I finished listening to the abridged version of Mansfield Park the other day. It wasn't long (only 3 CD's). So, I listened to it again. I did this because I had a hard time following it the first go around. It is what my son would say "filled with big words". It took me a while to figure out that Mrs. Norris, Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Bertram are sisters.
The book was entertaining. What confuses me, though, is this. At the beginning of the book Mr. Bertram was concerned that taking in Fanny Price would encourage a closeness between her and his sons that may been seen as improper. But then at the end of the book, everyone was overjoyed that Fanny and Edmund married. Why the turnaround? Is it because the scandal of Henry Crawford and Mariah B., her being already married, was so great that the coupling of Fanny and Edmund is but a drop in the bucket?
And why did Henry Crawford even set his sights on Fanny Price in the first place? He wanted Mariah who wasn't available. But what about Julia? She wasn't betrothed. Or was is one of those "since she can't stand me I'm going to make her my conquest" situations?
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I'm not quite sold on Jane Austen yet. I mean, they've made movies of her books and movies about reading her books and zombie versions of her books and so on. So, I know her writing has appealed to millions over the years. But I am not yet enamored of her books. Thus, I am starting on the book many consider her greatest achievement, Pride and Prejudice. As with Mansfield Park, I am listening to it, but this time it is the unabridged version; 10 CD's. I have a 30-45 minute drive each way to and from work, and going anywhere in town takes a while. So, I've got plenty of time to listen to it. I give it about a week.
So, I read up some on the Regency era. Generally, it is considered as the time period between 1812 and 1830. Some references place the Regency era between 1795 and 1837. Did you know how this era came to be known as the Regency era? What I read was this is the time period in England when King George III was declared unfit to rule and his son, the future King George IV, served as his proxy, or Prince Regent. This era was known for its frivolity and liveliness. Poverty and the darker aspects of society were treated as the problem child sent away to hide in shame.
Another interesting fact is that some of the coldest weather on record occurred during the Regency Era. This was towards the end of Little Ice Age (1300's - 1800's). 1816 is known as the "year without summer" as the temperatures were such that it snowed several times throughout the year. This was also the year that Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein while vacationing with her husband Percy Shelley and Lord Byron in Switzerland. I recently read a book about the little Ice Age by Brian M. Fagan. It was very interesting. It discussed the impact on the world, not just one region, and it covered roughly 500 years beginning with the Vikings.
All of this contributed to the surroundings and settings of books written during this time. Today we can't imagine a time when winter festivals were held on the iced over Thames River, yet they occurred for many years. Certainly I can not imagine having fireplaces in bedrooms, but these were necessary just to say warm enough so as not to freeze in the night. But what hasn't changed, much at least, is how women and men interact; the flirting, games, and other social intrigues. And with Pride and Prejudice, I can't wait to find out what Jane Austen holds in store for me this time.
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