Playfulness

by Helen Baker

A continuation of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park

Jane Austen's Mansfield Park chronicles the mutual love of Mary Crawford and Edmund Bertram until he abandons his love, claiming that she has forfeited even his respect. Can our flawed heroine, with her beauty, her charm and her twenty thousand pounds ever find a worthy gentleman who will appreciate her for those very qualities that Edmund deplored? How many trials and difficulties must she first surmount while all Regency England echoes to the public debate of her brother's adultery and her dissolute uncle's blatant vice? Can Mary, innocent and kind, despite her worldly standards and cynical friends, stand firm against society's censure?

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Like Jane Austen, I value my privacy. The photo is me descending into the Great Pyramid in Egypt. I am English, have written over 20 books, was published first by Penguin. Now I live in France. I love Jane Austen for her wit, realism and elegant language. I take great care never to use a word, expression or sentiment outside her sphere of life. My 8 Jane Austen books are also available from Barnes and Noble and the Apple Istore. Follow the link to find out more.

The Brothers by Jane Austen and Another Lady
http://www.lulu.com/content/6033230

The Watsons by Jane Austen and Another Lady
http://www.lulu.com/content/2053987

Playfulness (A continuation of 'Mansfield Park')
http://www.lulu.com/content/2487271

The Book Of Ruth (A continuation of 'Pride and Prejudice')
http://www.lulu.com/content/444990

Precipitation A Continuation of Miss Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice)
http://www.lulu.com/content/8224851

Connivance (A continuation of 'Persuasion')
http://www.lulu.com/content/1234550

Miss Jane Austen's Lady Susan – Revived
www.lulu.com/content/9030033

Maria – Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey Continued
www.lulu.com/content/10673758

Helen Baker (born 1948) is an English writer. She holds a degree in economics (from the University of York), a bilingual secretarial certificate (from the City of London College), and a Certificate of Education (from Wolverhampton Technical Teachers' College). As a qualified Inspector of Taxes, she has worked in the public sector, in the private sector as a technical taxation manager and later in the academic world, as a lecturer, both direct and by correspondence.
The guiding thread of her career has always been finance. She soon realized the particular vulnerability of women because of their isolation from this domain. It led to her first published book. Money Matters For Women (ISBN 0-14-017230-0) was published by Penguin Books in 1993. It was a rare achievement for an unknown author to have an unsolicited manuscript accepted at all, not to mention by such a prestigious publisher.
Then followed other books on money, equally written from first-hand experience.
Going For Gold is the Expatriate's Financial Handbook. It was first published in 1994.
How To Thrive on One Quarter of Your Income tackled (again from personal knowledge) the common situation of a sudden, and drastic, drop in income.
Wealth For Women was the completely updated Money Matters For Women published in 2005.
Helen Baker is also an educator. Having helped many French people (from three to eighty) to learn English, she conceived English Laugh and Learn, published in 2006. This compilation of no less than 2007 jokes and short stories took her nearly two decades. Each joke is presented in choice language and accompanied by grammatical notes. It is designed for adult learners and those at risk of losing their skills through lack of practice.
Teaching A Frenchman English : In and Out of Bed appeared in 2011. It presents serious language teaching in the most humorous, even erotic light.
Comfort is a practical manual for maximizing personal comfort in every area of life.
Helen Baker is also a traveller. She published The Land of the Long White Lie after living for two years in New Zealand. Far South with Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij NV concerns South Africa and Argentina. North, East and Far East in 2007 describe Estonia, Romania and Japan. Under The Rainbow describes two visits to South Africa. Sin City for the Over-sixties concern Bogota. She also published Two Lost Souls in Seoul.
In addition, Helen Baker has produced biographies and works of fiction, of which two are set in her beloved country of adoption, France. In recent years, she has concentrated on the Regency period, producing eight books related to Jane Austen. The Book of Ruth is a continuation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Connivance continues Jane Austen's Persuasion. Playfulness continues Jane Austen's Mansfield P

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, I guess. I was happy to spend more time with well known Austen characters and to see the London sphere Mary moved in.

I guess it's good that there's a lid for every pot, so to speak. But I hate the happy ending Mary got. Son of a marquess?? She should've gotten a nobody, 5th son of a nobody. And to have her bank account padded by Mr. Simeon Ricardo too.

I also hated the dilly dallying with her dowry. I thought that was an unnecessary subplot, especially since there was no resolution or explanation. Did Henry spend it? Why? Was it a lie to make her more marketable? It was too big of a deal to be swept away like that. Also, son of a marquess AND disinterested. Nooooooooooo. It was only a year after Henry disgraced himself and while Edmund and Fanny were already married and expecting, it had only been 2 months since Dr. Grant died. I disagree with the timeline completely. Mary was only 24. She should have languished until at least 26, having met MR. John Fitzroy at 25.

Sometimes there's too many happy endings. The only one forever punished is Mariah. They should show Henry miserable as well under the thumb of the Ricardos.