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Mansfield Park

By: Jane Austen
Narrated by: Frances Barber
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Publisher's Summary

Exclusively from Audible

When the self-effacing 10-year-old Fanny Price is sent to live with her wealthy relations at Mansfield Park she seems shy and withdrawn beside her witty and vivacious cousins. Growing up in the Bertram household, she is always treated as an inferior, only finding an ally in her cousin Edmund. But Fanny's steadfast and purposeful character eventually makes her an indispensable part of the household. During the absence of Fanny's uncle, the others become entangled in a maze of flirtation and intrigue upon the arrival of Mary Crawford and her brother Henry. It is only Fanny whose deep but secret love for Edmund remains true despite his fascination with her brilliant but frivolous cousin Mary.

The most serious of Austen's works due to its discussion of religion and religious duty, Mansfield Park also offers a subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, making it one of Austen's most profound works.

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six major novels which focused on the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Her plots often explore women's dependence on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security.

Narrator Biography

Frances Barber has received Olivier Award nominations for her work in the plays, Camille, and Uncle Vanya. Other theatre credits include; Madame Rubinstein, The School for Scandal, What The Butler Saw, Julius Caesar, Les Parents Terribles, That Face, Afterplay, Madame De Sade, and King Lear. Her numerous television credits include Father Brown, Medici: Masters of Florence, Mapp and Lucia, Psychobitches, The Spa, a new regular in the series Silk, several episodes of Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders and A Passionate Woman. Her film credits include The Escape; The Bookshop; Blue Iguana; Film Stars don't Die in Liverpool; El Elegido (The Chosen) and Mr. Holmes.

Frances Barbar has narrated an impressive list of titles, including The Chimney Sweeper's Boy by Barbara Vine, The Voyages of the Princess Matilda by Shane Spall and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.

Public Domain (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Frances Barber offers a sterling performance, bringing life and sparkle to each character....Barber convincingly shifts from lord of the manor to sniveling servitude at the change of a sentence. And her narrative passages transparently tie the whole family together into one beautiful package." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Mansfield Park

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Great English literature

Splendid. The voice given to one supporting character so grating but that is hardly a fair complaint, the reading was excellent in dramatic terms and, except as noted, lovely to the ear. Miss Austen needs no comment from the likes of me, but new readers are encouraged to persist. In fact just decide to commit. I was fully drawn in around a third of the way. By then you are made to care about her characters, but if new to classic Victorian literature be patient. They didn't share our ideas of having instant Inciting events - there is no car crash on page 2 and no sex on page 3 (or, sorry teenage boys, any other page) but this will reward commitment. This is part of our cultural inheritance as English speakers, no less so if you not a native speaker. Every generation for 200 years has prized Jane Austen. Are you not curious to know what the fuss is about?

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Best version of Mansfield Park

I have listened to several narrations of Mansfield Park, but this is the best by a mile. Frances Barber really brings all of the characters to life, particularly those of the supporting characters- The Crawfords, Lady Bertram and Mrs Norris in particular. Highly recommended to all lovers of Jane Austen.

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A Jane Austen Masterpiece

An amazing story well delivered. Such magnificent English! Never failed to keep me wanting to listen whenever I could. Annoyingly, the story kept stopping in the last few chapters but easily fixed by pressing the play button.

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A mixed bag

This has never beeen my favourite Austen. The narrator has a lovely voice, but constantly opts for caricature rather than characterisation. I find it very unappealing, to the extent that I returned this version and selected the same book narrated by someone else.

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  • 18-12-2023

Beautifully performed

This is more of a slow burn than Jane Austen’s other works, but thoroughly worth sticking with. Performed absolutely beautifully

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Mansfield Park

As I’ve not read this for a few years this was an enjoyable listen thank you.

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Old world words

Nothing like getting lost in the world of Jane Austen the way used to speak and her families

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Couldn't finish

An Austin I had never read and I'm quite glad. Fanny is too meek ans wet a heroine for me. Mrs Norris and some others over done and I've given up because the story line is dragging and from other reviews I've read won't improve.

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Jane Austen Where could you go wrong

Just leaves me wanting to know more about Edward and Fanny. I do enjoy a bit of Austen escapism.

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Frances Barber is fabulous

Great writing by Austen enhanced by Frances Barbers narration. Excellent and addictive. Didn't want it to end.

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