Northanger Abbey

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Wright, Jane Austen

Pages: (Hardcover)

ISBN: 0685421384

Pub: Peter Smith Publisher Inc

Pub date: 1982-02

Reader Reviews:

One of Austen's best in my opinion (2/3 people found this helpful)

I'm completely shocked that many people regard 'Northanger Abbey' as the worst of Austen's books as I believe it is beautifully written and very easy to read. The characters are wonderful especially Catherine and Henry, and General Tilney is someone you love to hate. Now after seeing the recent ITV adaptation, my love for the book has been re-newed and I really want to read it again. N.A is so different to all of Austen's other novels but that's why I love it so much and the ending although very predictable, is very sweet and is what the reader hopes for throughout. An excellent read.

From the world of books (2/3 people found this helpful)

Part gothic novel pastiche, part literary criticism, part romance, and part typical Jane Austen-style novel of social class and wealth, Northanger Abbey is short but full. The novel relates the story of young Catherine Morland and her maturation from the world of books (literary criticism) via her relationship with Henry Tilney (romance) and her stay at the vast Northanger Abbey (gothic), into the 'real' world. Her route to maturity, however, is a cruel one, as she comes to realise that not everyone is out to make her into the heroine she wants to become (social class). Being early 19th century fiction and therefore slightly convoluted in sentence structure, Northanger Abbey is nevertheless an interesting, top quality novel and a great introduction to the works of a great writer.

Not very exciting, but not awful (4/13 people found this helpful)

After 'Persuasion', I didn't want to ever read another Jane Austen book, but I did, and it isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

The plot essentially follows the exploits of Catherine Morland during her time in Bath and then with the Tilney family at Northanger Abbey. There is during the course of this a will they - wont they type of romance between Catherine and Mr Tilney, and the inevitable social commentary from Austen on issues of love and marriage etc.

There is nothing in the book to ever get you really thrilled or captivated, but it is quite a nice book, and an easy read, it is also rather dry and amusing in places, and bits that are prodding fun at the Gothic genre are actually quite cleverly written. I wanted to come on here an proclaim this to be Borethanger Abbey, but sadly, whilst it's not very exciting, I can't say too much against it, it's a nice easy read, and you probably wont hate it.

Gothic romance (6/9 people found this helpful)

I bought a jane Austen collection and Northanger abbey was the second to last story i read.

I found the beginning of the story difficult to get into, it did not start the way that any other Austen novel did. Once i had read the first 3 pages several times i finally moved on and began to really enjoy this book.

This novel records Catherine Morlands comming into society. This tale is one of romance, though told through the romantic fantisisms of a young girl, effected by the novels, that she clings to, believing them to be reality.

Although this novel is not on parr with other Austen novels, it has an amazing quaint feel to it and will keep any die-hard Austen or indeed period classic novel reader satisfied.

A delightful read (12/13 people found this helpful)

I thought that Northanger Abbey was a really entertaining read.

Although the main character Catherine (or "heroine", as Jane Austen chooses to call her) isn't as strong a character as Elizabeth from Pride & Prejudice or Emma Woodhouse in Emma, I still found myself warming up to her naivety as she learns the differences between real life situations and fiction. She also extracts a lot of sympathy from the reader.

Darcy's probably the hero out of all of Jane's novels that I love the most, but I loved Henry Tilney's amusing sense of humour, as he's playful and clever, yet also very smart.
Quite a light, charming read.

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