Jane Austen

Steven Butler

A fresh, funny and accessible retelling of Jane Austen's classic story, with witty black and white illustrations throughout. Catherine Morland loves nothing more than reading a romantic novel, but as one of ten children she doesn't have much time for reading or for romance. When she is seventeen, her wealthy neighbours invite her to spend the winter season with them in Bath - to experience balls, the theatre and other social delights for the first time. Catherine makes friends with the passionate Isabella, and dances with a handsome man called Henry, and it seems that all her dreams are coming true. But real life doesn't always play out like a novel, and Catherine will have to overcome many obstacles before she can find her happy ending ... Steven Butler is an actor and writer from London. His books for children include The Wrong Pong series and Dennis the Menace. Steven's love of mischief made Northanger Abbey the perfect book to rewrite and he's excited to introduce Catherine Morland to a whole new raft of readers. Eglantine Ceulemans captures all of Austen's satire and wit, bringing her colourful casts to life with warm and funny black and white illustrations. Illustrated and retold editions are also available for: Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, and Mansfield Park. The perfect way to discover Austen for the first time, this bright and bold collection features some of the most inspiring and famous heroines in English literature. For readers aged eight and up.

Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

Northhanger Abbey

Elena M.

The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.

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 them in such a view. You will allow, that in both, man has the advantage of choice, woman only the power of refusal;

All have been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger from the pursuit of someone whom they wished to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of someone whom they wished to please.

Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it.

Oh! It is only a novel![...]only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language.

Let us not desert one another; we are an injured body. Although our productions have afforded more extensive and unaffected pleasure than those of any other literary corporation in the world, no species of composition has been so much decried. From pride, ignorance, or fashion, our foes are almost as many as our readers.

Yes, novels; for I will not adopt that ungenerous and impolitic custom so common with novel-writers, of degrading by their contemptuous censure the very performances, to the number of which they are themselves adding—joining with their greatest enemies in bestowing the harshest epithets on such works, and scarcely ever permitting them to be read by their own heroine, who, if she accidentally take up a novel, is sure to turn over its insipid pages with disgust.

Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.

To look almost pretty is an acquisition of higher delight to a girl who has been looking plain the first fifteen years of her life than a beauty from her cradle can ever receive.

She never could learn or understand anything before she was taught; and sometimes not even then, for she was often inattentive, and occasionally stupid.

Northanger Abbey

oh how i wish i could hug her :( she has grown a lot even in just a few pages

"Heavily past the night. Sleep, or repose that deserved the name of sleep, was out of the question. That room, in which her disturbed imagination had tormented her on her first arrival, was again the scene of agitated spirits and unquiet slumbers. Yet how different now the source of her inquietude from what it had been then - how mournfully superior in reality and substance! Her anxiety had foundation in fact, her fears in probability; and with a mind so occupied in the contemplation of actual and natural evil, the solitude of her situation, the darkness of her chamber, the antiquity of the building were felt and considered without the smallest emotion; and though the wind was high, and often produced strange and sudden noises throughout the house, she heard it all as she lay awake, hour after hour, without curiosity or terror."

love this part ! great resolution after the whole "mrs tilney mystery"

"The visions of romance were over. Catherine was completely awakened. Henry's address, short as it had been, had more thoroughly opened her eyes to the extravagance of her late fancies than all their several disappointments had done. Most grievously was she humbled. Most bitterly did she cry. It was not only with herself that she was sunk-but with Henry. Her folly, which now seemed even criminal, was all exposed to him, and he must despise her for ever. The liberty which her imagination had dared to take with the character of his father, could he ever forgive it? The absurdity of her curiosity and her fears, could they ever be forgotten? She hated herself more than she could express. He had-she thought he had, once or twice before this fatal morning, shewn something like affection for her. -But now-in short, she made herself as miserable as possible for about half an hour, went down when the clock struck five, with a broken heart, and could scarcely give an intelligible answer to Eleanor's inquiry, if she was well. The formidable Henry soon followed her into the room, and the only difference in his behaviour to her, was that he paid her rather more attention than usual. Catherine had never wanted comfort more, and he looked as if he was aware of it."

jana 

Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her better for it.

Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of diasppointed love.

Annika

All have been, or at least all have believed themselves to be, in danger from the pursuit of someone who they wish to avoid; and all have been anxious for the attentions of someone who they wished to please.

There’s nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends.

Do not imagine that I often read novels - it is really very well for a novel. Such is the common cant. What are you reading, Miss? Oh! It is only a novel! Replies the young lady, while  she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor, or conveyed to the world, and the best chosen language.

P. D. James

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY P.D. JAMES The Vintage Classics Austen series is designed by the writer and illustrator Leanne Shapton and introduced by some of our finest contemporary writers and Austen fans: Alexander McCall Smith, Lynne Truss, Amanda Vickery, Francesca Segal, P.D. James and Andrew Motion. 'Jane Austen is a genius, and Northanger Abbey is hugely underrated' Martin Amis Catherine Morland is a young girl with a very active imagination. Her naivety and love of sensational novels lead her to approach the fashionable social scene in Bath and her stay at nearby Northanger Abbey with preconceptions that have embarrassing and entertaining consequences.

Helen 

Her duplicity hurts me more than all; till the very last, ifI reasoned with her, she declared herself as much attached to me as ever, and laughed at my fears. I am ashamed to think how long I bore with it; but if ever man had reason to believe himself loved, I was that man.

 There is nothing I would not do for who are really my friends. I have no notion loving people those by halves, it is not my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong. 

Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love. 

Northanger Abbey tells the story of a young girl, Catherine Morland who leaves her sheltered, rural home to enter the busy, sophisticated world of Bath in the late 1790s. Austen observes with insight and humour the interaction between Catherine and the various characters whom she meets there, and tracks her growing understanding of the world about her. In this, her first full-length novel, Austen also fixes her sharp, ironic gaze on other kinds of contemporary novel, especially the Gothic school made famous by Ann Radcliffe. Catherine's reading becomes intertwined with her social and romantic adventures, adding to the uncertainties and embarrassments she must undergo before finding happiness.

karissa 

Iona 

While enjoying a six weeks' stay in fashionable Bath, the young and callow Catherine Morland is introduced to the delights of high society. Thanks to a new literary diet of the sensational and the macabre, Catherine travels to Northanger Abbey fully expecting to become embroiled in a Gothic adventure of intrigue and suspense - and, once there, soon begins to form the most gruesome and improbable theories about the exploits of its occupants. An early work, but published posthumously, Northanger Abbey is a parody of the Gothic genre typified by the novels of Ann Radcliffe, as well as a witty comedy of manners in the style of Jane Austen's later novels and, ultimately, an enchanting love story.

"Catherine Morland"

 by Jane Austen has a promising start, and it kept me intrigued for about the first 20 pages until it lost its charm as the story progressed. It quickly becomes dull, lacking a compelling plot and I didn't feel invested to the characters. Not one. And I know many say, "It's satirical; you aren't supposed to like them." Okay, but I don't even like the story itself, so, what now? 

One interesting observation related to the book is the notion that readers tend to favour either the Brontë sisters (Emily, Charlotte, and Anne) 

 Jane Austen - this is mutually exclusive. The remark, based on a TikTok video, suggests that one's preference for one author may lead to a dislike of the others. I didn't believe it at first until I read the comments under the video and a few other videos related to Austen and the Brontë sisters. It turns out many people believed this notion too, and although I've only read one of each author (except Emily), I might be more of a Brontë girl. However, I'm willing to give Jane Austen another chance. 

While I didn't find Northanger Abbey as captivating as the works of the Brontë sisters, it's worth noting that Austen's writing style and themes differ significantly from those of the Brontës. It may be worthwhile for me to explore Austen's other novels; "Pride and Prejudice" or "Sense and Sensibility," which are considered among her best works.

Tali 🧸ִֶָྀི𓂃

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen has a promising start, and it kept me intrigued for about the first 20 pages until it lost its charm as the story progressed. It quickly becomes dull, lacking a compelling plot and I didn't feel invested to the characters. Not one. And I know many say, "It's satirical; you aren't supposed to like them." Okay, but I don't even like the story itself, so, what now? 

One interesting observation related to the book is the notion that readers tend to favour either the Brontë sisters (Emily, Charlotte, and Anne) or Jane Austen - this is mutually exclusive. The remark, based on a TikTok video, suggests that one's preference for one author may lead to a dislike of the others. I didn't believe it at first until I read the comments under the video and a few other videos related to Austen and the Brontë sisters. It turns out many people believed this notion too, and although I've only read one of each author (except Emily), I might be more of a Brontë girl. However, I'm willing to give Jane Austen another chance. 

While I didn't find Northanger Abbey as captivating as the works of the Brontë sisters, it's worth noting that Austen's writing style and themes differ significantly from those of the Brontës. It may be worthwhile for me to explore Austen's other novels; "Pride and Prejudice" or "Sense and Sensibility," which are considered among her best works.

Sajiya Chaudhary

This is my second book by Jane Austen, and while the main plot or love story is not as deep or complicated as Pride & Prejudice's, it still was engaging. I liked that our heroine is an ordinary, naive, not-so-beautiful girl, which makes this a kind of common-of-age novel of 18o0s, which is how it's described on the Internet. The satire of gothic novels was pretty on point, considering they were all rage around that time. And the mild commentary on why men shouldn't criticise reading novels, since they read them as much as women. 
In between around 5-6th chapter, I started getting a very feminist vibe from the text, when it diverged from the core novel to a full fledged outpour of frustration, that I kind of felt all the while reading this story. 
The banter here unlike Darcy & Elizabeth's was pretty enlightening. I kind of like Henry Tilney more than Darcy here, since he was so forthcoming with his thoughts and opinions over subjects which I want men to talk, and be honest about. 
Ready to read more of Austen and transport myself to the England of 1800.

Catherine Morland's sentimental illusions about life and love crumble as she enters into adulthood and encounters the politics, pitfalls, and machinations of Bath society.

It almost feels like it was written yesterday. I love how different every character acts and thinks. Not giving 5 because I thought it would be a bit more gothic but at the same time, having this thought makes me relate so much to the main character.

LIMEKI 

Nina

Library Edition

Sarah Sammis

jack

fun play with gothic tropes. lot of political/social commentary underneath the surface

Haloo, Jane spojila gotickú satiru, paródiu na vtedajšie novely, believable romance a kritiku high class do jednej naloženej knihy.

Klára Kováčiková 

It was funny and addicting, I couldn’t stop reading once I started because it was so suspenseful

Ania Wysoczanska

Brandy

The most youthful and optimistic of Jane Austen's novels, Northanger Abbeytells the story of na�ve, charming Catherine Morland, who is obsessed with reading Gothic romance and horror. When Catherine is invited to stay at her new friends' grand house, Northanger Abbey, with its mysterious suite of sealed-off rooms, her melodramatic imagination threatens to run away with her. As comic misunderstandings ensue, she comes to understand the gap between fantasy and reality, false friends and true feeling.

I don't know why I picked this up, I don't really read classics anymore. But I'm glad I did, it was a fun, funny and light story. That Isabella though! I would love to punch her teeth down her throat. What an absolute B - and as far as I'm concerned Isabella's brother can get in the bin and then get in the sea straight after. Catherine had a lucky escape there. Henry's great, by the way. Imagine someone accuses your father of murdering your mother and you still fancy them Now that's love.

Melissa Palmer

Basing this rating on the full cast audible version, which made the story so much more enjoyable to me. Northanger Abbey has always been my least favorite Jane Austen, but Emma Thompson's narration, the sound effects, and the voice acting of all the characters just made this story more entertaining

Emma Lechner

Kendi Dockum

DNF at 30%. 

I tried. I really tried. This book just isn't working for me as I had thought it would. It was an interesting enough start and managed to hold my attention for a little while... But then... I don't know, I lost interest I guess. There must be something wrong with my brain to not enjoy a classic almost everyone seems to be raving about...

Northanger Abbey (Signet Classics)

Sara Uribe

This may be my shortest review ever. 

Have you ever read a book and know what you were reading but it just didn't sink in? This was this kind of read for me. This book started out strong for me and then by the middle I couldn't keep my focus and I didn’t care to know what was going on. I wasn't engaged in the second half of the book like I was at the beginning, which was so disappointing. This is my second read from Jane Austen and so far this is my least favorite book so far. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.

This is one of the earliest novels Jane Austen wrote, but it was published posthumously due to some publisher issues. Catherine Morland is the youngest heroine in her novels and Jane was 20 years old when she wrote her. Jane speaks in her own voice as the narrator. Catherine reads very young and naive. In the process of this story, she gains some experience and does learn from it, giving a bit of coming of age in this story. Jane is satirizing the hugely popular gothic novels of the time. Catherine is one of Mrs. Radcliffe's greatest fans and is furiously reading The Mysteries of Udolpho and imagining "horrid" things around every corner. The humor and satire is on point. Jane Austen defends novels (and readers and authors) against those who deride them as dangerously corruptive. Catherine goes to Bath with her family friends Mr. and Mrs. Allen so that she can meet people outside of the small village where the Morlands live. She makes some friends and is enchanted by all the society and attractions of Bath. When she gets invited to have an extended visit at her new friend's grand and ancient home, Northanger Abbey, she can't resist. Even more so because she is attracted to her friend's brother. Her imagination runs wild. Mysteries, drama, and betrayals ensue. It is all wrapped up neatly in the end. I did feel the end was a bit sudden and it all really happened off page.

Cheryl Hedlund

i have long wanted to read a classic, but have been to scared to because i think my brain is not capable of handling the complex language and pacing of story. Northanger Abbey had been in my bookshelf for probably atleast a year and when i finally picked it up it was an amazing read. the first part of the book was entirely a different vibe than the second and the second was definelty more creepy and eerie, i feel like the romance betwen tileny and catherine should have been highlighted more. I LOVE JAMES MORLAND AND NEED A HENRY TILNEY IN MY LIFE. the way tilney helped catherine experience jer emotions to the fullest, always supported her and talked to her in such a flirtatious tone made me blush and giggle. oh how much i hated reading about John Thrope. i loved the way the book romanticized friendship so much. i couldnt have read and understood this without the help of the videos on youtube explaining every chapter in such great detail. i think i want to read all of Jane Austens novels now. I loved the way this book shaded on other general tropes of novels and was so funny and ironical to read as well. honestly i loved the book so very very much and im so happy that i read it!

Anushree Taparia

like somebody else on here said, definitely more of a coming of age story !! didn't like the book all that much at first but it really grew on me towards the end. catherine's bond with eleanor and henry was so precious, i liked reading their conversations a lot ! i wish we could've seen more of their friendship, i was very fond of it.. i also liked catherine as a main character, though sometimes she did get a bit annoying (lol). her imagination caused her to make many mistakes but she learnt the lesson in the end. it's a no brainer that the descriptions were nice too, jane austen is a spectacular writer ! despite all of this, the story was a bit boring at times (especially the half part), the romantic aspect was lacking (which is okay, not every novel needs to be focused on that - but in this case i wish we got more of it) and it just wasnt enjoyable 100% of the time, more like 50-60% ? i guess. still good, but definitely not my favorite :') really enjoyed the ending though (wont say more)

Wilde

Felt a bit rushed. Also not quite as entertaining as I was told it would be. All in all rather disappointing.

Florence

Colleen

4.5 Stars

I am continuing my tradition of starting the year with a Jane Austen novel keeping roughly in line with the 200th anniversaries of their publications. Which brings me this year to Northanger Abbey.

Northanger Abbey differs from Austen's other works in some ways possibly because she wrote it first even though it was published later. For me, it is more of a coming of age story than a romance. Although I have always thought that people do Austen's writings a great disservice by viewing them as just romances. Her writing is full of insightful satire and witty reflections on the absurdity of society and people. She captures different personality types with uncanny expertise. Like all of her writing, Northanger Abbey is full of well written, rounded characters even if the characters themselves are not always pleasant. She must have had some very colorful characters in her real life to be able to capture such follies so well on paper. 

It's a very self aware story but with that lovely tongue-in-cheek sarcasm that make it fun to read. I actually enjoyed the parts where the narrator (presumably as Austen herself) would break in to pontificate about certain things particularly people's views about whether or not to read fiction and what sort to read. Funny that people are still expressing those same arguments two-hundred years later.

As I mentioned, this was not so much a romance; at least, not the sort that makes my heart go pitter-patter, pitter-patter. Catherine is frankly a bit of an airhead. A lovable airhead, but still, not the sharpest tool in the shed. And Henry is definitely a know-it-all who tends to be chauvinistic and condescending. I do appreciate that Catherine is a heroine described as being average who is actually average. Not suffering from the troupe of being described as normal and average in order to appeal to all the normal, average readers but then turning out to be extraordinary in some way or another. 

But I enjoyed watching Catherine's runaway imagination get the better of her. And I enjoyed the setting and the Gothic air to certain parts of the story. This is a classic for a reason. And as usual reading Austen is a great start to any year.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 5 Stars

victoria

I LOVED??? but i really wanted to know more about mr tilney and catherine togheter, their scenes always got me smiling and giggling 😭

Northanger Abbey is about the misadventures of Catherine Morland, young, ingenuous, and mettlesome, and an indefatigable reader of Gothic novels. In Lady Susan, Lady Susan has practically imprisoned her daughter Frederica in a boarding school which she hates because Frederica will not marry the man Lady Susan chose for her. In the Watsons, Emma Watson is a disenfranchised outsider in her family. Sanditon sketches a restless world of speculation and real estate as Mr. Parker devotes himself to transforming his quiet village into a bustling resort for the wealthy.

Northanger Abbey ; Lady Susan ; The Watsons ; Sanditon

Nour Bassiouny

4.5
Very enjoyable 
Not boring at all like .....other books (*cough* Emma *cough*)
I found it very relatable a lot of the time
I just loved it❤

Rachel Braithwaite

Um okay this book is amazing. As a seventeen year old girl like Catherine, I found her character very relatable and I saw myself in her. The plot was at times slow but the amazing characters always kept me invested and turning pages. Don’t even get me started in Henry Tilney, that man is my husband.

Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

Reviews

Highlights