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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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What Members Thought

Dec 21, 2012 John rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: jasm

Just as good on a third read! Very satirical and fun, and Jane Austen at her most lighthearted.

9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 midnightfaerie rated it liked it

Shelves: classics, rory-gilmore

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Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen was a light and fun story, typical of most Austen novels. Published after her death, it has a slightly different tone than the others, almost as if it was a different writing style altogether. I almost wonder if she meant to ever have it published. The plot centers around a young girl named Catherine, who falls in love with Henry Tilney, a clergyman. Between the misunderstandings and overactive imagination of the young 17-year ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2015 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics

I was glad I took the time to re-read this Austen classic. It is not my favorite of her books, but it is a very fun, light read and a great look into the conventions of the time. Catherine is a typical, though somewhat foolish, young lady, with a vivid imagination and very little training in anything of what society expects from her beyond her own threshold. Austen's spoofing of the Gothic novels of her time adds color and interest to Catherine's character.

The plot is rather simple for Austen, ...more

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Feb 28, 2023 Delirious Disquisitions rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, literature-required-reading, historical-romance, favorite-authors

Northanger Abbey centers around our very unlikely heroine, Catherine Morland, a sheltered and remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. Catherine has nine of the makings of a true heroine: she is neither incredibly beautiful, nor a destitute orphan helpless at the whims of her rather nasty relations. As such, she is doomed to lead a life free of all the gothic adventures that would typically befall a heroine. But Catherine finds her chance at last when she is invited Northanger Abbey centers around our very unlikely heroine, Catherine Morland, a sheltered and remarkably innocent seventeen-year-old woman from a country parsonage. Catherine has nine of the makings of a true heroine: she is neither incredibly beautiful, nor a destitute orphan helpless at the whims of her rather nasty relations. As such, she is doomed to lead a life free of all the gothic adventures that would typically befall a heroine. But Catherine finds her chance at last when she is invited to spend a few weeks in Bath and there she meets and falls in love with the charming Henry Tilney. When Henry invites her to his family estate, Northanger Abbey, Catherine, as a prolific consumer of gothic thrillers, armed with an overactive imagination, and a terrible thirst for adventure is determined to uncover the abbey's secrets. What is the mystery surrounding the death of Henry's mother? Is the family concealing a terrible secret within the elegant rooms of the Abbey? Can she trust Henry, or is he part of an evil conspiracy?

Northanger Abbey is a satire of classic Gothic fiction popularized during the 18-19th century and heavily influenced by The Female Quixote or, The Adventures of Arabella (1752) and Ann Radcliffe's Gothic novels such as the Mysteries of Udolpho, something that is repeatedly referenced within the text itself. The novel itself, in addition to the usual themes of love, marriage, and high society, also deals with themes of greed, corruption, power, as well as examining the role of novel versus other more serious pieces of literature.

The story is split into two volumes that feel like two disparate texts: Book I mainly deals with Catherins’s childhood and background, her invitation to Bath, her first introduction and integration into society, her blooming friendship with Thorpe siblings, and growing attachment to Henry Tinley. Book II begins with Henry’s invitation to join him at his family estate at Northanger Abbey and follows Catherine’s increasing paranoia and suspicion that things at the Abbey might not all be as it seems. In fact, the Gothic aspect of the novel only begins at this latter half, is never as atmospheric as a true gothic novel, and feels rather hurried and a little disjointed from the rest of the story.

The characters, themselves, are caricatures or archetypes of those found in gothic novels rather than actual people with actual personalities: Catherine as the young, naive, damsel in distress; Henry as the cynical, jaded love interest; and the Thorpe siblings the greedy, manipulative, materialistic, vain, shallow, foolish fops of fashionable society. These character types are, in true Jane Austen fashion, turned on its head with Catherine having an overactive imagination that leads her to see danger and intrigue where there is none, all the while blissfully oblivious to the manipulation of the characters around her. Henry, likewise, is delightfully charming despite his jaded outlook on society and his biting sarcasm. The siblings make for some hilarious, and also very frustrating, parts of the novel. Isabella Thorpe, in particular, would definitely be bosom friends with Mrs. Elton from Emma. John Thorpe is probably the character I hate the most out of all of Austen’s work.

The writing is one of the standouts in this novel, with Austen’s trademark wit and humor seeping through the pages. The dialogues are quippy, sartorial, and truly hilarious. One of my favorite things about Austen’s writing is the disconnect between what the characters say verses their very contrary actions; much of the humor comes from reading between the lines and it makes for a truly entertaining read.

For all that it makes for a great gothic satire/parody, this might be my least favorite of Jane Austen's works. It is also my least favorite Austenian pairing. Individually, Mr. Tinley makes for a great character. He is delightfully jaded (sardonic humor) and worldly, with his biting sarcasm and his ability to charm the socks out of anyone in the room. Catherine, though, is a dull caricature of a naive schoolgirl; the quintessential heroine of a gothic romance. She is extremely sheltered and innocent in a way that just comes off as daft sometimes. Their relationship is very much skewed in his favor and I can't really bring myself to love this pairing in light of their uneven dynamic. On the fear of crucifixion, 3 stars.

P.S. For more gothic satires I would recommend reading Pamelaand its parody Joseph Andrews / Shamela. They read like companion novels and, in addition to Northanger Abbey, are some of the better parodies of the genre. ...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Daniela rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Es la primera obra de Jane Austen que leo y me encanta lo que hace con las palabras. La narración es algo lenta, cosa que no sorprende si se considera que es una obra con un par de siglos de antiguedad. Pero es deliciosamente irónica y divertida, sobre todo en lo que se refiere a las descripciones de la narradora sobre lo que supuestamente debería hacer la heroína de la historia. El libro fue una perfecta compañía para mi fin de semana.

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Jan 02, 2012 Michelle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

Jan 13, 2012 Antonomasia added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century, 1001-books, divine-comedy-booklovers, 1988-93, mw

Feb 11, 2012 Samantha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Feb 14, 2023 Anu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, world, feminism

Jan 21, 2013 Neeria marked it as to-read

Apr 26, 2013 Carol marked it as to-read

Shelves: classics, zclassics

Aug 16, 2013 Melanie marked it as to-read-classics

Shelves: the-next-best-book-club

Dec 29, 2013 Deniz marked it as to-read

Jan 23, 2014 Zsa Zsa added it

Jun 07, 2014 Christine rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-in-2015, audiobooks, classics, british-literature, authors-a-to-d, gothic, 19th-century, romance-adult, z-200-to-299-pages