The story's heroine, Fanny Price, falls in love with her cousin Edmund, a young clergyman. Unfortunately, however, he is drawn to the shallow and worldly Mary Crawford. Fanny's quiet passivity, steadfast loyalty, and natural goodness are matched against the wit and brilliance of her lovely rival.
General Note: 2003 World's Classics trade paperback edition contains introduction and notes by Jane Stabler.2000 Wordsworth Classics trade paperback edition has an introduction and notes by Dr. Ian Littlewood.1996 Signet Classics paperback has a new introduction by Margaret Drabble.1995 Modern Library edition (1995a in holdings).1995 Wordsworth Hardback Library edition has illustrations by Hugh Thomson. (1995m in holdings)1992 Everyman's Library hardcover edition has an introduction by Peter Conrad.1980 Oxford World's Classics edtion edited by James Kinsley and John Lucas.1966 Penguin edition edited, with an introduction by Tony Tanner.Originally published in 1814.[This record reflects various editions with several different introductions by various people].