REVIEW: Edmund Bertram’s Diary by Amanda Grange
We have always found it difficult, perhaps even impossible, to like Edmund Bertram. We find it infuriating when he hurts poor Fanny by rationalizing Mary Crawford’s behavior to her, putting words in Fanny’s mouth to excuse Mary, encouraging Henry Crawford’s suit, talking about his love life problems with Fanny, just rubbing salt in the wound. There is a reason we call him the Lord High Mayor of Wankerville. Of course he doesn’t mean to hurt Fanny, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the reader to endure. Every lash of his emotional whip on poor Fanny’s wounded spirit is like a slap in the face; just because those lashes are inadvertent makes them no less painful.
Needless to say, we approached Edmund Bertram’s Diary with some trepidation. If anyone but Amanda Grange had written it, our courage might have failed; but we gained confidence from Ms. Grange’s thorough preparation and her sympathetic treatment of her subjects in her previous work. We waded in boldly, and were not disappointed. Amanda Grange may be the best friend Edmund Bertram ever had–except Fanny Price, of course.
In the first part of the story, we see young Edmund taking Fanny under his wing and considering his future plans. As a younger son, and a sensible young man, he knows he must find a profession, and his vocation develops very naturally out of his satisfaction and enjoyment in guiding Fanny and from observing his brother Tom’s dissolute behavior, and understanding that he wants to do something more with his life. The scenes of the Bertrams’ family life are well-drawn, with the siblings having the occasional squabble but still having a reserved but real affection for one another. The relationship between Tom and Edmund is particularly well-done.
Life at Mansfield Park is unsettled first by the departure of Sir Thomas and his elder son for Antigua, with Edmund taking on the responsibilities of the estate, a charge he takes very seriously, and then by the arrival of the Crawfords at the parsonage. Edmund is struck by Mary almost immediately, and as his attraction develops strength, he is dismayed by her scorn of his chosen profession and by her thoughtless words and behavior; yet the attraction grows stronger, despite his attempts to conquer it, and despite his knowledge that it will be very difficult for him to make a successful match with Mary. The attraction is mutual, and is shown as strongest during the rehearsals for “Lovers’ Vows.” Ms. Grange uses the lines from the play to good effect, and readers will understand just why that particular play was a dangerous choice for the Mansfield Players.
But even while Edmund is falling for Mary, Fanny is always there, always in his thoughts, always an object of care and consideration–indeed his best and oldest friend. It is not surprising that he turns to Fanny in his disappointment with Mary, and finally begins to understand himself. Perhaps the marriage of Fanny and Edmund is not, as it is often characterized, a reward for Fanny for being steadfast, but also a reward for Edmund for working through the temptations and burdens of adulthood with more success than his siblings and contemporaries.
Reading the story from Edmund’s point of view rather than Fanny’s does make his actions seem more reasonable, but even if one can acquit him of absolute wankerdom, the charge of near-criminal cluelessness remains. But he’s a man in love, and perhaps we are too hard. If you would like to try a different view of a sometimes hard to like character, Edmund Bertram’s Diary is a sympathetic portrait of a young man struggling with the difficult choices that life throws at us all. Perhaps it may even change your mind about Edmund, or, like it did for us, encourage you to look upon him with a more kindly eye.
Edmund Bertram’s Diary is available now in the UK; Available in the U.S. in August 2008
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Thank you very much for the review, Mags. Edmund, Edmund… I’ve always had a soft spot for him while also wanting to slap him upside the head. Edmund Bertram’s Diary sounds very interesting, and I’m adding it to my to-read list.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I could never appreciate Mansfield Park. I’m embarrassed to say that I always wanted to slap both of them (Edmund AND Fanny) upside the head.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Good review! I have truly enjoyed reading this series of books.
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Mansfield is my fave, but Edmund is infuriating. What a dolt! This sounds like a great read though-gotta wonder what’s going on in that boy’s head.
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I have never ever felt any anger towards Edmund.
So, he fell in love/infatuation with Mary, and it blinded him to her faults. He isn’t the first person to get trapped in such a way.
I don’t hold it against him that he wasn’t romantically inclined towards Fanny. If not as a sister, he treated her as a friend, and so felt free to unburden his hurt. I see no problem with that.
I’m glad that Amanda Grange has looked at him sympathetically. He deserves it.
but I love MP as I do the other 3.
It may not be my favourite (nothing can beat Emma in my eyes and then NA
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I’d nominate Edmund for Creepiest Jane Austen Hero. He invests a lot of time “guiding” Fanny, and basically brainwashes/bullies her into believing whatever he says, even if he’s wrong and she’s right. The Mary infatuation I can understand; his creepy behavior towards Fanny I cannot.
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I agree with Reeba =).
MP isn’t my favourite (I just finished NA for the first time, I’d definitely say THAT Jane Austen is a contender) but I always, in a way, felt bad for Edmund in his misdirection. And at least once per chapter I’ve wanted to rip his hair out, then rip mine out. But then again, maybe that’s what Jane Austen wanted us to do? To get “involved” with her stories? So that after 1 volume you wanted to hit someone? I know if one of my (future) characters got this much attention, good or bad (i guess), I would be somewhat proud of that character
Still, even if I wanted to hit Edmund every chapter, he redeemed himself, and I overall like MP. So I’m very happy for Edmund and Fanny - who ever said love’s course ran smooth?
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Maybe it’s a misnomer to call Edmund the hero of the novel. If there can be such a thing as a hero/heroine-less novel, this would be the one, and Jane Austen would be the one to pull it off.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Tina:
I think Fanny is a great heroine and role model, in her own way. She’s more steadfast and upright than I could ever be. But I think you’re right about Edmund - perhaps this is a “hero-less” novel.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
If he is Fanny’s hero wouldn’t he be the book’s hero as well?
I think, as readers we see things more clearly while Edmund being a part of the daily life of the book doesn’t see things the same way and as clearly. He is ‘living’ it. This I feel is the major difference between the reader’s and his judgement.
In short its a question of being objective or subjective.
Just like Fanny, who is more of an observer rather than a participant, who sees things more clearly.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
PS: Edmund was Jane Austen’s favourite hero along with Mr. knightley - if he was good enough for her he’s good enough for me
March 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Reeba:
Jane must have liked those father figures! Although, I’ve always had a soft spot for Mr. Knightley myself…
March 5th, 2008 at 2:23 am
But Edmund is no father figure
March 5th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I’ve just started reading Mr. Knightley’s Diary and am enjoying it. I liked Grange’s take on Darcy too, so the idea of reading Edmund’s Diary is intriguing.
But I really hope she writes Edward Ferrars’ Diary because I’d love to read a take on Edward’s thoughts about the whole Lucy situation.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Reeba,
I sort of see Edmund as a father figure to Fanny, in that “guardian-who-always-knows-what’s-right” kind of way. Fanny always comes to him for help, and when she’s young she’s too afraid of her uncle to see him as a father or parent.
As Fanny ages, this wears off a little, but she still looks up to Edmund considerably.
That’s just my opinion, of course.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am
What about a brother figure?
Mary Crawford’s presence and his interaction with it eliminates any such thoughts especially when he shares his feelings with Fanny
Henry Tilney and Mr. Knightley are sort of similar. Both shake sense into the heroine.
One at the Abbey in Mrs. Tilney’s room and the other at Box Hill.
Both don’t stand on ceremony
Mr. Knightley admits to his ‘fault’ of being a;
guardian-who-always-knows-what’s-right”
when he says;
I have blamed you, and lectured you,
This diminishes the father figure image (if there was that) IMO.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Edmund is blinded more easily than Knightley and Tilney, which is where he loses some credibility. But even as he encourages Fanny to accept Mr. Crawford near the end, he still tries to maintain his role as guide and elder. He imagines he is wise, but we all know his blunder.
You’re right in that Edmund isn’t a very good father figure all the time, but he does feel the need to protect Fanny. This is certainly also “big brotherly,” but I feel it is Edmund’s eager desire to “mold” and “cultivate” that pushes it into “fatherly” at times. It’s from all that clerical training!
So perhaps I should say that Jane liked the big-brother-or-father-figure heroes. She was incredibly fond of her family, after all.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:36 am
But I really hope she writes Edward Ferrars’ Diary because I’d love to read a take on Edward’s thoughts about the whole Lucy situation.
That would be great! And maybe we could get Col. Brandon’s diary as well, and Mr. Tilney’s…
March 6th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
>Edmund’s eager desire to “mold” and “cultivate” that pushes it into “fatherly” at times
I know that this is believed generally. Personally I haven’t found anything in the book which points to that.
All he did was show;
the gentleness of an excellent nature,
because;
he could perceive her to be [farther] entitled to attention by great sensibility of her situation, and great timidity.
He was just being kind to her in her situation, as a good human being IMO
he gave her;
advice,consolation and encouragement
he encouraged her taste, and corrected her judgment: (for books) he made reading useful by talking to her of what she had read…
Now what particular thing mentioned above is only limited to father and child.
Lovers, husbands, wives etc can all advice, console and encourage.
Share love of books and if better read, explain them. Share with and teach star gazing (how romantic
Anyway, he wasn’t much at home to start with when Fanny first arrived.
He was at Eton and then went to Oxford so Fanny was totally in Mrs. Norris’ hands **and** I would say **she** had a big hand in moulding Fanny’s character into a very diffident one while constantly telling her she had to be the lowest in company.
This is my very personal opinion of course
March 9th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Reeba I love your personal opinions about Edmund. I have never found anything wrong with him. I love the sweet ones! Even though he advises, he is no annoying scolder like Knightley. I have never found it unfathomable that Edmund does not fall in love with Fanny earlier in his life. I do not like, however, that Jane gives no attention to explaining this event to make it understandable to us. And being Fanny is so shy and moral it is difficult to love the direction the novel takes for many people. We all have different taste and different heroes that are ideal for us. And that is just the way it should be!
Nevertheless I still don’t have an interest in Edmund’s Diary. I prefer to give the characters the voices I want.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Thanks Tamara
>I do not like, however, that Jane gives no attention to explaining this event to make it understandable to us.
But Jane Austen gives us the liberty of writing our own story at this point, by giving us the outline of it;
I hope I’ve understood correctly that you are talking about the circumstances etc about when and how he fell in love with Fanny.
I purposely abstain from dates on this occasion, that every one may be at liberty to fix their own, aware that the cure of unconquerable passions, and the transfer of unchanging attachments, must vary much as to time in different people. I only entreat everybody to believe that exactly at the time when it was quite natural that it should be so, and not a week earlier, Edmund did cease to care about Miss Crawford, and became as anxious to marry Fanny as Fanny herself could desire.
I love this part. Being told to *fix* our own time and being entreated to believe.
>And being Fanny is so shy and moral it is difficult to love the direction the novel takes for many people. We all have different taste and different heroes that are ideal for us. And that is just the way it should be!
I couldn’t agree more
March 10th, 2008 at 10:06 am
PS: And don’t you just love the wit here;
the cure of unconquerable passions, and the transfer of unchanging attachments, must vary much as to time in different people.
LOL!!!!
March 11th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Well using our imaginations is indeed fun.