@beexcessivelydiverting @bookstodon @romancelandia They're charming on the outside and have some good qualities which make them really interesting characters. This #novel is all about elegant facades hiding rotten interiors, good abilities and powers abused for selfish goals, and the "good guys's" struggle to see through that. And I think it's an absolutely ingenious novel :) #MansfieldPark #Austen #bookstodon

@beexcessivelydiverting @bookstodon @romancelandia For example, I think the reason why many people don't understand the novel's disapproval of #MaryCrawford and her brother, is that (perceived) promiscuity back then had serious real-life consequences and could ruin a woman's life which is much less the case now. So Henry Crawford, by seducing Maria, is really ruining lives, and his sister condones that. Not to mention his narcissistic, dishonest flirtations with everyone. #austen #MansfieldPark

@beexcessivelydiverting @bookstodon @romancelandia I think #MansfieldPark is perhaps underestimated because it's much less funny than #Austen 's other novels, and the main topic is #ethics , which can feel preachy even when it's not. It's all about #class , #power , #abuse , #bullying , #deception and even, indirectly, about #slavery .