Literary Lottery • August 2012 - Page 2

fantasyfan · 08-05-2012, 07:51 AM

I thought very seriously of choosing a work that got many votes but still lost. However in the end I decided to select a wonderful novel by Jane Austen that would be unlikely to ever get into a short list.

I propose Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.

Mansfield Park is the first of Austen’s mature novels considering that both Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice are elaborations of lost earlier works {"Elinore and Marrianne" and "First Impressions" respectively}. Yet it is probably the least read.

There are a number of features which make this novel stand out as a masterpiece--albeit a flawed gem. This is the only work in which Austen portrays life in the lower classes and she does so with realism and vigour. Her writing is quite subtle and she makes use of significant symbolism and inter-textuality to develop her themes--these also set this novel apart from her other works. The characterisation is very sharp and a dark ambiguity pervades the plot in a way unmatched until Persuasion.

What makes this a flawed work would seem to be that Austen’s creative process was so powerful that the novel took on a life of its own and began moving down paths that she possibly found uncomfortable. This is very apparent in her treatment of Mary and Henry Crawford in the book and the creative decisions of Jane Austen in working these characters into the tapestry of the novel.

All this makes Mansfield Park a fascinating work to explore. It deserves to be better known than it is.

It is available free of charge from PG and many other sources.

issybird · 08-05-2012, 09:51 AM

Do we wait for sun surfer's ruling on this?

Or can I get going?

HomeInMyShoes · 08-05-2012, 11:33 AM

It's literature. I would probably pass on reading it. I read Pride and Prejudice and while I can admire Austen's work, it just isn't subject matter that appeals to me.

orlok · 08-05-2012, 12:05 PM

I'm afraid I'm with HIMS. I can admire the work from afar, but it just doesn't float my boat. I knew issy would be raring to go, though

.

issybird · 08-05-2012, 01:17 PM

I haven't read MP in decades, and I remember how irritating I found some of the characters. It's not a happy book in the way P&P or Emma are. I expect to read it with a lot more appreciation now--aging's good for some things!

In defense of Mansfield Park, Nabokov, who had no use for the rest of Austen's works, still thought it was a great novel.

Bookworm_Girl · 08-05-2012, 01:45 PM

I read Pride and Prejudice twice thinking a second read would help me appreciate it more, but I'm still not a fan of that book. However, I liked Persuasion better. I am willing to give Mansfield Park a try. Thanks, fantasyfan!

fantasyfan · 08-05-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I haven't read MP in decades, and I remember how irritating I found some of the characters.

I suspect that they are the same characters I found irritating.

But perhaps that's why the novel is so oddly fascinating.

Bookworm girl wrote:
"I am willing to give Mansfield Park a try. Thanks, fantasyfan!"

You're welcome! I personally think there are many memorable moments in this novel.

sun surfer · 08-05-2012, 02:55 PM

Mansfield Park it is! I'll start the discussion thread soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantasyfan

I have a few possibilities in mind, and I'll probably post the choice tomorrow and Sun surfer can rule on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Do we wait for sun surfer's ruling on this?

Or can I get going?

fantasyfan, I wasn't worried about what any of you would've picked, and issybird, you can get going on it! The confirmation is really only just a fail-safe now that we don't vote on the lottery pick anymore, to prevent say 50 Shades of Grey somehow being chosen.

(although that would be quite a discussion

)

orlok · 08-05-2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun surfer

...to prevent say 50 Shades of Grey somehow being chosen.

(although that would be quite a discussion

)

That's what I would have nominated. A legend in its own lunchtime.

sun surfer · 08-05-2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

That's what I would have nominated. A legend in its own lunchtime.

Well, there's always next time.

Bookpossum · 08-05-2012, 07:30 PM

I shall join in on this too, as I have only read MP once before, many years ago and agree it deserve to be revisited.

Good choice, fantasyfan!

paola · 08-06-2012, 03:52 AM

uhu, I read it once during my Austen period, and it is the one I liked least - so glad to have a chance to have another go, or at least follow the discussion!

08-05-2012, 07:51 AM	#16
fantasyfan Fanatic Posts: 588 Karma: 3511438 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi only, iPad, iPod Touch 3G	I thought very seriously of choosing a work that got many votes but still lost. However in the end I decided to select a wonderful novel by Jane Austen that would be unlikely to ever get into a short list. I propose Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. Mansfield Park is the first of Austen’s mature novels considering that both Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice are elaborations of lost earlier works {"Elinore and Marrianne" and "First Impressions" respectively}. Yet it is probably the least read. There are a number of features which make this novel stand out as a masterpiece--albeit a flawed gem. This is the only work in which Austen portrays life in the lower classes and she does so with realism and vigour. Her writing is quite subtle and she makes use of significant symbolism and inter-textuality to develop her themes--these also set this novel apart from her other works. The characterisation is very sharp and a dark ambiguity pervades the plot in a way unmatched until Persuasion. What makes this a flawed work would seem to be that Austen’s creative process was so powerful that the novel took on a life of its own and began moving down paths that she possibly found uncomfortable. This is very apparent in her treatment of Mary and Henry Crawford in the book and the creative decisions of Jane Austen in working these characters into the tapestry of the novel. All this makes Mansfield Park a fascinating work to explore. It deserves to be better known than it is. It is available free of charge from PG and many other sources. __________________ The Heart's a Heavy Burden--Howl's Moving Castle "Time and Relative Dimension in Space" Last edited by fantasyfan; 08-05-2012 at 07:53 AM.

08-05-2012, 11:33 AM	#18
HomeInMyShoes Ginormous Intergalactic Posts: 10,024 Karma: 33625427 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: junkyard Device: Kindle3	It's literature. I would probably pass on reading it. I read Pride and Prejudice and while I can admire Austen's work, it just isn't subject matter that appeals to me. __________________ Reading Lists: 2011 \| 2012 \| 2013 “Reading one book is like eating one potato chip.” - Diane Duane

08-05-2012, 07:30 PM	#26
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 5,092 Karma: 64582303 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kobo Touch (mine), Sony PRS-T1 (husband's)	I shall join in on this too, as I have only read MP once before, many years ago and agree it deserve to be revisited. Good choice, fantasyfan! __________________ Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose. (Garrison Keillor)

08-06-2012, 03:52 AM	#27
paola Wizard Posts: 1,905 Karma: 1810867 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini	uhu, I read it once during my Austen period, and it is the one I liked least - so glad to have a chance to have another go, or at least follow the discussion! __________________ Accept my Dropbox invitation by clicking , and we both get extra 500MB

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08-05-2012, 09:51 AM	#17
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 2,113 Karma: 19726700 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Touch, Nook, 350, 950, Fire	Do we wait for sun surfer's ruling on this? Or can I get going?

08-05-2012, 12:05 PM	#19
orlok Desperation Posts: 7,169 Karma: 207511074 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Fire HD, Kobo glo	I'm afraid I'm with HIMS. I can admire the work from afar, but it just doesn't float my boat. I knew issy would be raring to go, though .

08-05-2012, 01:17 PM	#20
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 2,113 Karma: 19726700 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Touch, Nook, 350, 950, Fire	I haven't read MP in decades, and I remember how irritating I found some of the characters. It's not a happy book in the way P&P or Emma are. I expect to read it with a lot more appreciation now--aging's good for some things! In defense of Mansfield Park, Nabokov, who had no use for the rest of Austen's works, still thought it was a great novel.

08-05-2012, 01:45 PM	#21
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 2,418 Karma: 4141890 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Sony 350, T2; KPW, Fire; iPad 4; Nooks	I read Pride and Prejudice twice thinking a second read would help me appreciate it more, but I'm still not a fan of that book. However, I liked Persuasion better. I am willing to give Mansfield Park a try. Thanks, fantasyfan!

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