Northanger Abbey

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Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen
1817

The Summary

For Catherine Morland, her opportunity to visit the city of Bath comes as an unexpected surprise.  Befriending Isabella Thorpe and her brother, John, as well as meeting Henry Tinley and his sister, Eleanor, Catherine has found herself invited into a new and exciting kind of life, experiencing a kind of society of which she has only vaguely heard.

In this new world, however, not everyone is who they claim to be.

Catherine, now surrounded by new acquaintances and pulled into Gothic adventures, must quickly learn how to tell the difference between those who would wish her well - and those who would stab her in the back.

The Good

Jane Austen's novel is simultaneously intriguing and heart-warming, containing both the elements of a good mystery and a well-told romance.  But, more than recounting another budding romantic relationship or another Gothic adventure, Northanger Abbey chronicles the story of one young woman as she struggles to understand the bitter, unseemly side of society.

Austen's book, at its core, is a coming-of-age story for one young girl who is thrust into a new social class and must learn how to avoid social landmines in the process.  Not only must young Catherine learn how to distinguish between those who would help her and those who would harm her, she must understand the necessity of maturity and recognize her own desire for growth.

The Bad

Northanger Abbey, while entertaining at points, is ultimately boring.  Although I like the character of Catherine Morland - she's a bright, strong-willed girl, who is prone neither to nonsense nor to cruelty.  In short, she's a good, kind person with a clear grasp on reality and, occasionally, an imaginative mind - her story isn't exactly compelling.

Her tale is interesting, vaguely endearing, but not addictively compelling or fantastic.

The Ugly

Polite society, no matter how mild-mannered, is ultimately vicious.  Part hedonism, part venomous social enterprise, the social circle by which Catherine finds herself surrounded will not prove kindly.