Mansfield Park The Crawfords' redemption: An improved end to the classic story

by Kirsten bij't Vuur

I always liked Mansfield Park, but somehow felt Mary and Henry Crawford were treated unfairly by Jane Austen because they were not stuffy and boring and dependable, like Edmund and Fanny herself, but witty and passionate and likable. I always felt they would not react in the way they did in the book, but rise to the challenge. So here's what they'd do in my view.

147 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2015

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mansfield Park variation that begins at the point just after Henry Crawford has visited Fanny Price in Portsmouth which is well over the half way point in Jane Austen's original. What if Henry Crawford resisted temptation and chose to miss London parties for doing his duty by his estate thus showing Fanny he could be constant? What if Mary Crawford chose a good man over a man of wealth? Oh how the story changes...

Henry Crawford was not brought up well and all his influences were bad. He had no desire for the marriage state or to become a responsible landowner. That is until a worthy woman remained unmoved by his charm and even had a disgust for him. What began as a shallow challenge to seduce her turned into appreciation, respect, and then love. Henry would do anything for Fanny even selflessly act for her good after he learns she loves another man and can never love him.

Fanny Price was convinced the dabbler and flirt was toying with her and even if they had moments of connection when he visited her in Portsmouth, he would never change. But, she went in fear of each day bringing a letter from Edmund sharing that Miss Crawford had excepted his offer. When the worst happens, she is amazed when it is Henry Crawford who comforts and lifts her out of the chasm of despair knowing well her heart is given to another. He persists and she comes alive under his faithful, gentle friendship that asks nothing of her.

Mansfield Park The Crawford's Redemption has a solid, engaging storyline of selfless love. I felt the agony of unrequited love in Henry and the dashing of love in Fanny just as I felt the joy of what came later for them both. Edmund and Mary have a secondary romance in the background while those at Mansfield Park play their roles in the background.

The biggest crisis moment came early, but there are a few others when temptation must be fought, when understanding one's feelings must be understood and faced, and when outside people are confronted.

However, this is chock full of modern casual speech and behavior that stretched too far from Regency standards. Like 21st century people in costume though I will say there are some attention to the historical backdrop. There were some awkward moments and the repeat of some concepts about the characters that were unnecessary to reiterate more than once. I bring these things up because they are quite distracting since they are more than occasional.

So, it was a good variation story with some jarring flaws that maybe a second edition could smooth out. Those who enjoy spicy historical romance or classic variations are the target readership.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Mansfield Park variation begins with Fanny Price in Portsmouth waiting to receive the dreaded news that her cousin Edmund Bertram is engaged to Mary Crawford.
Not sure that the characters would have acted the way they did once engaged, but apart from that a delightful story because the right couples ended up together.

[Abby Rose]

Insanely arrogant to call THIS an "improvement"...




It's like no understanding of Regency morality was even attempted....

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this story

Let’s start with the good. I love that the author wrote one of my favorite non-canon Austen couples. Henry and Fanny are a delightful couple when written well. So kudos to the author for writing an au of Mansfield Park and pairing these two characters together. It started off really well. I would say the first quarter of the book is very good.

It is when Henry and Fanny meet up with Edward and Mary that the book takes a downturn. The author had the couples in situations that would definitely not have happened during that time period before they were married and the four of them were very comfortable with talking about their love lives in mixed company. No matter how comfortable Fanny is with Edward I do not ever see her discussing some of the things she did in this book with him. I can suspend disbelief somewhat but the book still has to feel like it is from the time period. I just did not get that from this book. I wanted to like it but the last 3/4 was just so odd in how the author chose to have the characters act.

[Mary-Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly interesting reinterpretation of Mansfield's ending. Even at the time of its original publication, Mansfield divided readers - JA gave readers the 'likely' match, but readers wanted the fiction. That has spawned a series of spin-offs which explore the 'what if' of Mansfield Park and it is to this school that bij't Vuur's work belongs. Where this interpretation adds more value is that it reaches beyond the Fanny and Henry narrative, to explore what that would mean for Mary and Edmund too.

This genre is based in homage; it doesn't pretend to be anything beyond that, so any critique of style or characterization is - to my mind- unfair. The author wanted to explore an idea, try on a different ending for size and see how it fits. On those criteria, I found it an interesting read and certainly enjoyed reading it on a wet February Saturday.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book had lots of issues. A lot of the dialogue was very 20th century + rather than period appropriate. Additionally, Fanny Price would NEVER have exchanged letters with Henry Crawford as she does in this story nor would she travel alone with him even if they were engaged. There were so many things I should take major issue with, but I was so thrilled with a redeemed Henry, that I was able to overlook it all. I love Austen and though Mansfield Park is my least favorite I still like and appreciate it. But I've always thought Edmund and Fanny would have a pretty dull and dismal existence as a married couple, but that Fanny could certainly have benefited from Henry's liveliness. Also, I think some of Fanny's morals and reserve would have made Henry a better person as well.