Northanger Abbey

One of the first of Jane Austen's novels to be written, and one of the last to be published, Northanger Abbey is both an amusing story of how a naive girl enters society and wins the affection of a witty young clergyman, and a high-spirited parody of the lurid Gothic novels that were popular during Austen's youth. In the process it features a vivid account of social life in late eighteenth-century Bath, and Austen's famous defence of the novel as a literary form. This edition, based on the text of the novel as published posthumously in 1818, is accompanied by explanatory notes, and an appendix summarising the plots and situations of the Gothic fictions that form the basis of much of Austen's comedy. In addition there is an extensive critical introduction covering the context, publication, and critical history of the novel, a chronology of Austen's life, and authoritative textual apparatus.

I read Northanger Abbey after watching the 2007 mini-series of the same name. I enjoyed the mini-series and couldn't wait to get my hands on the book.

And like all the other Jane Austen novels I lost myself within the book right at the beginning. It was a quick and highly entertaining story. I love the satirical take of the highly popular Gothic novels of the time. I couldn't resist falling in love with Catherine, her naiveté, her love for Gothic novels and her imagination, made her so endearing. And because the novel was so short I felt a little disappointed that I couldn't spend more time with Catherine and Tilney.

Now that I've read all the Jane Austen books it's time to start re-reading some of my favourites...Which shall I start with? Sense and Sensibility? Pride or Prejudice? Or maybe Persuasion?

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (5/5) Classic Literature; Published: John Murray 1818; Format: Ebook for the Kindle; 18th & 19th Women Writers Reading Challenge (2); Books 2010 (67);