My guest today is Kyra C. Kramer, who is visiting Diary of an Eccentric with an exclusive video guest post to celebrate the release of her new novel, Mansfield Parsonage, a variation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. In the video, Kyra talks about Mansfield Parsonage and why Mary Crawford is arguably the most interesting and likeable character in Austen’s novel. Please give a warm welcome to Kyra C. Kramer:
Thanks, Kyra! What an interesting take on Mansfield Park! I’m definitely looking forward to reading Mansfield Parsonage.
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About Mansfield Parsonage
Fans of Jane Austen will recognise the players and the setting – Mansfield Park has been telling the story of Fanny Price and her happily ever after for more than 200 years. But behind the scenes of Mansfield Park, there’s another story to be told.
Mary Crawford’s story.
When her widowed uncle made her home untenable, Mary made the best of things by going to live with her elder sister, Mrs Grant, in a parson’s house the country. Mansfield Parsonage was more than Mary had expected and better than she could have hoped. Gregarious and personable, Mary also embraced the inhabitants of the nearby Mansfield Park, watching the ladies set their caps for her dashing brother, Henry Crawford, and developing an attachment to Edmund Bertram and a profound affection for his cousin, Fanny Price.
Mansfield Parsonage retells the story of Mansfield Park from the perspective of Mary Crawford’s hopes and aspirations and shows how Fanny Price’s happily-ever-after came at Mary’s expense.
Or did it?
“This book captures Austen’s voice with a fascinating point of view.” – Maria Grace, Author of “Courtship and Marriage in Jane Austen’s World”
“Kyra Kramer delights with her cheeky take on one of Austen’s most misunderstood characters. Through sharp observation and a talent for turn of phrase, Kramer polishes Mary Crawford into the bright jewel she truly is. By the end, you’ll be wondering why the original wasn’t written from her perspective all along. This is Regency Era at its finest. Mansfield Parsonage, a true source of felicity!” – Adrienne Dillard, Author of “Cor Rotto”
Check out Mansfield Parsonage on Goodreads | Amazon
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About the Author
Kyra C. Kramer
Kyra C. Kramer is a medical anthropologist, historian, and devoted bibliophile who lives just outside Cardiff, Wales with her handsome husband and three wonderful young daughters. She has a deep – nearly obsessive – love for Regency Period romances in general and Jane Austen’s work in particular. Ms. Kramer has authored several history books and academic essays, but this is her first foray into fictional writing.
Connect with Kyra C. Kramer via website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon
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Giveaway
MadeGlobal Publishing is generously offering a hard copy of Mansfield Parsonage to my readers. This giveaway is open internationally. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address and answer the question Kyra poses in her video post: are you pro-Mary or pro-Fanny/Edmund? This giveaway will close on Sunday, March 5, 2017. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced in the comments section of this post. Good luck!
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Diary of an Eccentric 
All I can say is that I would forgive my sisters most things. I do understand that it a different time and different values, but family should weather the storm together.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
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Thanks for weighing in, Mary. The difference in time periods and values certainly is a lot to ponder.
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[…] not join Kyra today at Diary of an Eccentric where Kyra discusses the different perspective of her novel. YOU CAN WIN A BOOK […]
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Mary Crawford is an interesting character, an I’d love to read her POV. Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
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I agree! I’m really looking forward to reading it.
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I am interested in learning more about Mary and her views which would give me a further perspective on Fanny’s relationship with her and Edmund.
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I think it will be interested to see the story from her POV.
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Interesting question posed in the video. I am pro-Mary in that situation. jadseah4 (at) yahoo
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The video definitely provides some food for thought.
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Fun getting the argument for Mary Crawford. I’ve always been taken with her lively personality and how her early experiences shaped her just like that is true of everyone else in the story. I don’t tend to put Fanny or Mary at such extremes because the times were different back then and they lived with different societal mores.
Thanks for the video and I look forward to the story.
sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com
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I agree about times being different. I’ve always thought there was something to admire in them both.
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Am I pro-Mary or pro-Fanny/Edmund? A mix, I haven’t been a great fan of Mary(But that my change) but then I always felt Edmund settled for Fanny
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It’s been a while since I’ve read MP, but I remember feeling that way about Edmund, too. It’s about time I re-read it; I’m curious what I’d think now.
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I think I don’t have enough background to answer whether I’m pro-Mary or Pro-Fanny/Edmund, as I haven’t read Mansfield Park yet. From the movie I would say Pro-Fanny because she’s treated horribly and Mary is just so unlikeable. savvyverseandwit AT gmail
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We should do a readalong like we did for Persuasion!
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I definitely would like to know more about Mary!
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Me, too! I’ve always found her to be an interesting character.
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Very interesting. You have my attention.
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It does sound like an interesting book. Thanks for stopping by!
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I cannot say I’m a pro Mary Crawford fan but I do like her wit and intelligence but not her immoral views. On the other hand, I’m also like certain traits in Fanny such as her loyal, kind and steadfast love for Edmund.
evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com
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I agree; there definitely are pros and cons in each character.
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Thanks to everyone who stopped by to watch the video post. The winner is darcybennett. Congrats and happy reading!
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