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What if Fanny Price was tired of being called 'ungrateful?' A re-imagining of Mansfield Park with a Fanny Price you will cheer for! "If you're a Mansfield Park fan and looking for spinoff fiction by an author that really understands MP, this is the book for you. It comes highly recommended by one very picky Austen fan." Winner -- Silver Medal The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, 2018
Winner -- Historical Romance
Silver Medal Golden Squirrel Book Awards 2018 This variation of Jane Austen's novel includes all the familiar characters from Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, and some new acquaintances as well.
There are some mature scenes and situations not suitable for all readers. |
Fanny Price, an intelligent but timid girl from a poor family, lives at Mansfield Park with her wealthy cousins. But the cruelty of her Aunt Norris, together with a broken heart, compel Fanny to run away and take a job as a governess. Far away from everything she ever knew and the man she secretly loves, will Fanny grow in strength and confidence? Will a new suitor help her to forget her past? Or will a reckless decision ruin her life and the lives of those she holds most dear?
Best Austen Variation I Have Ever Read
"An excellent variation of Mansfield Park, featuring a strong, proactive Fanny while staying true to Jane Austen's writing. Actually, I was surprised how faithful this adaptation remained given the premise. The author develops each character fully with multiple layers--even the Crawfords, albeit in a different direction than usual. I loved the O[riginal] C[haracter]s Mrs. Butters, Mr. Gibson, and Edward, and it was fun looking out for cameos from Persuasion, Emma, and even Pride and Prejudice! (sort of?)" -- Amazon Five Star Review Wishing Shelf Book Award judge comments: "Filled with so many little details from the original story but, at the same time, offering fans of Austen a new take on the story to enjoy....The author shows a love for Jane Austen's works through her thoughtful portrayal... wonderful novel wrapped in a wonderful cover..." |
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"Best Jane Austen pastiche I have read."
"These books are simply amazing... the characters are so well drawn, the settings so real, the writing so Austenlike and authentic... I enjoyed the afterward information and explanations almost as much as the books." "Absolutely brilliant.... Ms. Manning expertly crafts an alternate path for the Mansfield characters..." --Amazon Five Star Reviews |
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A Marriage of Attachment continues the story of Fanny Price as she struggles to build her own life after leaving her rich uncle’s home. Fanny teaches sewing to poor working-class girls in London, while trying to forget her first love, Edmund Bertram, who is trapped in a disastrous marriage with Mary Crawford.
Together with her brother John and her friend, the writer William Gibson, Fanny discovers a plot that threatens someone at the highest levels of government. Meanwhile, Fanny’s brother William fights slavery on the high seas while longing for the girl he loves. "A Marriage of Attachment continues the Mansfield Park variation that began with A Contrary Wind. Both are a delight to read. Frankly, I just love Lona Manning's writing style. I'd probably buy a book of shed assembly instructions from her if she wrote it in her wonderfully Austenesque manner... Ms Manning weaves the topics and events of the time into the text with a deft hand, all of which makes the tale feel so very credible and realistic....
Mark Brownlow, author of Cake and Courtship “Lona Manning's use of Austenesque language is simply sublime. I forgot I was reading a variation - it felt like I'd discovered a new novel by the Lady herself.” Allie Cresswell, best-selling author of Tall Chimneys A Marriage of Attachment is one of the better Jane Austen sequels. I particularly enjoyed the way Manning has developed Fanny’s character. She is still shy, but being forced to earn a living has given her more self-confidence. Historical Novel Society
"This second book in the trilogy was intriguing. Lona snuck in history that enthralled me... I loved this blend of fiction and fact." -- Goodreads Review
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A Marriage of Attachment takes the familiar characters from Mansfield Park on a new journey. "Manning's writing style is so Austenian that I'm second-guessing the possibility of reincarnation. Okay, not *really*, but it truly does read like one of Jane's own books... A.E. Walnofer, author of A Girl Called Foote "One thing that continues to impress me most about Lona Manning’s writing is her deft and developed depictions of Jane Austen’s characters. It is not every author that I say this about but I feel Lona Manning is quite skilled in capturing the voice and matching the tone and style of Jane Austen’s characters." Austenesque Reviews "What you're doing with weaving the social and political context of two hundred years ago into your writing is brilliant."
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Mansfield trilogy book covers by Tim Barber of Dissect Designs.
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In the exciting conclusion of the Mansfield Trilogy, the lives and destinies of Jane Austen’s well-known characters are deftly blended with dramatic historical events.
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Regency England comes alive in this tale of love, loss and second chances set against the real-life backdrop of political turmoil in England.
Fanny Price is torn between the man she loves and her duty to her family. In London, Fanny’s brother John meets his match in a feisty bookseller’s daughter, while her cousin Maria goes husband-hunting. And Edmund Bertram’s wife Mary meets the charismatic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and risks everything to gain the power and influence she craves.
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"I'm equally in awe of the author's mastery of the Austenesque as I was with the first two books in the trilogy. Lona Manning manages the rare trick of writing in a way that is easy to read but also resonant with all the trappings and distinctive style of Austen's own writing. A remarkable balancing act." -- Mark Brownlow
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"I believe any Austen fan (not just those of us who enjoy JAFF) would love her books. This trilogy has been nothing short of stellar."
"I can highly recommend this all-encompassing trilogy and brava Ms. Manning!" -- Goodreads |
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"In the first two books of this trilogy, Lona Manning has already demonstrated both her absolute mastery of Austenesque language, and her deep understanding of Austen's characters and their motivations. She also situates Austen's characters in historical context, and A Different Kind of Woman continues that theme. I enjoyed this book so much as a work of historical fiction, and not just as a Jane Austen spinoff. Manning's writing is so entertaining that, while you're learning about the history of the period, you're having too much of a good time to notice. Her use of historical detail is never gratuitous or forced, and serves to further the development of all Austen's characters as they move along in this alternate storyline. In addition, nothing is predictable about Manning's work, and I was in suspense about how the story would end through the very last chapter. Manning is a fantastic writer and researcher who has used her considerable talent on Austen's beloved characters. Lovers of Jane Austen and historical fiction alike will enjoy this book." Callista Hunter, author of Goddess
"[Mary Crawford and Percy Bysshe Shelley] literally flew off the page at you and I couldn't look away!
To see how a nugget of historical detail was developed into a major plot point was incredible." Goodreads Five Star Review |
Visit my Research page for background info on the people and places I write about!
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My Mansfield Trilogy began as a tribute to Jane Austen' wonderful prose and her dry wit. Then I got caught up in all the fascinating historical events of the Regency such as the campaign to wipe out the slave trade, and the radical reform movement at home.
My books emphasize character development and historical events more than romance. Yes, there are love stories in the trilogy, but If you are looking for a very romantic read, you might be disappointed. |
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"This is a beautifully written book with such an absorbing story I could hardly put it down. And unlike most of the other reviewers here, I didn’t come to it because I’m a fan of Jane Austen. No, I found this book when I was exploring Kindle Unlimited, especially focusing on books published by their authors, and A Contrary Wind outshone all the others I found for the smoothness of its prose, the compelling characters, the captivating plot, and the general tightness of the writing—I never skipped ahead wishing someone had told the author to please cut some. I admit I was perplexed by the excessive use of commas, but then I did read Mansfield Park, and a couple more of Austen’s books, which gave me an even deeper appreciation of what Lona Manning had done."
"It’s the sort of complex book in which you can get submerged and then hate to find you’ve come to the end. But I feel it differs from Jane Austen’s work more than A Contrary Wind. It’s more of an historical novel than just a variation on Mansfield Park. Manning has still kept the rhythm of Austen’s prose and the feel of Austen’s world, and the romantic tension between Fanny and Edmund will still keep you turning the pages. But she doesn’t stay with the landed gentry. She ventures into working class London. She deals with how the abolition of the slave trade depressed the economy of England and hurt many of the working class. She describes how it was tied to Britain’s war with France... A series of historical murders and the assassination of a Prime Minister are woven into the story too. I enjoyed all of this: the history and the romance, the excellent quality of the writing, and also the machinations of the villains, who seemed more villainous than Austen’s too. It made for a very satisfying read on many levels." --(Amazon 5 Star Reviews)
"It’s the sort of complex book in which you can get submerged and then hate to find you’ve come to the end. But I feel it differs from Jane Austen’s work more than A Contrary Wind. It’s more of an historical novel than just a variation on Mansfield Park. Manning has still kept the rhythm of Austen’s prose and the feel of Austen’s world, and the romantic tension between Fanny and Edmund will still keep you turning the pages. But she doesn’t stay with the landed gentry. She ventures into working class London. She deals with how the abolition of the slave trade depressed the economy of England and hurt many of the working class. She describes how it was tied to Britain’s war with France... A series of historical murders and the assassination of a Prime Minister are woven into the story too. I enjoyed all of this: the history and the romance, the excellent quality of the writing, and also the machinations of the villains, who seemed more villainous than Austen’s too. It made for a very satisfying read on many levels." --(Amazon 5 Star Reviews)
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Love Jane Austen? Interested in my books but you haven't read Mansfield Park? Or maybe it's been a while since you read Mansfield Park and you want to refresh your memory. Libri Vox offers free audio of MP -- I recommend the version with the buttery-smooth British accent of Karen Savage.
This Evergreen podcast gives an outline of the novel with some commentary. There are some trivial errors as to the plot, but it's a painless way to review what happens in the story and to recall the major characters. You'll have the plot of the novel, but you'll miss out on the great Austenian prose. Or, for a fun and irreverent alternative, read this recap by confirmed Fanny-hater Robert Rodi. As for the filmed adaptations, I'd go with the 1983 version as being the most true to the book. In the more recent film and television adaptions, the timid, introspective Fanny Price of the novel is excised and replaced by a completely different character -- a feisty, spunky, rebellious Fanny Price v. 2.0, which completely distorts the story. More about the great Fanny Price debate here. |
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