Product Description

First accepted by a publisher in 1803, Northanger Abbey was eventually published posthumously in 1818. In it Austen weaves a romance full of suspense and comedy around the heroine Catherine Morland’s first foray into society. The style of the novel is a unique hybrid; along the way Austen parodies the eighteenth-century novel of manners, the Gothic novel, and even the educational treatises of the time.

The second Broadview edition includes a revised introduction, notes, bibliography, and expanded appendices of background contextual materials.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #219575 in Books
• Published on: 1995-08-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Nicholas Roe, University of St. Andrews
"...the obvious choice for Jane Austen's modern readers."

Claudia L. Johnson, Princeton University
"An exemplary edition!"

Synopsis
At Northanger Abbey Jane Austen's charmingly imperfect heroine, Catherine Morland, meets all the trappings of gothic horror and imagines the worst. Fortunately she has, at hand, her own fundamental good sense and the irresistible but unsentimental hero, Henry Tilney.

Customer Reviews

Charming and thought-provoking about imaginations
Northanger Abbey is not Jane Austen's best known or read work which is really a shame, because it is quite charming. I love the way, Austen's work are as relevant, entertaining, and thought-provoking now as when they were written in the beginning of the 19th century.

Northanger Abbey is the story of a would-be heroine, Catherine Morland, who accompanies the Allens to Bath. Here she is thrushed into a world, the likes of which she has only read about in novels. There are parties, drama, charming young men, and her new friends Isabella and Eleanor. And the intrigues: Catherine's brother is engaged to Isabella, and Isabella's brother fancies Catherine. Catherine on the other hand has affection for Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey. Catherine is invited to Northanger Abbey and oh, you should read the story instead of me just relating it.

Norhtanger Abbey is also about storytelling and the recent popularity of Gothic novels. It is about the imaginations of Catherine and pretty much every other character in the book. Everyone has their own imaginative approach to the world they live in and these worlds collide.

Something I find very enjoyable in Northanger Abbey, is Austen's active narration. Once in while, she pops in, speaking of herself in the first person and subtly whispers in the ear of the reading. It is marvellous.

Louise.

YAWN!
I love Jane Austin and decided to buy the complete works and read the the less popular books.

I started with Persuasion, which I enjoyed and had sympathy and liking for the characters. I was glad when the main characters got together. I then moved onto Northanger Abbey. I'm afraid to admit, it's one of the worst and most boring books I've read for a long time. I perservered to the bitter end, at which point I slammed the book shut in disgust. I know this book is considered to be amongst her greatest and wittiest, but I thought it was shallow, and totally characterless. Her heroine was a complete drip and lived on a different planet. The 'hero' was sarcastic and unpleasant to the heroine, and I found him completely unattractive in his dialogue and his behaviour. From the moment he arrives on the scene it hadn't occured to me that it was him who was going to the main love interest. He behaviour is so odd, and effeminate! Certainly not a Mr Darcy!!! To be perfectly honest, if Jane Austin had suddenly decided to be a bit radical and have all her characters killed off by some crazy serial killer it would have been quite a relief.

It was just so ludicrous and unbelievable. for instance our hero and heroine are riding together towards Northanger Abbey for the first time, and Catherine is very excited about staying in a REAL abbey, and how romantic and exciting it will be. Then the hero spends the next couple of pages going into detail as to what is going to to happen to her, scaring her witless, with tales of a storm and a strange cupboard in the room etc. Anyway, as it turns out she experiences almost the exact same thing as he describes. Perhaps it was supposed to be funny, but I just found it tedious and I could not understand why the hero had said all those things to her in the first place to scare her, when he was so apparently ardently in love with her.
Or his weirdo Father.
Everyone else seems to love it, but boy, I thought it was a complete bore. It felt like a book that she had knocked out to get quick cash. Although I hear it was her first.

I didn't give up on Jane Austin, I then went on to read Mansfield Park, which I loved and liked most of the characters. Although her heros tend to be a bit blind and stupid to the manipulations of beautiful women, and that's somewhat frustrating. But a good yarn nonetheless.

In my opinion Northanger Abbey is the worst. In fact, way up in the most boring books I've ever read.

A different Austen
Northanger Abbey is the shortest of Austen's major novels, but like the others it is a delightful read.
Maybe the most ironic of the six and the one in which Austen reveals her opinions through the voice of the narrator the most clearly.
We are introduced to Catherine Morland, a young, innocent if slightly gullible heroine who like the Quixote has let books influence her imagination to an unreasonable degree.
We also meet Henry Tilney who is cultured, interesting and has a great sense of humor. Great hero material.
The secondary characters are, as usual, perfect.My favourite is the horrendous Mr. Thorpe:vulgar and totally detestable.
If you have never read this novel, I suggest you start just now. It's a must.