From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion: Lesser Know/Wilderness Classics

Discussion leader: Paige

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Lesser Know/Wilderness Classics

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What Members Thought

Oct 04, 2019 Chrissie rated it liked it

Shelves: love, humor, audible-uk, classics, hf, arts, england, deals, 2019-read, regency

At the bottom of this tale lies a romance. If this had been all there were to think about, I would have dropped it at the start.

It was the humor that initially drew me to this book. The humor is satirical. Austen’s humor is not mean. She is not nasty, but she is criticizing the restraints placed on women, the strict norms of social propriety and that marriages are dictated by money and class. Most importantly, she is poking a finger at the popularity of the Gothic novel. It was all the rage dur ...more

42 likes · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2012 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: gutenberg, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, read-2013, british-literature, fiction-19th-century, e-books, mtbr-challenge-2013, gothic-romance

According to Wiki, Northanger Abbey was the first of Jane Austen's novels to be completed for publication, though she had previously made a start on Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. According to Cassandra Austen's Memorandum, Susan (as it was first called) was written approximately during 1798–99. It was revised by Austen for the press in 1803, and sold in the same year for £10 to a London bookseller, Crosby & Co., who decided against publishing. In 1817, the bookseller was content ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2022 Dan | The Ancient Reader rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-fiction

See my review of The Complete Novel of Jane Austen. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 18, 2019 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001

I enjoyed this book as much as Persuasion. Austen's humor definitely shines through in this book. I enjoyed the literary discussion, and the descriptions of Northanger tremendously. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2014 Douglas Beagley rated it liked it

Fine. Just very poor when compared with P&P. Denser and with more authorial commentary, however, which is interesting. The main thing lacking is any characters with whom one would wish to have tea. (The main character, Catherine, is practically a void, described by what she is not. Tilney and Eleanor are interesting. Everyone else is insufferable.) If you love Jane Austen, though, this provides a suitable good time wrapped in her rhythmic prose.

Merged review:

Fine. Not as good as P&P.

The rhythms ...more

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Jun 14, 2015 Martha rated it liked it

I found the book humorous but the language tedious even with footnotes. This was the book I chose for the book published before 1850 and it was logical to read something by Jane Austen. I wish I hadn't read Pride and Prejudice, but this one was okay. ...more

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Jul 23, 2021 Debbie Hughes rated it really liked it

I listened to a special Audible performance of this fable. It was done very well but I dare say I think that I could have retained more knowledge of this tale if I had been reading the account in a paper version which I could lay my eyes upon said story and visit the previous pages to discern items of unremarkable remembrance.

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