Mansfield Park

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: Flo Gibson

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

One of Jane Austen's most complex and mature works, Mansfield Park shows the writer at the top of her form, tackling the manners and customs of early 19th-century society with wit and irony that still resonate with readers two centuries after the book's initial publication. Flo Gibson's compelling narration gives perfect voice to the trials and tribulations of Fanny Price, sent at a young age to live with her rich relations.

Public Domain (P)1984 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Mansfield Park, a chronicle of the trials of Fanny Price, is very recommendable....Narrator Flo Gibson reads clearly and meaningfully, distinguishing voices, and does justice to the humor and style of Austen's prose." (Library Journal)

Narrator Not Terrible

I think Flo Gibson does a good job at narrating this book (and I don't know her personally or anything, I swear). I only give it three stars because I think the story itself is not one of Austin's best.

Reader perfect

Personally I like listening to Flo. Her voice gives character to the reading. She is animated and gives different voices to each of the characters. What a riot. This is the second book of hers that I have listened to and I really enjoy them!

Wonderful story !

I love this story, it is my favorite of the "Austen" books... I have read them all! The narrator's voice is not quite what I would have chosen for this story, but once you are engrossed in the life of Fanny Price you forget about that.

Jane Austen done right

One of the great pleasures of Jane Austen is how she uses her cool, cultured tone to set up the little digs she takes at her characters. Flo Gibson catches that slight air of detachment. And, of course, it's Mansfield Park -- maybe not Jane's best (I'm sure there are arguments about that), but still Jane, and any Jane is better than almost everyone else.

OH.... my....... the narrator

Mansfield Park is one of my favorite Jane Austen works, and I was excited to find an unabridged audiobook edition...… but the narrator is someone I will never again listen to...……… it was like listening to an amateur grandmother who was also trying to imitate the voices and various accents of the characters, and not doing a very good job at it. I guess, for a free borrowing, I tolerated it long enough to finish the book, but I would not be purchasing this edition. Darn shame, too, because I prefer unabridged works wherever I can find them. By all means, give this edition a listen if you want an unabridged rendition.... but do not expect a high quality performance. Sorry, Ms. Gibson.

Austin and Gibson are an unbeatable combination

Austin is my favorite author and Gibson my favorite reader. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite of Austin's books, but everything she wrote is fabulous.

Good narrator, not my favorite Jane Austen novel

I think Flo Gibson does an excellent job with Mansfield Park. However, I found the plot rather tedious until I got halfway through the 15 hours. The last 7 hours were very engaging.

I like Flo

It's true that the quality of her voice left something to desire for, but otherwise she plays the characters well and is animated enough to draw me into the book. She has given life to most of the characters, and it's enjoyable to listen to the book. I thought she's much better than the narrator of Emma--who has made Emma quite a lanquid and sometimes conceited woman, and whose reading totally lacks the vitality and humor that I have always attributed to the book.

Flo sounds fine.

I enjoyed this as much as any audio book of a Jane Austen novel that I've come across. I was hesitant to select it because others weren't happy with Flo Gibson's voice. I thought her voice was fine and perfectly clear enough to understand. I think she does a very good job differentiating the male character voices, too.

Good Reader

I finished listening to this version after starting it about three days ago. I really like Flo Gibson's voice as it is soothing and doesn't give you a headache. Usually I can only stand to listen to male voices as the female ones are too shrill. I like her accent and since she enunciates clearly; I can understand everything she says.

I remember reading this book to myself when I was in my early teens, but I don't remember that it had such an anti-climactic finish. The ending did leave something to be desired and for that reason I give the story 4 stars instead of 5. I was disappointed to find there was no final scene between Edmond and Fanny, their story is wrapped up in narration as are all the other story threads. Since I watched several movie versions, I must assume that it was one of those that I was remembering regarding the ending.

This is another classical "book is better than the movie" examples. It is infinitely more enjoyable to have Jane Austen's own words instead of some modern version, even in spite of the ending. I do recommend the unabridged version for that reason and this version in particular because of Flo Gibson's excellent reading voice.