The retelling of Jane Austens novel Mansfield Park from the point of view of Edmund Bertramby the author of Mr. Knightleys Diary a...
read full description
reviews
Jan 10, 2012
Michelle
rated it: 
I should first and foremost make clear that I am a purist where Jane Austen is concerned, and that Mansfield Park and Persuasion alternate as my favorite Austen novel.
Amanda Grange has many good things going for her. The language is mostly convincing and the characters have continuity with Austen's own. When dialog or events coincide with something already portrayed in Mansfield Park, Grange is pretty faithful in her own portrayal. Most importantly, Edmund Bertram's Diary is a l More...
Amanda Grange has many good things going for her. The language is mostly convincing and the characters have continuity with Austen's own. When dialog or events coincide with something already portrayed in Mansfield Park, Grange is pretty faithful in her own portrayal. Most importantly, Edmund Bertram's Diary is a l More...
Mar 07, 2011
Laura
rated it: 
A very solid alternative to re-reading the original. I'm just not sure if that is a compliment or not! I would probably have given it four stars for how much I enjoyed reading it, but I think a lot of that enjoyment came from Jane Austen and not Amanda Grange. There's very, very little added except a slightly deeper exploration of Edmund's stress at being left in charge of the estate and one very nicely done scene where he sees Fanny in a brand new light. Fanny's end character is nicely portraye
More...
Jun 18, 2010
Gretchen
rated it:
I personally loved Mansfield Park. I admire Fanny and I really liked Edmund, when he wasn't obsessed over Mary Crawford. I kind of think Edmund Bertram's Diary was just a mirror of Mansfield Park (it was kind of hard not to be as Fanny and Edmund grew up together and Edmund is in most chapters of the book). It covered in a couple pages Edmund's trip to visit Mr Owen and what he did while Fanny was in Portsmouth, even though I wanted a bit more of that: it would have been nice to read something I
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 27, 2009
Meredith (Austenesque Reviews)
rated it: 
Amanda Grange has done it again! I love her series on Austen men! This is my fourth book and to be honest, I was a little wary of it because Edmund is not one of my favorite Austen heroes. Like in her other books, Ms. Grange did her homework, her retelling follows the course of Mansfield Park, with accurate dates, events, and dialogue taking place.
Unfortunately, because Ms. Grange is so diligent with her work, it means a lot of Edmund's diary entries are consumed with talk of Mary C More...
Unfortunately, because Ms. Grange is so diligent with her work, it means a lot of Edmund's diary entries are consumed with talk of Mary C More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 14, 2011
Charity
rated it:
Just finished it. :) I enjoyed it! I think I enjoyed Mr. Knightley's Diary better, but I like the story of Emma better anyway. Fun to read it from his point of view. :) I'm glad, our library has two more of these (I think) and I'm going to read them soon. A recommended read for Jane Austen fans. Now I want to see the movie...
Jul 02, 2011
Karen
rated it:
Quite good. Mansfield Park is not my favorite of Jane Austen's. I find Fanny a little too meek and mild and Edmund kind of wishy-washy for my taste. But it was nice to get a different perspective on story. Amanda Grange did a good job of using this book to fill in some of the holes in the story and made it match the original book very well. I am interested to read some of her other diaries.
Mar 09, 2010
Holly
rated it:
These are nice, skim-able (possibly because I know the storylines so well), easy-to-read books, and it's interesting to see the men's point of view of events and heroines according to Grange. I'm not really sold on it being in actual diary format, though. I would have preferred it to be an actual book so that the tone and voice was more similar to what Austen wrote.
Feb 18, 2009
Lori
rated it:
I didn't like it as much as Capt Wentworth's diary, but that is no fault of the author. Edmund is infatuated with Mary Crawford for most of the book which makes this one less fun to read for me. Loved the ending and how she elaborated on the story Jane Austen gives in Mansfield Park. Can't wait to read another Amanda Grange diary.
Aug 11, 2011
Erika
rated it:
I liked this a lot. Although you know how the story goes, it is fun to see the other side. Austen doesn't give the hero's point of view so I enjoy imagining the other perspective. Yes, it's fluff, but it's still a good time
Mar 13, 2009
Julie
rated it:
I nearly died of boredom in the beginning, but once the play was over it got better. I read it because of my love of Jane Austen.
Out of the few books I have read that are sequels to Austen's book, I feel Amanda Grange is the most loyal to Austen's characters. Granted I have not read many.
Out of the few books I have read that are sequels to Austen's book, I feel Amanda Grange is the most loyal to Austen's characters. Granted I have not read many.
Jun 11, 2010
Milka
rated it: 
I could say that Edmund Bertram is my favorite Austen hero after Darcy. When I heard about this book I knew right away that I would love it. And I did, it is the best Jane Austen related Diary sequel I've even read.
The book begins when Fanny arrives to Mansfield Park and she and Edmund become friends. From the book you can totally feel the strong bond between Fanny and Edmund. When Mary Crawford comes into the picture you can really feel the struggle Edmund goes through. My favorite More...
The book begins when Fanny arrives to Mansfield Park and she and Edmund become friends. From the book you can totally feel the strong bond between Fanny and Edmund. When Mary Crawford comes into the picture you can really feel the struggle Edmund goes through. My favorite More...
Jun 11, 2009
Jen
rated it:
The man's point of view from Mansfield Park. It was okay. Mansfield Park isn't my favorite Jane Austen anyway, but it was something to do on a rainy day!
Oct 12, 2010
Abby
rated it:
Once again, although the actual story itself was good, and seemed to be building up to something wonderful, I'm afraid this one also fell flat.
Jul 29, 2010
Bobble
rated it: 
Also found this in the library and checked it out on a whim. Easily finished it in a day. Highly disappointing.
Dec 21, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
I enjoyed this book, especially since I've only seen the Masterpiece Theater's rendition of Mansfield Park. I am really liking this author.
Aug 23, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. It was much easier to get through than Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.
May 31, 2011
Renae
rated it:
I didn't dislike this book, but I felt it didn't really add much more to the original.
Mar 10, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
Amanda Grange is very talented...this is a must read for any Jane Austen fan!
Aug 09, 2008
Ranielle
rated it:
Patricia Rozema's 1999 film version did such a wonderful job of romanticizing what is, in my opinion, one of Jane Austen's least romantic tales and saddest heroines. I was hoping for more on the part of Edmund Bertram through his "diary", a better understanding of Mary Crawford's allure and more hints from the very beginning that Fanny Price was the girl and then the woman he loved more than any other. But Edmund remains fairly clueless, even by his "own" words, and there is
More...
Mar 13, 2009
Stacey
rated it:
***Possible Spoilers***
This wasn't bad, but it is weak in comparison to Ms. Grange's other Diaries. At times it was downright boring. I would have liked to see a glimpse of Edmund and Fanny's life at Mansfield after their marriage but it was not mentioned. The ending was rather abrupt as if the author tired of writing and wanted to get it over with.
Edmund & Fanny are kind, low-key, considerate characters. Perhaps they are not the type to inspire passionate sparks but thi More...
This wasn't bad, but it is weak in comparison to Ms. Grange's other Diaries. At times it was downright boring. I would have liked to see a glimpse of Edmund and Fanny's life at Mansfield after their marriage but it was not mentioned. The ending was rather abrupt as if the author tired of writing and wanted to get it over with.
Edmund & Fanny are kind, low-key, considerate characters. Perhaps they are not the type to inspire passionate sparks but thi More...
May 25, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
I was impressed that Grange managed to find enough material in the character of Edward Bertram to write a story that is more than just a mirror of the events in Mansfield Park. His view of Fanny, from childhood through adulthood, and his awareness of the changes in her that are harder for Austen readers to see from such a close perspective, is really valuable. The tone is very even, which suits the main character but detracts from the potential drama, so that overall it's a very calm read.
More...
Aug 25, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
It was okay. I think what kept me reading was the fact that it is an epistolary novel. I love them. Oh well. They can't all be winners.
Nov 12, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
Edmund Bertram's Diary is a retelling of the classic Mansfield Park. There is a plethora of Jane Austen fan fiction available. In my opinion, Amanda Grange's "Diary" series is the best. She stays true to Austen's original works. Nothing about the story is changed, but Edmund Bertram's voice provides an interesting twist, that hooks the reader, even though we know how it's going to end.
Mar 29, 2010
Janisu-chan
rated it:
I probably would have given it more stars if I liked the original story better, but I've always had trouble with this Jane Austen story. Too many stupid people and Fanny Price is too quiet--maybe because it's what I don't like about myself? Anyway, the true love story evolves too slowly for my taste and Edmund is so obtuse. Fortunately he's a good person and they win out in the end.
Jan 29, 2009
Tamra
rated it:
I've enjoyed these diaries from the male perspective by Amanda Grange. This one was good too and although I haven't yet read "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen I have seen two movie versions of the book. Edmund is a bit naive and Fanny is a bit too patient and nowhere near outspoken enough, but it's still a good story and I liked this perspective.
Nov 18, 2008
Melissa
rated it:
Extremely enjoyable! Grange's best Austen hero diary, I think. I read most Austen fanfic as an academic exercise. There are only a few that have engaged my attention as good reads apart from the Austen connection. This plot actually held my attention and made me want to turn the page and see what would happen next.
Oct 10, 2008
Nicole
rated it:
Simplistic fill-in retelling that will mean nothing to someone who hasn't read Mansfield Park. All the subtle character nuances are entirly left to Austen. Nothing is added to the story by reading this view point except some interaction between the brothers that is nicely done.
