Mansfield Park (Introduction by Austin Dobson)

Fanny Price, an impoverished girl sent to live with her wealthy relatives at Mansfield Park, navigates her coming-of-age amidst family dynamics and societal expectations. The arrival of the fashionable Crawford family introduces romantic complications and challenges the status quo. Set against the backdrop of early 19th-century England, the novel offers a satirical look at the upper class and explores themes of class, morality, and personal growth. Recognized as one of Austen's most mature works, it reflects her keen social observations.