Rating: 
Summary: Profound, timeless, rewarding.
Review: Austen's ability to switch heroines from spoiled, pampered ones like Emma Woodhouse, likeable, witty ones like Elizabeth Bennet, to such a quiet, unassuming, modest-beyond-belief one such as Fanny Price is fantastic. Most writers of present-day tend to stereotype their heroines after a certain style, but the heroines Austen has are diverse and each not without a certain charm. Fanny is certainly very different, more after the style of Anne Elliot in 'Persuasion' and a symbol of her later, more intense works.The plot itself can appear boring at first, but don't be deceived by impatient readers who think so. There's a gulf between dull and profound, and an even bigger gap between priggish and principled. Fanny is the latter, and Mansfield Park is the latter of the former comparison. The characters are vividly sketched, and each of them represents something very deep--Henry the actor is the 'improver' who would persuade Maria Bertram into climbing over the ha-ha instead of waiting for her intended Mr Rushworth; Mrs Norris the manager who assumes herself important in Mansfield and thinks everything managed by her could not be managed better by anybody else, and who makes her own bad decisions look good until the true consequences of them emerge. Even 'Pride and Prejudice''s excellently portrayed Lady de Bourgh pales beside the realistic villainy of Mrs. Norris. This story is also a personal representation of the rural quietude of England being slowly but surely industrialized, and old values and traditions were being overwhelmed; Jane Austen's Regency world was being lost at that time to changes, and this book is also a reflection of her opinions of that time and period. This book echoes the theme of the tortoise and the hare--the slow and steady win the race. The Cinderella theme is there too, with the ugly sisters' true beauty marred by a bad upbringing, and the stepmother really the way I'd always imagined her to be--presumptively taking over the inert real mother. See if you can identify who I mean in the story. What else is there to say? Fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: By far the greatest of Austen's works¿
Review: darker and unromantic as it is. It surpasses all of her other novels because of its depth, and attention given to the psychology of the characters.Among important issues touched upon are religion, slavery (tho' not mentioned directly), incest, adultery, even landscaping. Austen entertained me with Pride and Prejudice, and Northanger Abbey, but has never before impressed me so as in MP. The Norton ed. is the best (Claudia Johnson)and includes many valuable commentaries, related essays, and a copy of "Lovers' Vows" which plays a central part in the book. Be forewarned, however, the heroine is by no means likeable.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: I'm surprised that so many people found this book boring or hard to get through---I enjoyed it immensely and couldn't put it down! Fanny might disappoint if you're hoping for a vivacious, witty heroine like Elizabeth Bennet, but she and her story are interesting in their own right and the book is full of realistic people and situations that held my attention completely. To be fair, though, I can see how a person who found the plot horribly boring would begin to resent Fanny. As to it being "darker" than Austen's other work, my feeling is that although MP deals with serious issues (adultery, religion, etc.) it's still done by way of the entertaining social gatherings, gossip exchanges, and family snafus that happen in her other books, so the tone didn't strike me as different from her others. By the way, if you're interested in this book I'd recommend reading it soon, before the upcoming movie version comes out!
Rating:
Summary: Johnson shines as editor
Review: The Norton Critical Edition of Mansfield Park is a gem as and edition. Claudia L. Johnson's footnotes are extremely informative and (and are actually footnotes on the same page, praise be) and her selections in the critical apparatus are very solid. Read this edition of Austen's most challenging work before any other--but read Pride and Prejudice before you read Mansfield! This one is too dark and subdued for many Austen fans.
Rating:
Summary: Jane Austen's Mansfield Park transcends time
Review: If ever there was a book that could be applied whole heartedly to any space and time it is Mansfield Park. Fanny Price is a hero whose quiet and shy reserve masks a heart filled with unrequieted passion. As a stern observer we through the eyes of Fanny experience all the folly's of youth and infatuation. Jane Austen really identifies with her readers and captures the passions of youth. There is a real spirit in her writing that emotionaly binds you to her characters with a genuine warmth.
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: I couldn't put it down! I wanted to know what was to become of Fanny. Much to my surprise, I thought one way, but of her outcome was but a happy surprise to me in the end. Adultery we know was not a typical theme to Jane Austen, however it is real life as we all know it to be. Who knows perhaps she herself experienced in her life in one way or another!!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have been an avid Austen reader for many years and I place "Mansfield Park" at the bottom of my list as a favorite. Jane is really boring in this one. I have read her books over and over, especially "Mansfield Park" hoping that I would appreciate it more, but to no avail. I purchased the BBC video not too long ago and that was boring also. I recently purchased the EIGHT cassette version read by a Maureen O'Brien. This was the WORST. Miss O'Brien speaks so rapidly, she cannot be understood half of the time! I had to keep re-running the tape to grasp what she was saying! This certainly has not made "Mansfield Park" more appealing. It's still down at the bottom of my list!
Rating: 
Summary: Certainly not one of her best works
Review: Generally a fan of Austin's writing, I was surprised at the dullness and ineptness of the text. The story dragged on leading the frustrated reader in no direction. Do not recommend this as a first Austin read.
Rating:
Summary: Oh geez...
Review: This is one of the dullest works by Austen. However could someone get into the book and actually finish it without having fallen asleep. A dreadful book to read, indeed.
Rating:
Summary: The variety in Mansfield Park
Review: 'Mansfield Park' is a strange one to review having not the strength of a central heroine as in P&P or the eponymous Emma but I think it is in many ways more charming and captivating than any of her other works simply because of the richness and variety in the other characters in the novel. Mrs Norris, Mary and her brother Henry are an entertainment in their own right and while the plot winds along a la all Austen's novels and Fanny's reward is never in serious doubt (and by gum the girl has suffered for this reward) there seems to be more interaction between the characters in MP which I believe makes it an easier read than some of the others, not,as some have said, more laboured. Certainly the Year 9 class that I'm teaching the novel to wouldn't agree but hopefully at least one of them will go on to be an avid Janeite! Forget the "wimpy heroine" - MP has much more to offer the discerning reader...
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