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Reader discussion: Northanger Abbey

Public reader discussion about Northanger Abbey in the WeRead Catalog by Jane Austen.

Question about Northanger Abbey!

By NeedleRusty5

Pretty much anything Jane Austen—her novels, the short stories, all the adaptations too. I just can’t get enough of it.

Watching Northanger Abbey (2007) for the first time

By Jade-Yard

I just wrapped up listening to a bunch of dramatized Jane Austen stories, and I’m kind of embarrassed that I’m in my 30s and still hadn’t moved past P&P. But seeing this film makes me feel like I should’ve read NA first—what a weird, wild story. Also the acting is ridiculously dramatic! (And can we all agree Thorpe is absolutely the worst?) And honestly, I don’t know if I could’ve handled something like this when I was younger.

I'm so curious about the novels austen is satirizing in Northanger Abbey. They sound exciting.

By brownRaven59

Any English nerds able to explain this? And are any of them easy to read?

Why didn't anyone tell me how funny and biting Northanger Abbey is?

By PBee26

I’ve been into Austen mostly because of Pride and Prejudice, which I’ve read a bunch of times and really loved. This year I figured I’d finally work through the rest of her books, and I started with Northanger Abbey. I also picked up the David Shapard annotated editions because the extra historical context really does make it better. First, the satire is spot on. I actually had to read the opening pages to my husband because it’s basically just a few pages of “Catherine is an extremely ordinary girl, not especially remarkable in any direction, from a big decent family, so why is she the heroine? oh well, we’ll go with it.” And then there are parts where it honestly feels like Austen, as the narrator, is talking straight at you, like she’s stepping through the page. The bit around page 70 in the annotated edition really did that for me, especially the whole section about Catherine and Isabella bonding over novels. It really seems like Austen wrote this book partly just to make that point and to defend novels, while also poking fun at how “serious” writing gets praised even when it doesn’t have nearly the same wit or humanity or insight. It also feels like a pretty clear pushback against sexism, since so many novelists then were women anyway. And honestly, that still feels current to me. Stuff like the compilation example Austen brings up, where someone just gathers a few lines from other writers and that gets treated like high achievement, while novels get looked down on, still feels weirdly familiar.

Reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time and didn’t expect Jane Austen to write like this

By MouseBookish55

I kept delaying this one, but after the last big upvote on the opening line here, I finally started it today. I honestly thought it was gonna be this super insightful read, but Darcy straight-up calling Elizabeth ugly?? I almost choked. I had to look up the real couple later because… why would he say that like that?? lol Even just the first chapter with Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Bennet had me tearing up. Also, nobody warned me that Darcy and Elizabeth are basically on an enemies-to-lovers track, and I’m not okay—Jane Austen really made this work so funny somehow. What is her tea setup? The romance isn’t even fully going yet, but I’m starting to get why people are obsessed with Austen, especially this one. Now I’m thinking I’ll read more of her books after. What should I try next that’s as close as possible to this kind of humor? Or any books with a character vibe like Elizabeth? Edit: Added a paragraph and fixed my grammar.

Northanger Abbey (2007)

By BookmarkMarten4003

I just jumped into a discussion about Northanger Abbey (2007) and somehow ended up watching it again yesterday, mostly because I was sick and wanted something comforting. I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen it at this point. Anyway, am I the only one who thinks it’s such a great adaptation? Northanger Abbey isn’t even my top Austen book, but this version might be my favorite Austen adaptation. Felicity is honestly perfect for showing Catherine’s naivety and all those expressions, and Feild as Tilney is just… wow. And it’s not just them. I really liked everyone else too, especially Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Morland, and Miss Tilney. Even though I know what’s coming, I still ended up laughing, smiling, and getting a bit anxious during parts. I just had to gush a little—NA doesn’t get nearly as much attention as a lot of Austen stuff, but this adaptation really deserves more.

Is Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen supposed to be a parody or a satire? (more details inside)

By mercy_panther70

Sorry if I’m posting in the wrong place, but I’m not really sure where else to ask. I figured this has a lot of people who might actually have opinions, so I’d really appreciate any constructive criticism or other thoughts. A few of my friends and I are arguing about Northanger Abbey. Most of them think it’s basically a satire of society, but a couple of us (including me) think it’s more like a parody of Gothic novels. I’ve got some points written out, but I’m worried my reasoning is kind of wobbly in spots. I tried looking up summaries and a bunch of websites kind of treat “parody” and “satire” like they mean the same thing, which makes it harder to tell what Austen was going for. Did she mean to poke fun at upper-class Bath society, or was she trying to mock Gothic conventions like in Anne Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho? The first chapter has Catherine set up as this rough comparison to what you’d expect in a Gothic book—she’s not polished, she’s kind of noisy and wild, she’s into the wrong sort of things (at least compared to the “proper” heroine), she doesn’t really have a guy waiting for her, her mom isn’t exactly keeping watch over shady men, and the chaperone is just… dull. But in a typical Gothic novel you’d expect the whole package: the beautiful/sophisticated heroine, someone for her to fall for, protective mom, protective chaperone, all that. So here’s where I get stuck/questioning myself: is Austen actually satirizing Bath society, or is she satirizing a society that already exists inside a Gothic story? If it’s the second one, then I don’t know if calling it “satire of society” makes sense, since it’s really making fun of the Gothic formula itself. At first glance it feels like satire, but the more I compare it to Gothic tropes, the more it seems like parody—more direct humor through imitation/mocking the usual setup. To me, Book 2 is basically just her parodying Gothic stuff: Catherine gets all these expectations built up and then it ends up pretty anticlimactic. The abbey itself, the papers, the empty chest, secret passages and staircases, even Tilneys’ mom’s room—those all feel like she’s messing with the “this is what you’re supposed to expect” vibe. The problem is, I can’t really find much that supports the “satire” side. I’ve only been able to dig up stuff calling it parody, not real examples/quotes that show Austen is satirizing society specifically. If anyone has quotes or clearer guidance on where the satire shows up, I’d really like to see it. Thanks!

Confessions of a Northanger Abbey virgin

By StormWhite

I’m basically brand new to this book, even though I’m an Austen fan—I’ve even been to Bath, and I can usually tell Chawton and Chatsworth apart, and I know what people mean when they say “badly done” in Emma. But I still had to Google Catherine Morland, because I didn’t immediately recognize the name. So…where do I even start? The book itself feels like the obvious answer, but I think a lot of us end up meeting Austen through movies or those BBC adaptations. Is there a specific Northanger Abbey movie I should watch first? Or are there versions I should skip? I know I could just look it up, I just want to hear what people think.

Why do you think Northanger Abbey is the least adapted Austen book?

By clearPanda754

Honestly, I think *Northanger Abbey* is probably the least known and least popular of the big six. Part of that feels like it comes down to how rarely it’s been adapted—only two big adaptations, while even *Mansfield Park* has three. But at the same time, it seems like it should be pretty easy to get into for modern readers. We’re not really big on gothic novels now, but a lot of the vibes are still around in people’s heads—spooky old houses, mysterious deaths, that whole gothic heroine/damsel thing, sometimes even the “white dress girl” look. And even if it’s not strictly gothic, the fake friends angle still feels relevant too. The main drama is also stuff we’d still instantly understand as a big deal: Catherine suspecting General Tilney had something to do with his wife’s death, and Isabella basically ditching her engagement with James because he’s not rich enough. Like, those are obviously awful choices, and they don’t feel as confusing as some other plots do—Frank’s secret engagement always creates way more problems in his story. Also, Henry Tilney just feels way more likable to me than a bunch of the other male leads people mention—Edmund, Edward, Brandon, Knightley… I’ve seen complaints about those guys, but I don’t hear the same with Henry. So yeah, it seems like it would translate well to a modern audience, and it’s also satirizing a genre that’s still kind of in the culture. Yet it’s the least adapted. Does anyone have theories about why that is?

NORTHANGER ABBEY - THE AUDIOBOOK. The inspired reading by Juliet Stevenson really brings out the wit and humor of this Jane Austen Novel

By midnightsummer

If you were waiting for a download link and got let down, it looks like LibriVox still has two versions recorded, too.

Why is Northanger Abbey an immature Novel?

By Bison_Bee

I’ve read that Austen started Sense and Sensibility in 1795, Pride and Prejudice in 1796, and Northanger Abbey in 1798 (though those aren’t the publication years), and she went back and revised everything later. Still, Northanger Abbey feels kind of like an early beginner book to me, while the earlier ones seem more put-together. Does anyone know why it might come across that way?

What are everyone's thoughts on the work of brilliance otherwise known as Northanger Abbey?

By Pink-Beacon

I finally read it and stayed up until like 5am just to finish it. I really, really liked it. It felt way faster than a bunch of her other books, and the writing had a bunch of great lines—overall it was just super fun to read. Also, the narrator is hilarious. It definitely feels like one of those satirical things pretending to be a romance. I kept getting thrown by how the “papers” ended up being an account of washing bills, and the guy behind them was just some random connection who ended up marrying Eleanor. And you could really hear the author’s voice in it, mostly coming through as sarcasm, but it still made me wonder—do her actual opinions show up at all, or is it all just the joke? Catherine: honestly, she doesn’t have the big dramatic struggles some of the other heroines do, like Anne or Fanny, and I think that’s what made it so light. But sometimes Catherine is just… kind of an idiot. Like during the whole “the general murdered his wife” bit, she really needed someone to shake her. I did feel bad for her embarrassment when she told Henry, though. Still, she’s so cheerful that I couldn’t help liking her, and I liked that she actually goes after what she wants. Isabelle: the villains were awful people, but somehow they also read like they’re sweet. Two-faced in the worst way—I love to hate her. Henry: Austen’s best romantic hero, easily. He’s witty and funny, but there’s still that solid common sense under it, and you can tell he’s really loyal. So yeah, why isn’t it more famous? It really should be. What do other people think about it?

Northanger Abbey's Narration

By featherfuzzy81

Just finished the first few chapters of *Northanger Abbey* and I’m not sure what to make of the narration so far. It feels really odd to me, like it keeps steering Catherine into situations instead of letting her just be. And there’s definitely something going on with Isabella and Catherine—like the story is nudging Catherine to see Isabella as a straight-up good friend, even though I’m guessing things will go sideways and she’ll end up taking Henry, or at least trying to. Also, the way Austen seems to go after the whole gothic genre makes me wonder if that’s part of why the narration feels so weird. Am I completely off base, or does this actually line up with what the book is doing? What do you think?

Do you ever struggle with feeling like you aren’t reading “quality enough” books?

By fuzzy_cougar

I totally bounce between reading phases, and right now I’m trying to get back into it again. I kept seeing stuff about Fourth Wing floating around somewhere (maybe TikTok). Everyone seemed really into it, and since it’s dragons—which I’m obsessed with—I figured I’d check out the sample fast. I tore through the sample way quicker than I expected, and now I’m pretty far into the actual book, but I’m not done yet, so please no spoilers. I’ll be honest, it’s not like the most amazing writing or super groundbreaking. There are moments where the way it’s written makes me cringe a bit. But… it’s genuinely a really entertaining story, and it’s super easy to read. Like, not hard to follow at all, which is kind of a contrast to the other book I’ve been struggling through slowly (House of Leaves). I am also 27, so I’m probably outside the “ideal” age range for it, and sometimes I get this weird sense of guilt like I should be reading stuff that’s more “serious” or challenging. I know that’s probably just in my head and nobody else actually cares, but it still pops up. Has anyone else felt that way? Edit: I didn’t think I’d get this many replies! I read through them all and I’m really glad I’m not the only one dealing with it. I’m gonna take some of your advice and stop letting it get to me so much, because honestly who cares? Thanks, everyone.

Is Northanger Abbey the 'black sheep' of the novels?

By novelSleepy20

I get that people see Mansfield Park as the “problem child,” and yeah, kind of. But it feels like pop culture usually just points at a handful of Austen books—like Pride and Prejudice, that one with the other title, and a few more. Even on TV adaptations, Mansfield Park gets filmed way more often than Northanger Abbey does. I’m guessing Northanger gets ignored mainly because it wasn’t included in that Austen renaissance stuff in the late ’90s. And even during Jane Austen Book Club, Jocelyn kind of brushes it off as “the dud book.” Prudie jumps in saying it’s probably because it’s the shortest, which makes sense, but the bad reputation still hangs around.

[Schedule] Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen (Gutenberg)

By Crimson_Saddle3913

We’re kicking off Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen on July 7 as the Gutenberg pick for the month. I always thought it was kind of funny that it was written in 1803 but didn’t get published until 1818, after she’d already passed. It’s basically a parody of those super popular Gothic novels from the time, and the main character, Catherine Morland, is pretty naïve—so her imagination runs wild and she ends up jumping to some weird conclusions about what’s going on around her. Here’s the reading schedule: 7/7 Chapters 1–9 7/14 Chapters 10–15 7/21 Chapters 16–23 (or Volume 2, Chapters 1–8) 7/28 Chapters 24–31 (or Volume 2, Chapters 9–16) Marginalia are here. Also, if you want the book, you can grab it for free on Project Gutenberg. Excited to discuss this with everyone in the first thread!

Northanger Abbey Adaptations

By Clear_Brush

I’m currently watching a weirdly adapted version of *Northanger Abbey* from 1987. I don’t know the book as well as some of the others, so I’m a little unsure, but the gothic mood is really good. Everything else just feels kind of off, though. The guys don’t really do it for me—they look sweaty the whole time, which is distracting. I do like the actress playing Catherine, at least. I noticed there’s also a 2007 movie—would that one be better? And are there any other adaptations people think are worth it?

Order for reading Jane Austen?

By LaurelPage

I haven’t started her book yet, but I’ve got them all sitting here ready to read. Any idea what the best reading order is? Thanks!

Northanger Abbey, anyone?

By bravedesk1984

I honestly feel like *Northanger Abbey* gets ignored a lot. The satire is so good, and I have to admit I really like Mr. Tilney—he’s probably my favorite of the Austen guys. Also, in the book he’s genuinely pretty funny. I’m just curious if anyone else feels the same. I guess that’s why people ask stuff like this, so… do you think *Northanger Abbey* deserves more attention?

The insanity that is Northanger Abbey(1987)

By Sonnet_Hardcover77

I totally didn’t expect this version to be this weird. I should’ve known it was going off the rails the moment the electric guitar kicked in during the coach ride. Then the saxophone over the boat scene had me cringing so bad. And besides that, it’s a mess—terrible costumes and makeup, random characters showing up and adding nothing, some really confusing casting choices, and just bizarre scenes that make you wonder why they’re even there. The cartwheel moment nearly got me to stop watching. I almost turned it off, but I needed to know where this whole acid-trip movie would go. It’s definitely worth a watch if you want to see how out-there it is, but yeah… one time is enough for me.