Mansfield Park (Dramatized)

By: Jane Austen

Narrated by: David Tennant, full cast, Benedict Cumberbatch, Felicity Jones

Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Felicity Jones, David Tennant, and Benedict Cumberbatch star in BBC Radio 4's full-cast dramatisation of the novel by Jane Austen, one of the great English classics.

Seeking a position in society, young Fanny Price goes to live with her rich aunt and uncle. But her life there is not as she might wish.

Felicity Jones plays Fanny, whilst David Tennant is her cousin Tom and Benedict Cumberbatch his brother Edmund.

©2014 BBC Worldwide Ltd (P)2014 BBC Worldwide Ltd

How On Earth?

can you fit "Mansfield Park" into 2 hours and 18 minutes? This lovely dramatized production answers the question thusly:
1) Get some wonderful A-list British actors;
2) Find a writer or writers who can severely cut Miss Austen to the bone without sacrificing all the dialogue, the essence of the characters, or the dated charm of Jane Austen and Fanny Price;
3) Don't worry if you seriously tick off the purist Janeites out there!

That's what the BBC has done, and here it is done supremely well. Cumberbatch, Tennant, and Jones are three of today's most popular artists - it's a wonder how they were assembled for such a project - and the rest of the cast equals their talent and energy.

I'm not usually a fan of abridged classics, but this is valuable whether or not you are familiar with Jane Austen's perhaps least-favorite novel. Reading "Mansfield Park" can be something of a chore - this listen is a breeze!

(The BBC dramatization may well encourage some to seek out the full version. I'd recommend going with Juliet Stevenson's narration of the unabridged "Mansfield Park" - it's available at Audible.)

48 of 48 people found this review helpful

Makes This Book Bearable

Would you listen to Mansfield Park (Dramatized) again? Why?

Yes, it was extremely well done and all the actors were a pleasure to listen to. At a bit over two hours, it is something that can be easily listened to multiple times.

Would you recommend Mansfield Park (Dramatized) to your friends? Why or why not?

Definitely. I already had one friend on Facebook that was very excited to listen to it. As I said, it's well done.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant shine as Edmund and Tom.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it mostly in one sitting. I put on a few Disney movies for my preschoolers and I listened happily to the book on my headphones.

Any additional comments?

I would totally use this with high school students. It gives you a total sense of the story without overbearing them with a very long book. I think I may go back and read the full book now and thanks to this I already understand the plot.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Easy listening

The narration and roles are read perfectly by each actor. I enjoy audible books and hearing multiple talented readers was a treat. In this reading the main character, Fanny, is sympathetic, and that is how I read her character as well. I only wanted more of Fanny and Edmund than Jane Austin chose to give us.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Surprisingly excellent.

I wasn't sure about a dramatization at first but this was rather well done. I know it's somewhat short but it was amusing and engaging. Bravo.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Confusing at times

I enjoyed the book and finished it quickly, but found the recording a bit confusing at times. The voices of the actors were quite similar and the narration didn't acknowledge which character was speaking every time which made it difficult to follow what was happening at times. The story itself was interesting and entertaining, but I found the ending a bit abrupt and the character development lacking at times. Despite these criticisms I found it an enjoyable experience overall!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Too abridged!

Way too short -- yes, a dramatization, but much abridged--just when it was getting good--boom!--over. I was disappointed.

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Story Lacking

I really wasn't a fan. The girl didn't do much to recommend herself and the guy doesn't notice until he rebounds from the previous object of his affections. Ending was anticlimactic.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Pleasure listening

This dramatization with really wonderful actors serves as an introduction or summary to Jane Austen's novel. After listening to this, it is easier to follow the flow of the lengthier novel.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Quite enjoyable

Good to relax to. I often listen to books while I drive or just before I sleep, and this rendition of Mansfield park was most enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Radio Adaptation with Engaging Cast

Would you listen to Mansfield Park (Dramatized) again? Why?

I have, in fact, listened to this twice. It's a very skilled adaptation of one of my favorite Austen books. And the performances are wonderful.

What did you like best about this story?

You can't help but love Fanny Price and admire her strength, humor, and resilience.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The cast was universally strong and wonderfully captured the idiosyncrasies of the individual characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Fanny gets sent back to her family and she had to adjust to live away from Mansfield Park.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Too much narrating not enough speech

Too much narrative for a radio drama, needed more skill in the script. Hardly heard the characters, which meant I felt little for their wellbeing. That said it was easy to follow and the actors did a good job. Go for a different version though, or simply listen to the novel in full- which is wonderful.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Disappointing format

It's a great story, great cast, how could they go wrong with this production? By using awkward chapter formatting and short narration summaries to join the chapters. I suppose that's one way of shortening the story but it was a shame overall.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A great story cut short

If you have read the book previously then you will enjoy this as an additional entertainment but do not listen to this and assume you have read the book as much of Austen's original brilliance is missing!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

too short

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

dramatization is too short, performances and original story are very good but too much is missed out

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable performances, but...

...the joy of Austen is in the words and minutiae. This version is done with such broad brushstrokes that everything that makes the book so wonderful is completely lost. It's almost like the cliff notes, especially with the narrator constantly chiming in to explain the things that have been left out or couldn't be conveyed through dialogue alone. The unabridged narration by Juliet Stevenson is much, much better.

Brilliant

Loved this dramatison . Cast were excellent. Made a lovely change. Austen books never let you down

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great performance!

This is truly a great adaption of the novel with an all star cast. Easy listening which takes you back into that period.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful