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Everingham
-a Mansfield Park novella- (Austen Fanfiction)
A chance remark reminds Henry Crawford to do the right thing, and ride to Everingham instead of staying in London to flirt with Maria Rushworth. As a result, there is nothing to prevent Edmund from marrying Mary Crawford, or Henry from continuing his pursuit of Fanny with more determination than ever.
~46,000 words.
A chance remark reminds Henry Crawford to do the right thing, and ride to Everingham instead of staying in London to flirt with Maria Rushworth. As a result, there is nothing to prevent Edmund from marrying Mary Crawford, or Henry from continuing his pursuit of Fanny with more determination than ever.
~46,000 words.
- GenresRegency
158 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 18, 2018
4.25 stars. Everingham (which is the name of Henry Crawford's neglected estate) is a novella-length alternative ending to Mansfield Park. It's free online here at archiveofourown and can be downloaded or read online. **spoiler alert for Mansfield Park**
Everingham diverges from MP toward the end of that novel, when Henry Crawford decides not to hang around the married Maria Bertram in London (thus avoiding a WHOLE lotta trouble for himself and, indirectly, for his sister Mary as well). Instead he goes to Everingham and then back to Mansfield Park to try again with Fanny. Fanny is distraught over Edmund getting engaged to Mary. She's still averse to Henry's company, but he's determined to be patient and become an actual friend to her - especially after he realizes that she was hopelessly in love with Edmund.
It did dispense completely with the Tom Bertram subplot at the end of MP, which was just a little distracting. And one element in it was rather sad, though not at all unlikely. There was also one jump forward in time that was distractingly disjointed. But I did like how she explored how all of a couple's relationship issues aren't magically resolved with the wedding.
Well worth reading (especially since it's free!) if you're interested in alternate endings to Jane Austen's works. This is far above the usual level of fan fiction.
Another somewhat similar and very well-written alternate ending to MP is Sherwood Smith's Henry and Fanny: An Alternate Ending to Mansfield Park, which I equally recommend.
*Jane Austen's sister, who begged Jane to allow Fanny to end up with Henry at the end of MP.
Everingham diverges from MP toward the end of that novel, when Henry Crawford decides not to hang around the married Maria Bertram in London (thus avoiding a WHOLE lotta trouble for himself and, indirectly, for his sister Mary as well). Instead he goes to Everingham and then back to Mansfield Park to try again with Fanny. Fanny is distraught over Edmund getting engaged to Mary. She's still averse to Henry's company, but he's determined to be patient and become an actual friend to her - especially after he realizes that she was hopelessly in love with Edmund.
No, he could not give her up, not just yet. Whether it was love, or pride, or a combination of the two, he did not stop to determine; but if anything she had become more irresistible to him than before. But he could not remain in the position of suitor. Continual rejection he could not bear, even to be near her. The only way to remain in her company, and perhaps earn a place in her good graces, must be to become her friend. He must study the art of friendship as avidly as he had once studied the art of making love to pretty girls.It's quite thoughtful and well written, and I really like what the author did with Fanny's and Henry's development as characters. I'm sure Henry's character ends up in a place far from what Jane Austen had imagined, but it's plausible and I could buy it. I'm sure Cassandra Austen* would have approved!
It did dispense completely with the Tom Bertram subplot at the end of MP, which was just a little distracting. And one element in it was rather sad, though not at all unlikely. There was also one jump forward in time that was distractingly disjointed. But I did like how she explored how all of a couple's relationship issues aren't magically resolved with the wedding.
Well worth reading (especially since it's free!) if you're interested in alternate endings to Jane Austen's works. This is far above the usual level of fan fiction.
Another somewhat similar and very well-written alternate ending to MP is Sherwood Smith's Henry and Fanny: An Alternate Ending to Mansfield Park, which I equally recommend.
*Jane Austen's sister, who begged Jane to allow Fanny to end up with Henry at the end of MP.
January 17, 2022
Henry Crawford seems to be settled in London with his sister, Mary, to enjoy the delights of the social season, but she mentions his recent journey to Portsmouth and visit with Fanny Price which reminds him that he thought to earn Fanny's respect by going home to Everingham and take care of estate matters. On a whim, he packs up and does go to Everingham and stops off at Mansfield along the way to put Sir Thomas in the know that his niece needs to be brought home for her health. And, in that action, this becomes a well-plotted, well-developed variation tale on the original Mansfield Park.
So far as I know, this remains unpublished, but it is available to be read through the provided link to the fan fiction website where it is a finished piece. And, might I say, it is already quite well edited so the reading is smooth and there were no distractions from the story.
As to the story, I enjoyed the attention to writing style so that dialogue, thought, and characters were consistent with what I knew of Regency era and Jane Austen's MP characters, particularly. The focus shifts between Henry Crawford and Fanny Price with Edmund Bertram and Mary Crawford as strong secondaries. In truth, all but Tom, Julia, and William from the original cast have significant roles.
The premise centers around Henry Crawford learning by chance that Fanny was secretly in love with her cousin so that is the source of his courtship going no where. He feels he stands a chance when she learns his sister, Mary, has accepted, her cousin Edmund's proposal. It is an uphill slog for Henry to to gain her liking let alone her love even as Fanny is sorrowed not just for losing Edmund, but that he can't see how superficial his bride to be really is.
I liked how this variation really pays attention to the nuances that were present in the original and carries them through. Henry is heroic in ways, but he is not suddenly a new person, but he is trying. He gets that he has to really change his ways if he is to have Fanny. His sister still hasn't changed so that is a bittersweet situation. And, Mrs. Norris and Maria had me twitchy to do violence to them. Actually, I was twitchy for Fanny to step out of character for a bit and beat the every loving snot out of Maria. If you can't tell, there was a crisis moment for Henry and Fanny involving a spoiled Maria.
All in all, this was a fabulous MP variation that I can heartily recommend and hope it is published at some point.
Link to Archive of Our Own https://archiveofourown.org/works/279...
So far as I know, this remains unpublished, but it is available to be read through the provided link to the fan fiction website where it is a finished piece. And, might I say, it is already quite well edited so the reading is smooth and there were no distractions from the story.
As to the story, I enjoyed the attention to writing style so that dialogue, thought, and characters were consistent with what I knew of Regency era and Jane Austen's MP characters, particularly. The focus shifts between Henry Crawford and Fanny Price with Edmund Bertram and Mary Crawford as strong secondaries. In truth, all but Tom, Julia, and William from the original cast have significant roles.
The premise centers around Henry Crawford learning by chance that Fanny was secretly in love with her cousin so that is the source of his courtship going no where. He feels he stands a chance when she learns his sister, Mary, has accepted, her cousin Edmund's proposal. It is an uphill slog for Henry to to gain her liking let alone her love even as Fanny is sorrowed not just for losing Edmund, but that he can't see how superficial his bride to be really is.
I liked how this variation really pays attention to the nuances that were present in the original and carries them through. Henry is heroic in ways, but he is not suddenly a new person, but he is trying. He gets that he has to really change his ways if he is to have Fanny. His sister still hasn't changed so that is a bittersweet situation. And, Mrs. Norris and Maria had me twitchy to do violence to them. Actually, I was twitchy for Fanny to step out of character for a bit and beat the every loving snot out of Maria. If you can't tell, there was a crisis moment for Henry and Fanny involving a spoiled Maria.
All in all, this was a fabulous MP variation that I can heartily recommend and hope it is published at some point.
Link to Archive of Our Own https://archiveofourown.org/works/279...
November 1, 2021
Don't Harp On!
An amazing story where Henry Crawford has real character progression! Not that Fanny is stagnant, you really get to see her thoughts and nature mature. By the end you're really rooting for them to get together because they've gotten to a point where they not only deserve each other, but understand each other. Also I'm a fan whenever it's pointed out that Edmund is a bit of a blind eijit!
An amazing story where Henry Crawford has real character progression! Not that Fanny is stagnant, you really get to see her thoughts and nature mature. By the end you're really rooting for them to get together because they've gotten to a point where they not only deserve each other, but understand each other. Also I'm a fan whenever it's pointed out that Edmund is a bit of a blind eijit!
July 20, 2020
In this sequel to Mansfield Park, Mary Crawford has agreed to marry Edmund Bertrum. But will Henry Crawford continue his pursuit of Fanny Price, especially when he discovers her love for Edmund.
Some lovely character development shown for the main characters, and a delightful story results in a superior unpublished fan fiction.
Some lovely character development shown for the main characters, and a delightful story results in a superior unpublished fan fiction.
August 7, 2021
Lovely story, great character development. I Loved Henry's candor.
Didn't like the time jump but the last chapter was endearing.
Didn't like the time jump but the last chapter was endearing.
May 22, 2017
So good! I love stories where Henry is redeemed and ends up with Fanny. It's how I wish the original would have ended. If only more people would right variations like this. This one was particularly well done.
April 20, 2024
Everingham is my headcanon for the end of Mansfield Park. Henry over Edmund all day every day! Very well written in authentic Austenesque style.
September 11, 2021
Mansfield Park is probably my least favourite Austen novel but I do find the debate around the Crawfords quite intriguing, probably helped by the fact that Edmund Bertram is one of the least convincing and least appealing of any of her heroes (IMO, of course).
So far as I can judge, Everingham is a well written, fairly plausible account of how Henry Crawford could have won Fanny Price. He is never portrayed as stupid in the original, as far as I know, and in this he uses his own intelligence to work out how he needs to change in order to achieve his goal. I must admit I was also very pleased to see him given a couple of tastes of his own medicine towards the end of the novel.
My interest in MP was reawakend when, as another reviewer points out, I discovered that Cassandra Austen had really wanted Jane to change the ending in Henry's favour. People today who support Henry are often accused of taking a 21st century point-of-view, willing to overlook immorality because we think personal happiness is more important. But Cassandra was right there with Jane in the 19th century, presumably with much the same outlook as any other contemporary reader so that argument doesn't really hold water. I know Jane was a genius but I am just left with a vague feeling that she had decided on the ending and that was that (bear in mind that I don't know if Jane left any cogent argument as to why she chose the ending she did). Edmund's sudden declaration of love for Fanny in the original also comes off as very weak IMO - almost as if Jane couldn't really be bothered. This is really very much more satisfying without crossing the line into silliness.
So far as I can judge, Everingham is a well written, fairly plausible account of how Henry Crawford could have won Fanny Price. He is never portrayed as stupid in the original, as far as I know, and in this he uses his own intelligence to work out how he needs to change in order to achieve his goal. I must admit I was also very pleased to see him given a couple of tastes of his own medicine towards the end of the novel.
My interest in MP was reawakend when, as another reviewer points out, I discovered that Cassandra Austen had really wanted Jane to change the ending in Henry's favour. People today who support Henry are often accused of taking a 21st century point-of-view, willing to overlook immorality because we think personal happiness is more important. But Cassandra was right there with Jane in the 19th century, presumably with much the same outlook as any other contemporary reader so that argument doesn't really hold water. I know Jane was a genius but I am just left with a vague feeling that she had decided on the ending and that was that (bear in mind that I don't know if Jane left any cogent argument as to why she chose the ending she did). Edmund's sudden declaration of love for Fanny in the original also comes off as very weak IMO - almost as if Jane couldn't really be bothered. This is really very much more satisfying without crossing the line into silliness.
November 12, 2022
This is the first time I've ever understood why people would want Fanny to end up with Henry instead of Edmund.
I still agree more with Jane Austen, but this is a fantastic "what if". The author gets many things right, such as Fanny's whole character, and the eventual tension that has to arise between Edmund and Mary after their wedding, when the infatuation has worn off.
I still agree more with Jane Austen, but this is a fantastic "what if". The author gets many things right, such as Fanny's whole character, and the eventual tension that has to arise between Edmund and Mary after their wedding, when the infatuation has worn off.
May 8, 2025
This was an interesting variation and I enjoyed seeing how both Fanny and Henry evolved during this story as well as how their relationship developed.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Archive of Our Own Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/279556
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Archive of Our Own Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/279556
Want to read
February 1, 2019NTS: A Fanny/Henry alternate MP ending. Novella found on AO3.
April 4, 2020
I do feel like it didn't quite stay true to Fanny as a character but I enjoyed it a lot. A very interesting what-if.
May 28, 2021
One of the most delightful what-if fan fictions ever written. Such a great plot, such character growth. And so many tender feelings towards Henry and Fanny!
February 12, 2023
Pretty good i would say. LOVE the character development they got lmao I'm feeling single now
January 5, 2024
This is the Mansfield Park ending we wanted! Obsessed.
May 8, 2024
This was really fun after reading Mansfield Park, and probably the best I've ever seen someone imitate Austen's writing style.
December 31, 2016
Excelente, 'que pasaria si?', si Henry sigue otra senda y tiene más interacción con Fanny?
Muy buena historia en que no todo se resuelve con un matrimonio.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews