Mansfield Park: A Novel.

AUSTEN, Jane.

Item Number: 135726

London: Printed for T. Egerton, 1814.

First edition of Austen’s classic third novel. Small octavo, 3 volumes, elaborately bound in full crushed morocco by Riviere & Son, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands. triple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. With the half-titles supplied as commonly found. From the library of American industrialist and notable book collector William Hartman Woodin with his bookplate to volume I. In near fine condition. A stunning example.

Although Mansfield Park was initially ignored by reviewers, it was a great success with the public. The first printing in 1814 sold out within six months. The novel tells the story of Fanny Price, starting when her overburdened family sends her at the age of ten to live in the household of her wealthy aunt and uncle and following her development into early adulthood. "The subject of Mansfield Park is education, or the discipline and training of the feelings… [It is] an intensely moving and intelligent comedy about modern England" (Honan, 338-48). Austen's novels "were published anonymously, though the authorship was an open secret to her friends. It was first made public in a short biographical notice prefixed to the two posthumous novels in 1818. Miss Austen's genius received little recognition during her life" (DNB).