Mansfield Park: Jane Austen

Jane Austen never repeated herself. All of her six completed novels are written in differing keys. For many the gravitas that informs Mansfield Park makes it the chief jewel in the glittering crown. In this trenchant reappraisal, however, Anthony Fowles takes issue with this commonly-held opinion. For him this 'big' novel falls short of unqualified masterpiece status and, with frequent cross-references to the other novels and Jane Austen's life, he not only argues the case but also, writing as a novelist rather than an academic, suggests what may be the root cause for the shortfall. Many will find this personal view persuasive; all will find it an aid to sharpening their own estimate and enjoyment of the work.

About the author:

Anthony Fowles was born in London and educated at the Universities of Oxford and Southern California. He began his artistic career as filmmaker but in time sharpened his focus to concentrate on writing. For Greenwich Exchange he has written studies on John Dryden, Ford Madox Ford, Joseph Heller and Jean Rhys, and the recent historical thriller featuring Samuel Pepys, Necessary Things.

54  pages

ISBN: 978-1-906075-61-3