Summary
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen's satirical take on Gothic novels, follows the coming-of-age story of Catherine Morland as she navigates high society in Bath and indulges her overactive imagination at the titular abbey. Completed in 1803, it was Austen's first finished novel but last to be published posthumously in 1817. The story pokes fun at the conventions of Gothic fiction while exploring themes of love, marriage, and a young woman's place in Regency society. A notable 2007 TV adaptation starring Felicity Jones brought Austen's witty tale to modern audiences.
Plot
Catherine Morland, a 17-year-old girl with an active imagination and a love of Gothic novels, travels to Bath with family friends, Mr. and Mrs. Allen. There she meets Henry Tilney, a clever young clergyman, and his sister Eleanor. Catherine also befriends Isabella Thorpe, who becomes engaged to Catherine's brother James. When Catherine is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, the Tilney family home, her imagination runs wild as she envisions dark secrets and mysteries lurking within the abbey's walls.
At Northanger Abbey, Catherine's Gothic fantasies lead her to suspect General Tilney, Henry and Eleanor's father, of having murdered or imprisoned his late wife. Henry eventually discovers Catherine snooping around his mother's former rooms and scolds her for her wild imaginings. Ashamed, Catherine realizes she has let her love of sensational novels cloud her judgment. Soon after, General Tilney abruptly sends Catherine home after learning she is not as wealthy as he had believed.
Back home, Catherine is dejected until Henry arrives to propose marriage. He has defied his father's wishes to pursue Catherine. The couple's engagement is eventually sanctioned when Eleanor makes an advantageous marriage, improving the family's fortunes and softening General Tilney's stance. Catherine learns to temper her imagination with reason as she matures into a discerning young woman, ready to become Henry's wife.
Themes
Coming of age and maturation
Reality vs. imagination
The dangers of confusing fiction with reality
Marriage and courtship in Regency society
Friendship and betrayal
Gothic literature parody and satire
The power of reading and books
Setting
Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey is set in England during the late 18th century, likely 1798 to 1799 based on references in the novel. This places the story firmly in the Georgian era, a time of significant social and cultural change in Britain. The novel captures the manners, customs and social expectations of genteel society during this period.
The story primarily takes place in two main locations. The first is the fashionable city of Bath in Somerset, a popular resort town known for its Roman-built baths. Bath provides the backdrop for much of the novel's social interactions and romantic intrigues as the characters attend balls, take promenades, and engage in polite society. The second key setting is the fictional Northanger Abbey itself, located in Gloucestershire. This Gothic-style country estate becomes the focus of the protagonist Catherine Morland's overactive imagination.
Within these broader settings, Austen portrays several specific locations that were typical of upper-class English society at the time. These include the Pump Room in Bath where socializing and “taking the waters” occurred, various assembly rooms for dances and gatherings, elegant townhouses, and the rural parsonage where Catherine's family resides. The contrast between bustling Bath and the more isolated abbey estate allows Austen to explore different facets of Georgian social life and expectations.
Characters
Catherine Morland: The novel's naive 17-year-old protagonist who loves reading Gothic novels. She matures throughout the story as she learns to distinguish between fiction and reality.
Henry Tilney: An intelligent and witty clergyman who becomes Catherine's love interest. He helps Catherine overcome her overactive imagination.
Isabella Thorpe: Catherine's manipulative and flirtatious friend in Bath who initially appears genuine but proves to be selfish and insincere.
John Thorpe: Isabella's boastful and unpleasant brother who briefly pursues Catherine. His lies and exaggerations cause problems for Catherine.
General Tilney: Henry's status-obsessed and mercenary father who initially welcomes Catherine to Northanger Abbey but later rudely sends her away.
Eleanor Tilney: Henry's kind and sensible younger sister who befriends Catherine. She suffers under her father's oppressive control.
James Morland: Catherine's older brother who becomes engaged to Isabella before she jilts him for Captain Tilney.
Captain Frederick Tilney: Henry's older brother, a flirtatious and rakish soldier who seduces Isabella away from James.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen: Catherine's neighbors who bring her to Bath as a companion. Mrs. Allen is preoccupied with fashion while Mr. Allen is more perceptive.
Quick facts
Northanger Abbey was the first novel Jane Austen completed for publication, though it wasn't published until after her death in 1817.
The novel was originally titled “Susan” when Austen first sold the manuscript in 1803.
Austen received £10 for the manuscript in 1803, but it was not published at the time. Her brother Henry had to buy back the rights for the same £10 in 1816.
Austen revised portions of the novel in 1816, shortly before her death and over a decade after first completing it.
Catherine Morland, the protagonist, is considered Austen's most naïve and underdeveloped heroine.
Northanger Abbey is generally considered more lighthearted than Austen's later works. It directly addresses the reader and contains more overt commentary on the nature of novels and novel-writing.
The book parodies Gothic novels that were popular at the time, especially Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho.
The novel mentions several real “horrid” Gothic novels that were long thought to be Austen's invention until they were rediscovered in the 1920s.
The book includes one of Austen's most famous defenses of the novel as a literary form.
Northanger Abbey is the only one of Austen's novels to be set primarily outside of southern England, with much of the action taking place in Bath.
Along with Persuasion, Northanger Abbey was published posthumously in December 1817, with a biographical notice identifying Austen as the author of all her novels for the first time.
About the Author
Jane Austen (1775-1817) is considered one of the most influential authors in the English language. She wrote six major novels that critique and comment on the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for social standing and economic security.
Austen's works were published anonymously during her lifetime. Her novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma achieved modest success when published, but it was not until after her death in 1817 that her reputation grew. Two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, were published posthumously.
Known for her realism, biting social commentary and masterful use of free indirect speech, Austen is now widely studied and considered part of the Western canon. Her novels have inspired numerous film and television adaptations. Despite living a relatively quiet life centered on family and writing, Austen's keen observations and wit allowed her to craft compelling stories that have stood the test of time.
Austen's popularity has continued to grow since the mid-20th century. Academic interest in her work has intensified, with scholarly books and articles analyzing her novels from a variety of critical approaches. Austen has a devoted following among the general public as well, with fan clubs and festivals dedicated to celebrating her life and works. In 2017, she was featured on the Bank of England £10 note, cementing her status as a British cultural icon.
