Mansfield Park - BBC Radio Play
For those into dramatized works,
BBC Radio 4 Extra is currently offering a dramatized production of
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Total length is 150 minutes (10 x 15 minute episodes). I just spotted this, so they're already up to episode six. Previous episodes are still available, but episode one is set to expire in 22 hours. That said, they also offer an omnibus in two parts of five episodes each. The first omnibus was just released and expires in six days, so there's still time to listen to the entire production. The second omnibus will be released next Sunday. BBC links below:
Amazon has a Whispersync pair of this book for those who want the full unabridged version:
Quote:
Mansfield Park is the third novel by Jane Austen, written at Chawton Cottage between February 1811 and 1813. It was published in May 1814 by Thomas Egerton, who published Jane Austen's two earlier novels, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. When the novel reached a second edition in 1816, its publication was taken over by John Murray, who also published its successor, Emma. Mansfield Park is a pygmalion morality epic.
The events of the story are put in motion by three sisters: Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price. Of the three sisters, Lady Bertram married extremely well, to a wealthy baronet; Mrs. Norris married a parson, who is given the living at the local parsonage by Sir Thomas Bertram, Lady Betram's husband. This allows them to live comfortably, yet far below the standards set by the Bertram's lifestyle. The third sister married a naval officer who shortly afterwards was wounded in battle and pensioned as a Lieutenant at half pay. They then proceeded to have nine children, which they could scarcely afford. Mrs. Norris, always wishing to appear to do right, proposes that Lady Bertram take one of the children to live with her at Mansfield Park. They choose Fanny Price, the eldest daughter, who is the protagonist of the novel. Thus, at age 10, Fanny is sent to live with her wealthy relatives.
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