Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen

Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen is in English Only

Mansfield Park is the third published novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1814. The novel tells the story of Fanny Price, starting when her overburdened, impoverished family sends her at age ten to live in the household of her wealthy aunt and uncle; it concludes with her marriage.

The novel was first published by Thomas Egerton. A second edition was published in 1816 by John Murray, still within Austen's lifetime. The novel did not receive any critical attention when it was initially published. The first particular notice was in 1821 in a positive review of each of the published novels by Jane Austen.

Diverse critical reception from the late 20th century onward has led to this being considered Austen's most controversial novel. Questions addressed in the critical reviews below include: Is the heroine Fanny Price appalling or appealing?; Was Austen a traditionalist or a feminist?; Is Mansfield Park simplistic or ironic?; Did Austen support or oppose the slave trade?; Does Mansfield Park portray city immorality as more attractive than country morality?; Was Austen for or against theatrical performance?