Henry Becomes the Hero

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: Purchased

TYPE OF NOVEL: Mansfield Park Sequel

THE PREMISE: 13 years later some assemblage of the participants of that fateful summer at Mansfield Park encounter each other again. But there are a lot of changes and new developments. How do these characters navigate their relationships with each other now after the scandal and drama that ensued from all those years ago…

WHAT I LOVED:

• Writing What She Believes: In the Author’s Forward, Paula Atchia declares that she is writing this book mostly for her own pleasure and because she firmly believes that Jane Austen herself, had the intention of bringing Fanny and Henry together. Which is an assertion, I myself, wouldn’t mind believing! I never felt Henry was as detestable as Mr. Wickham or Mr. Willoughby, and I love the idea of a flirtatious charmer who loves to play with affections finally succumbing to an irrepressible and sincere love for someone completely unexpected.

• Serial Killer Spree: This is my playful way of saying that in the 13 years since the close of Mansfield Park, Paula Atchia killed off several key characters, and I am not at all sad about it. She chose her victims very well and the circumstances and causes of their deaths are both plausible and not ones that would cause much undue distress. But having them gone from the action is impactful and does properly steer this story down new and interesting paths.

• Back at Mansfield: At the end of Mansfield Park, many of our character disperse or begin new chapters – Julia with the honorable Mr. Yates, the Grants and the Crawfords leave the area, and Fanny and Edmund finally marry. And in this sequel we see many of these key players return to Mansfield Park again – Susan, Fanny, and Fanny’s son all reside at Mansfield Park with Lady Bertram, Tom has newly married and brings his wife home for wedding visits, and Henry Crawford returns to the area after spending years in military service in India. It felt very full circle to see these characters encounter each other again on these grounds, and have the memories of all that has happened there before resurface.

• Fanny:  I loved Paula Atchia’s understanding of Fanny Bertram. She is in essentials “very much what she ever was,” but we see that in her introspection she questions and ruminates on things differently. She is, as always, beyond dutiful, selfless, and deep with her love for her family. She is reserved and timid. And she is still not afraid to decline a fortuitous marriage proposal and keep her own counsel. I like Fanny very much, and I agree with Ms. Atchia that Jane Austen intended us to admire her, and not be put-off by her priggish rigidity. I have always felt that Fanny Price is very similar to Anne Elliot, and I can well related to their preferences to internalize so many things and necessity of taking a lot time and thought before any action or decision.

• Henry: Be still my heart…this is what I’ve always wanted. Misunderstood, maligned, and with hidden merit. I loved everything Paula Atchia did with this character – how she had characters reveal scraps and commentary about him throughout the story, had him say very little but speak volumes with his actions, and tantalizingly made us wait for each scene with him….*swoon*  Like Fanny, I think it all had me in a frenzy! I was already half in love with him at the start of this book, but to once again witness his unique way of really seeing Fanny and understanding her character in a way no one else does completely stole my heart.

• All the Other Characters: The personality portrayals were pitch-perfect. And the new original characters were well-drawn and intriguing. I especially enjoyed the characterizations of Mary – with her mixture of affectionate friendship and arch humor, Tom – with his unequal attention to the pleasures of being lord of the manor over the responsibilities, and Julia – with her diva, “image-is-everything” attitude.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:

• Did we get a proper kiss scene? I don’t think so. If we did it was too vague or subtextual. Otherwise it is everything I’ve wished for.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

💖  This Mansfield Park sequel is for every reader who believes, deep in their soul, that Henry Crawford is a hero not a heartbreaker!

🕰️  What if time passed, Henry found purpose, and Fanny found perspective. Could things turn out differently?

✍🏼  Clever, perceptive, and entertaining this is truly a splendidly compelling Austenesque work written by a most ardent and astute admirer of Jane Austen.

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*This book is out-of-print and therefore very hard to find, but I do see an ebook compendium version of it on Amazon – I’m just not certain if it done with the author’s permission…😬