether it's sex or money.

But Henry Crawford, having first tried it on with both Maria and Julia, cynically targets Fanny, initially, to induce her to fall for him and make her feel that "she'll never be happy again." (I may have misquoted that) when he drops her. There is a level of deliberate cruelty in his intention which I don't believe Wickham shows, dodgy as Wickham is. The fact that Crawford then genuinely falls for Fanny doesn't excuse his early cynicism.

I see Henry Crawford as a thoroughgoing rotter and, personally, wouldn't touch him with somebody else's bargepole.

Oh but Edmund is so unsatisfying. Darcy, Brandon, Knightley, Wentworth, yes please and thank you, but what was she thinking with Edmund?!

Edmund has no personality, whatsoever. I like the Crawfords more and more with every re-read.

Poor Edmund. People always say he has no personality. He must have something or how do we account for Mary Crawford's interest in him?

I love Mansfield Park, it's my favourite Austen.

Henry Crawford just makes my skin crawl, he's a creepy posh boy who thinks everybody should be in love with him. If Fanny had married him, the moment she was safely in his possession he'd be back to flirting with all and sundry (in fact Mary admits just as much, though she puts a good spin on it).

Edmund is unflashy but sound IMO - never going to frighten the horses, but someone who judges people for their personalities/character rather than their social status. I reckon he'll be a devoted father and good quiet easygoing husband who enjoys happy domestic evenings around the fire.

Agree that Edmund will prove a very good husband and father, I just fear that it will all be so dreadfully dull. Fanny having at least a quick fling with Henry could have done her a world of good!

I suppose I’m unfairly imposing modern standards by thinking that what he did to Julia in particular was pretty tame really. I admit Henry is completely selfish and delighted with himself initially, but I do find edmund unappealing. And I don’t think I could have married a man after having listened to him talk about how much he loved another woman, as Fanny does for most of volume 2! At least Henry did fall for her and pursue her, rather than settling, which is what I always feel Edmund did with Fanny.

I think John Mullan is one of the most perceptive critics who writes about Austen. The beginning of this Guardian article outlines his take on Mansfield Park

And for anyone with an hour to spare this