x dismiss this message
Did you know you can edit this page?
-
Sign Into Shelfari
-
Choose something to edit
-
Save your contributions
see page history
Description edit
In many respects, Northanger Abbey is the most lighthearted of Jane Austen's novels, yet at its core is a serious, unsentimental commentary on love and marriage.
Jane Austen’s first novel, Northanger Abbey—published posthumously in 1818—tells the story of Catherine Morland and her... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Catherine is invited to spend a few weeks in Bath with a friend. While there she meets Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor, who invite her to their family estate, Northanger Abbey. Once there, Catherine, a great reader of Gothic romances, allows her imagination to run wild, finding dreadful... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Catherine Morland: Heroine of the novel. A 17-year-old girl who loves reading Gothic novels.
- Henry Tilney: A well-read clergyman in his mid-20s, the youngest son of the wealthy Tilney family.
- John Thorpe: Isabella's brother, is extremely self-centered and material minded, believes Catherine to be in love with him when really she cannot stand him.
- Isabella Thorpe: A manipulative and self-serving young woman on a quest to obtain a well-off husband.
- Mrs. Allen: Neighbor to the Morlands, takes Catherine to Bath as her companion.
- James Morland: Older brother of Catherine Morland.
- Eleanor Tilney: Younger sister of Henry Tilney
- Frederick: Captain Tilney, the elder brother of Henry and Eleanor Tilney. Heir to Northanger Abbey.
- Anne Thorpe: Younger sister of Isabella
- Sarah Morland: Younger sister of Catherine Morland.
Quotes edit
-
“Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.”
-
“...and from politics, it was an easy step to silence”
-
“A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.”
-
“...I leave it to be settled by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny or reward filial disobedience.”
-
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
Henry Tilney -
“And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing. Taken in that light certainly, their resemblance is not striking; but I think I could place then in such a view. ---- You will allow, that in both, man has the advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal; that in both, it is an engagement between man and woman, formed for the advantage of each; and that when once entered into, they belong exclusively to each other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty, each to endeavour to give the other no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves elsewhere, and their best interest to keep their own imaginations from wandering towards the perfections of their neighbours, or fancying that they should have been better of?””
Henry Tilney -
“Now I must give one smirk, and then we may be rational again.”
Henry Tilney
First Sentence edit
No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 7 of 200 in Newman and Jones 200 Best Horror Novels. (community list)
Preceded by The Best Tales of Hoffman, and followed by Frankenstein.
This is book 932 of 1271 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Frankenstein, and followed by Persuasion.
This is book 3 of 56 in Biblioteca das Raparigas. (edition-based publisher list)
Preceded by Infância e Amores de Margaret Browne, and followed by Little Women.
This book is in Bantam Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
This book is in Dodo Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
This book is in Penguin Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
This book is in Dover Thrift Classics. (publisher series)
This book is in Wordsworth Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
This book is in Gothic-Lite. (community list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This book is in Oxford Classics. (edition-based publisher list)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: John Murray
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: December 1817
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 256
Publisher: John Murray
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: December 1817
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 256
Classification edit
- Copyright Status: Public Domain
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.7
Notes for Parents edit
Reading Level: Young AdultsA wonderful book though some younger readers may be discouraged by the writing style, may be better for more advanced readers.
Subjects edit
Popular Tags
See all 50 tags
Links to Supplemental Material edit
- The Jane Austen Centre: Books, Gifts & Information
- Wikipedia: Northanger Horrid Novels: A list of the "Northanger Horrid Novels" mentioned in this book.
- Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen: Link to the book in fulltext provided by Project Gutenberg.
Movie Connections edit
- Northanger Abbey (TV 2007) (IMDb): When Catherine Morland is given the opportunity to stay with the childless Allen family in Bath, she is hoping for an adventure of the type she has been reading in novels. Soon introduced to society, she meets Isabella Thorpe and her brother John, a good friend of her own brother, James. She also meets Henry Tilney, a handsome young man from a good family and his sister, Eleanor. Invited to visit the Tilney estate, Northanger Abbey, she has thoughts of romance but soon learns that status, class and money are all equally important when it comes to matters of the heart. Written by garykmcd Catherine Morland is taken to Bath, England by the wealthy Mr. and Mrs. Allen and introduces her to Georgian society. There she meets the social-climbing Isabella and John Thorpe, the handsome Henry Tilney and elegant Eleanor Tilney. After making an impression on Henry and Eleanor's father, the Tilneys invite her to their country mansion, Northanger Abbey. Catherine falls in love with Henry but realizes that love can be fickle and that money - and not just love - is an important consideration in the marriage business. The story is based on Jane Austen's novel of the same name, "Northanger Abbey." Written by M. C. Gomez
- Northanger Abbey (TV series 1985–2002) (IMDb): Catherine Morland is a young women who enjoys reading Gothic Novels. She is invited to Bath by a family friend, Mrs. Allen, and there she meets Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor. Upon returning to her home with her family Eleanor invites Catherine to come along as her guest and companion. There Catherine's imagination continues to flourish and she beings to suspect a dark secret at Northanger Abbey. Written by Cara-chan
More Books Like This edit
Books with Additional Background Information edit
Books That Influenced This Book edit
Books Influenced by This Book edit
We’re hiding the organizations, table of contents, themes, errata, awards, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.
