Northanger Abbey (Collins Classics) Paperback – 8 July 2010

Reading this first novel Jane Austen ever wrote (but which was the last to be published) was a very pleasant experience. Below, more of my impressions, with very limited SPOILERS.This is the story of coming of age of Catherine Morland, aged 17, a silly and immature but good-hearted, honest and likeable young damsel, who meets two very different suitors during her sejour in the good city of Bath somewhere around 1810. The heroin, let's stress it again, is very likeable but not particulalry clever and especially she is mentaly completely immersed in her favourite books - gothic novels. This lack of maturity and common sense as well as a certain estrangement from reality will play her a couple of nasty tricks, from which she will have to learn some valuable lessons... I will say no more about the plot.Other than the usual delights of Jane Austen humour, wit and sharp social observations, this book offers an extra treat - it is the one in which we can see the real birth of author's talent. The first half of the book makes for a pleasant reading but not much more, as author, who was only 23 when writing her first novel, clearly was still hesitating, treading carefully and learning her trade. But past the middle point, suddenly we see the young writer spreading her wings and soar! Some writers graduate from honest labourer to gret master from one book to another but I think it is the first time I saw the birth of a major writer in the middle of a novel. It impressed me greatly.My personal copy of "Northanger Abbey" was a Barnes & Noble "old style" hardback, part of "Barnes & Noble Classics" collection. Its very "passé" aspect (going as far as artificially yellowed paper and irregularly shaped edges of pages) actually increased the pleasure I took in reading this very pleasant, entertaining and in many moments quite amusing short novel. I will definitely keep this book and pass it one day to my kids...I will say no more here about the book. Get it, read it, love it and one day come back to it. ENJOY!

Country vicar's daughter, seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland, a naive and attractive young girl who hugely enjoys reading gothic novels, is invited to the town of Bath by her wealthy neighbours the Allens. At Bath Catherine meets Isabella Thorpe, a flighty and duplicitous young woman, and her equally duplicitous brother, John. Catherine also meets a very agreeable young gentleman, Henry Tilney, and his sister, Eleanor, both of whom she is keen to become better acquainted with - however, Catherine's hopes for friendship with the Tilneys is initially thwarted by John Thorpe, who is envious of Catherine's partiality to the well-mannered and affable Henry. However, despite John Thorpe's efforts to come between Catherine and the Tilneys, she is invited to stay with Henry and Eleanor at their home, Northanger Abbey, and Catherine is excited about the prospect of staying in what she imagines to be a mysterious Gothic building. At Northanger Abbey, which is not quite as she imagined, she compensates for her disappointment by allowing herself to fantasize wildly about the fate of Mrs Tilney, who died nine years earlier. Was her death a natural one? Or was she imprisoned in her chamber and then murdered by her husband the General? And what effect does Catherine's over-active imagination have on her nascent relationship with the more grounded Henry?In 'Northanger Abbey', which is essentially a parody of Gothic fiction, Jane Austen cleverly shows the reader how the materialism and superficiality of fashionable Bath society and the company of those who cannot properly distinguish between fantasy and reality, actually place Catherine in greater potential danger than any mystery she might encounter at Northanger Abbey. Although I have read and reread Jane Austen's novels many times over the years, 'Northanger Abbey', though enjoyable as a light satire and certainly deserving of at least a four star rating, is not my favourite of her novels - Austen's biographer, Claire Tomalin, has commented that this novel, with its more obvious comedic content and its many literary allusions was intended as a lighthearted parody and one that would have been particularly enjoyed by her parents and siblings - however, satire aside, one of the main purposes of this review is to talk about the lovely new Vintage Classic editions of Jane Austen's classics. This particular novel has an especially attractive cover designed by artist and illustrator Leanne Shapton, with inner flaps to the cover to make the book feel more substantial, is also attractively decorated on the inside and has a brief, but interesting introduction by P.D. James. Very pleasant to handle and entertaining to read - if you are looking for a paperback copy of this novel, and do not require a comprehensive introduction and notes, I can certainly recommend this new edition.4 Stars.

This was the last of Jane Austen's books that I read. I kept putting it off. Since then it has fast become one of my favouries! I like the 'mystery' and Austen's send up on the Gothic era. While Mr Tilney is no Darcy, he is certainly a hero in a quiet, kind way. Catherine needs someone like him in her life.

No need to write about the book or the autor, both favourites.I ordered Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park clothbound, knowing that both were missing in my friends collection.How stupid to find sticky papertags on the backs of both books!!!! It is impossible to remove them without a) taking half of the colour away and b) without leaving sticky stains on the cloth. Very disappointed.

It’s a great classic novel that I grew up reading now I’ve got it in a beautiful cover.

Easy to read on Kindle and very cheap!

Meu primeiro livre da chiltern. Comprarei outros! A qualidade é incrível. Livro costurado(não é colado), lateral prateada, paginas brilhosas (nao dá pra anotar, mas isso não é um problema pra mim). O tamanho é de uma palma. Eu li em algum lugar que a editora teve a intenção de manter o tamanho original da primeira edição de orgulho e preconceito.Tem uma fitinha pra marcar a pagina tb. Recomendo demais! Vejam os outros livros da chiltern. Lindos!

Easier to read than Pride and Prejudice.A very good book.

Bra pocket, bra översatt till svenska. Rekommenderas för er som gillar Jane Austen eller romantiska titlar.

5+ stars & 6/10 hearts. Jane Austen is brilliant. That said, we can move on. This book is quite small (for Austen) and almost pure humour and satire… yet still packs a hefty punch of two great messages.In the late 1790s/early 1800s, Catherine Morland grows up as a naïve tomboy in the little town of which church her father is the clergyman. In her late teens, she unconsciously begins to “prepare herself to be a heroine” with poetry and the Gothic novels all the rage at the era, and when family friends take her to Bath, she is all-too-ready to find a girlish “bestie,” fall in love with a handsome young clergyman, and venture out into the wild world of kidnapping barons, chilling castles, poisons draughts, and murdering husbands… because that is, of course, what the world is made up of.Although this is one of Austen’s earliest books, it’s very finely written—incisive, witty, and clear—just beautiful. The characters are very realistic, as old-fashioned as they are. Catherine, although very confused between the world in her books and the world she lives in, is very sweet and desirous to do right. Henry is hilarious and so kind to Catherine & Eleanor, as well as respectful to his father. Eleanor was a sweetheart too, and I loved her friendship with Catherine. James was rather a pathetic figure, but he wasn’t half as terrible as his horrible friend Thorpe!—really a dreadful man. Isabella was such a shallow, foolish, bad girl—just disgusting. Mrs. Allan was ridiculous but meant well, and Mr. Allen struck me as rather irresponsible but at least he did speak up when he had to. General Tilney was quite nasty, and Frederick was just wicked. Mr. & Mrs. Morland were lovely, though.[Plot] The plot of the book is certainly enjoyable. Th book is really hilarious (I mean, you jump from a man refusing to walk down a certain path to him pretending his wife is dead and keeping her a prisoner in a lonely monastic cell….) and just had me in stitches the first time I read it. Now, I understand better the sober undertone, and it’s more ridiculous in an eye-rolling way, but still very enjoyable. I love the banter between Henry and his sister—so natural and fun!—and how this book so finely mocks horror stories/the lurid Gothic mysteries so popular at the time. The lesson on controlling your imagination is really excellent; there is a splendid speech on using one word to mean many things; and there are so many stern reminders to young ladies of how ridiculous their behaviour sometimes is… each time, I am reminded of how little I want to be like Isabella! Henry & Catherine’s romance was sweet, although brief, and all in all, though I spend a good deal of my time raging at characters + cringing for Catherine, I really enjoy and appreciate this book.Content: Some language; a lot of talk of murder, skeletons, being kidnapped, etc; a young engaged woman flirts very openly with another man.A Favourite Quote: ‘I am sure,’ cried Catherine, ‘I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?’‘Very true,’ said Henry, ‘and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally perhaps it was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or refinement—people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments, or their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word.’A Favourite Humorous Quote: ‘And now, Henry,’ said Miss Tilney, ‘that you have made us understand each other, you may as well make Miss Morland understand yourself—unless you mean to have her think you intolerably rude to your sister, and a great brute in your opinion of women in general. Miss Morland is not used to your odd ways.’‘I shall be most happy to make her better acquainted with them.’‘No doubt; but that is no explanation of the present.’‘What am I to do?’‘You know what you ought to do. Clear your character handsomely before her. Tell her that you think very highly of the understanding of women.’‘Miss Morland, I think very highly of the understanding of all the women in the world—especially of those—whoever they may be—with whom I happen to be in company.’‘That is not enough. Be more serious.’‘Miss Morland, no one can think more highly of the understanding of women than I do. In my opinion, nature has given them so much that they never find it necessary to use more than half.’

Gótico, ameno y divertido. Un gran clásico de la literatura inglesa. Me ha encantado, recomendable!