John Miller of the National Review in the USA creates fabulous podcasts on Great Books. I was delighted to be invited to discuss Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park with him recently. He clearly knew the novel well himself and we had such an interesting discussion about this most challenging and controversial of Jane Austen’s books.
You can listen to the podcast here for the next few weeks – after then it goes behind a paywall. I do hope you enjoy it.
Do you have an opinion on Mansfield Park? Did you enjoy this conversation? Let me know by leaving a comment.
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20 August 1836: William Makepeace Thackeray marries. 
Anna a Campo
Thanks for doing this interview on ‘Mansfield Park’ with Susannah Fullerton. All her comments are spot on. Her knowledgeable and clearly expressed analysis of MP was a joy to hear. Looking forward to more interviews with her. As ‘Emma’ is her favourite Austen novel, this might be a good choice.
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks so much – I am delighted you enjoyed it.
Karen
I’ve read Mansfield Park a number of times and yet I still learned more and thought more about it while I listened to this very good interview! I too will continue to reread Jane Austen’s works (love them all, though Northanger Abbey less so!) throughout my life and I still learn more about them with each read! Thank you Susannah and Great Books!
Susannah Fullerton
So glad you enjoyed the interview. I’ll be doing another one with him before long, so will keep you posted about that.
Helen Gentle
Thank you for sharing the Mansfield Park interview Susannah. I am always staggered by your depth of knowledge and particularly your amazing character analyses. When I read a book, I tend to come away with strong visual impressions, that can last a lifetime, but you open up views I have not considered.
Keep up the amazing work!
Helen
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks for your lovely comments, Helen. I am so glad you enjoyed the interview.
Lona Manning
Susannah, how right you are that Mansfield Park should be read again and again. I was just listening to a nice audio recording and, besides the renewed admiration, had so many thoughts and reflections about it!
Susannah Fullerton
Isn’t it wonderful to listen to a good audio version of it. And yes, it really repays frequent rereadings!
Janet
John Miller loved your accent. So do I.
That was a beautiful podcast. I listen to all of them. They are marvelous every week. He gets the best people to interview so you were in the best company.
Susannah Fullerton
Many thanks for recommending me to him. We are planning another one some time soon.
Phyllis Ferguson
Dear Susannah,
Lovely to hear you again. I had never before made the connection between the character of Tom Bertram and that of the Prince Regent. I look forward to you appearing on this program again.
Best wishes,
Phyllis in North Vancouver
Susannah Fullerton
So lovely to hear from you, Phyllis. I remember your visit to JASA with great affection – we have rarely had a talk which got members talking so much!
I do hope I will see you at the JASNA conference in Victoria next year. I am to be a keynote speaker and am so looking forward to it.
I hope you are both well – I wonder when you will be able to visit Aussie relatives?
I have just signed you up to my literary newsletter, ‘Notes from a Book Addict’. It comes out on the first day of each month – you can unsubscribe at any time if you wish to.
Brian
What a marvellous interview Susannah after your final word one rushes straight to the bookcase to re read MP whilst your every insight is still remembered, your voice is so seductive and enchanting that if you were reading my death sentence I would be sitting in enraptured attention.
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks for your lovely comments, Brian. How about this for a ‘death sentence’ – that you live a life long enough to read all the books you really want to read, and that you die peacefully with a good book in your hand.
I am going to start doing lots of book chats on youtube – can you subscribe? Just google
susannah fullerton youtube
and you can then become a subscriber. I’d be most grateful.
Brian
How fabulous you’ll be a UTube sensation especially on the big screen, best news I’ve heard this year. Have you read the Dictionary of Lost Words, have just purchased and was intending to read but your scintillating talk had me running back to Mansfield Park for a third visit so I’m booked in there for the next few days to catch up with all the residents again
Susannah Fullerton
You are kind! Yes, I loved The Dictionary of Lost Words – unusual and thought-provoking.
Hope you have a good weekend!
Hilary Aitken
Thank you so much Susannah – I really enjoyed the podcast and will look out for future appearances. Mansfield Park is one of my favourites and feels the most weighty of the novels. I hadn’t previously picked up the allusion to The Prince Regent, so for that alone, thank you. I hope you’ll be able to get back to Scotland some day soon, and come and see us all at the Scottish Branch again.
Hilary Aitken
Jane Austen Society Scottish Branch
Susannah Fullerton
I am delighted you enjoyed it, Hilary! It is such a rich adn brilliant novel, isn’t it.
Do you receive my free monthly newsletter, ‘Notes from a Book Addict’? I think you would enjoy it. You can sign up for it on my website. I am also planning to do lots more on-line book chats, so to get those, you can sign up on youtube. Just google
susannah fullerton youtube
and you can subscribe.
I was supposed to be doing a literary tour in Scotland early next year, but that has been cancelled, like so muhc else. I so love visiting the Scottish branch and hope it isn’t too long before I can do so again.
I hope you are keeping well, and coping with all the Covid stresses.