Northanger Abbey

De: Jane Austen

Narrado por: Juliet Stevenson

When Catherine Morland, a country clergyman's daughter, is invited to spend a season in Bath with the fashionable high society, little does she imagine the delights and perils that await her. Captivated and disconcerted by what she finds, and introduced to the joys of "Gothic novels" by her new friend, Isabella, Catherine longs for mystery and romance. When she is invited to stay with the beguiling Henry Tilney and his family at Northanger Abbey, she expects mystery and intrigue at every turn. However, the truth turns out to be even stranger than fiction.

©2006 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2006 Naxos AudioBooks

the first anti-Goth

What did you love best about Northanger Abbey?

Very fun - Jane Austen writing about the sweetest fan of Gothic tales yet who is the perfect antiGothic heroine.

What other book might you compare Northanger Abbey to and why?

Northanger Abbey complements the oh-so-tragic tales of such figures as Heathcliffe and Kathy. However, it oh-so-not such a tale. Only Austen's narrative can make one chuckle at the difference.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Stevenson – was your favorite?

Stevenson's portrayals are easily understood, well formed, and never condescending.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very fun novel. I enjoyed talking to friends about this book and hearing what they'd thought when they'd read it.

Meh....

It's a decent enough little story I guess. Nothing too earth shatteringly interesting to note. The narrator does become increasingly shrill when she's doing the different voices and that makes it a hard listen.

Loved the Narrator

This book kept my interest even though the plot moved very slowly at times. The narrator did a great job with the old english way of speaking and I even laughed at her haughty interpretation of a couple of the wealthy charactors.

Great Drama

Listening to Jane Austin's books has brought me to a new level of appreciation of the drama and excitement in her novels.

A Jane Austin Fan MUST READ

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have read every other Jane Austin novel, but always overlooked this one - A MISTAKE! This is by far my favorite novel she wrote.

Early Jane Austen Presents

This is a great book for lovers of romance novels, and Jane Austen in particular. According to Wikipedia (I know) this was her first novel, but was not published until after her death. The heroine is even more normal than other Austen heroines, so that's fun. The best part (aside from the story) is that the narrator/novelist has a voice and speaks at length about her views on novels/novelists/readers.

The narrator was solid, and non-aggravating, though occasionally her Exclamatory Catherine voice startled me rather more than I thought necessary.

Overall a very enjoyable listen.

The Incomparable Jane Austen

Beautifully read, as Jane meant it to be. The biting social commentary had me laughing so hard I had to pull off the road. Who today could compare?

fun "thriller*

Juliet Stevenson did a great job! As far as the story goes, it's written like a gothic parody. It has some moments where the heroine is scared (by circumstances she creates in her mind with her own imagination, but that's besides the point). It's a fun "thriller" with some romance thrown in.

There are few things I like better than Jane Austen read by Juliet Stevenson

Sad as it was to have finished listening to Juliet Stevenson reading Middlemarch, there is still Juliet Stevenson reading Jane Austen. I love this so much. I plan to listen to all of Stevenson’s readings. She is wonderful.

Enjoyable story!

The story was so full of humor, and shocking turns of event -- I love Jane Austen's style so much! My only complaint was the obnoxious, over eager voice the reader gave the heroine. All other voices were performed so well, but I came to really detest hearing the heroine speak by the end of the story. It is a pity, because everything else was tops.