Northanger Abbey

by Jane Austen

Published Aug. 8, 2003 by Penguin.

ISBN:: 978-0-14-143979-2

(57 reviews)

Northanger Abbey is both a perfectly aimed literary parody and a withering satire of the commercial aspects of marriage among the English gentry at the turn of the nineteenth century. But most of all, it is the story of the initiation into life of its naïve but sweetly appealing heroine, Catherine Morland, a willing victim of the contemporary craze for Gothic literature who is determined to see herself as the heroine of a dark and thrilling romance.

When Catherine is invited to Northanger Abbey, the grand though forbidding ancestral seat of her suitor, Henry Tilney, she finds herself embroiled in a real drama of misapprehension, mistreatment, and mortification, until common sense and humor—and a crucial clarification of Catherine’s financial status—puts all to right. Written in 1798 but not published until after Austen’s death in 1817, Northanger Abbey is characteristically clearheaded and strong, and infinitely subtle in its comedy.

123 editions

Stephanie Jane reviewed Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

My favourite Austen

5 stars

Northanger Abbey is easily my favourite of the five Jane Austen novels I have read so far this year. From what I have heard about Emma, I think it may well turn out to be my favourite of the whole challenge! A considerably shorter work than some of the others, there isn't the space for lengthy diversions so I appreciated Austen's maintaining a good narrative pace throughout. I could empathise with ill-at-ease Catherine and really began to root for her once she started standing up to the selfish Thorpes.

What I now recognise as Austen trademarks are all present and correct! Much of the action happens in Bath society. The older female character, in this case the airheaded Mrs Allen, provides much of the humour, and no attachment can be assumed to be secured until the church bells have rung. I loved the additional excursion into Gothic darkness and Catherine's first night at Northanger Abbey is wonderfully atmospheric. I felt Austen spoke directly to her readers more in this book than in the others. Apparently this was the first she completed although one of the last to actually see publication. Perhaps a future editor discouraged the style, but I enjoyed her defense of novelists and her frequent namedropping of other authors she liked herself. I am now seriously considering the six Mrs Radcliffe novels for my 2018 challenge!

Atti reviewed Northanger Abbey (Signet Classics) by Jane Austen

Review of 'Northanger Abbey (Signet Classics)' on 'Storygraph'

No rating

It's a good book, but it's not for me. I didn't particularly feel for any of the characters aside from the Tilney siblings, I found Catherine's 'naivety' to be strange in that she's incapable of seeing cruelty from people who do nothing but act clearly mean and also too eager to see cruelty in those who don't really show a hint of violence.

The language is pretty and its composure is nice, as expected of an Austen novel, but outside of the house-exploration scenes I wasn't particularly drawn in or excited by it. I don't think that's due to failings of the novel and more that I just don't particularly care for explanations of gossip, I don't know.

Laura Lemay reviewed Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Review of 'Northanger Abbey' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I've been reading the "minor" Austen novels in roughly reverse-order of importance. I was bored to tears with Emma, was decidedly meh about Mansfield Park, and figured Northanger Abbey would be another step down. I was SO wrong! OMG what a blast! "Northanger" is a broad satire of potboiler gothic romance novels, with a real feeling of very modern snark. The characters are terrifically well-drawn as is usual with Austen, the villians are deliciously fun to hate and the heroes the kind of people I wish I could be friends with. It's a lighter read and more loosely plotted than the major Austen books, but soooo much fun.

cessie reviewed Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Review of 'Northanger Abbey' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Jane Austen never was one of my all time favourite authors so far, so I wasn't too thrilled to see her on my list of books to read for this semester. At the same time I was determined to take this challenge and make it worthwhile. And who would have thought... I fell in love... more