Mansfield Park

Fanny Price is the eldest daughter of a large, poor naval family in Portsmouth. Her mother's wealthy sister, Lady Bertram, and her strict husband, Sir Thomas, agree to raise her at their country estate, Mansfield Park, but they never let her forget she is lower in rank than her cousins Tom, Edmund, Maria and Julia. Their bossy aunt, Mrs. Norris, makes sure of it. Only Edmund takes the time to understand Fanny, and she comes to love him deeply.

When Sir Thomas sails away to look after his business interests in Antigua, the young people grow restless. Henry and Mary Crawford, fashionable and witty newcomers from London, join them, and the group decides to stage a daring play called Lovers' Vows at home. Fanny alone refuses to take part. Maria flirts with Henry though she is engaged to someone else, and Edmund is drawn to Mary despite their very different values. Later Henry, bored, decides to win Fanny's heart, and her refusal of a brilliant offer tests everyone's view of her.

Long and slower than Pride and Prejudice, yet deeply rewarding. About 544 pages in the Penguin Classics edition, introduced by Kathryn Sutherland.