My 1st Jane Austen book. I often found myself thinking "where is she going with this..." Part of me wondered if I should have read one of her more popular books first to familiarize myself with Austen's style. Many moments reminded me of PG Wodehouse. I could well imagine Bertie Wooster stopping by at Mansfield Park, agreeing to be in a play, & quickly scurrying away at the 1st sign of the family patriarch, despite the eventful 100 years between Austen & Wodehouse! Mansfield park is also an interesting portrait of regency Britain. Even before the height of the Industrial revolution, a town like Portsmouth was still described as being very smokey. All in all a good read. I liked the story & enjoyed Jane Austen's humor & observations. The intro to the edition I read was worth reading, providing context and analysis, but I'm glad that I read it after I finished the novel itself.