Northanger Abbey

Young Miss Catherine Morland's obsession with Gothic novels leads to misunderstandings in matters of the heart. Classic Jane Austen — romantic, witty and deeply satisfying.

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'No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be an heroine.'

Northanger Abbey is a comedy about reading and misreading-of books and the world-and about different kinds of peril, both imagined and real. In it, Austen's youngest heroine, Catherine Morland, must navigate financial disadvantage, social constraint, and sometimes quite ruthless manipulation. The absurdities of fashion and conspicuous consumption, voguish ostentation and social competition are seen first in shark-infested Bath, (the premier health resort and marriage market of the day) and then in a more tranquil pocket of rural Gloucestershire that turns out to be a hotbed of materialism and greed. Jane Austen combines making fun of the excesses of the Gothic novel with larger moral issues: the folly of letting literature get in the way of life, and the inexcusability (especially for women) of not thinking for oneself.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

This fully annotated edition of Northanger Abbey includes:
– A new historical annotation and author biography by Charlotte Davis.

– New literary discussion questions for all readers.

Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen’s romantic novel follows the ever-optimistic, naïve heroine Catherine Moreland who is invited to spend a social season in Bath with a wealthy neighbor. Her point of view and impressions of the society she meets is primarily influenced and distorted by her love of gothic novels and a very active imagination.

Join Catherine as she tries to understand who she is and where she fits into the world through the delightful social encounters and trials that she experiences in this delightful coming-of-age novel.

Northanger Abbey has been critiqued as the most lighthearted and joyous of Austen’s novels. Yet it is also thought to be the most satirical commentary on love, marriage, and social status in England's late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Jane Austen (1775 – 1817) was an English novelist known for her six major novels, which interpret, critique, and observe the British elite of the late 18th and early 19th century and the dependent roles of women in society. Northanger Abbey was published alongside Persuasion, just months after her death in 1817.

Join the millions of dedicated readers who have made Jane Austen one of the most beloved romantic novelists. Austen’s biting use of irony, witty realism, and social commentary have earned her worldwide acclaim among critics and scholars for over two hundred years. Her works have been reproduced in writing, film, television, and theater for decades, and she is widely considered the original romantic female novelist in English literature.
The Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen Edition is a beautiful and unique edition, with detailed historical annotation and a biography of Jane Austen. It is ideal for collectors, admirers of Jane Austen novels, and enthusiasts of great classic literature.
– Part of a 6-volume Jane Austen series including Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion.

Why The Vikings Classics Edition is Unique:
– The Original 1818 Publication, complete with original volumes

– Historical Annotation and Biography of the Author by Charlotte Davis

– Spelling and grammar are carefully edited, improved, and considered to preserve the original manuscript and provide a seamless reading experience.

– Beautiful, hand-designed cover for ebooks, paperback, and hardcovers.

– Makes an excellent gift for students, teens, and adults.

Jane Austen's witty exploration of the perils of mistaking fiction for reality, now in a collectible Deluxe Edition celebrating the 250th anniversary of the author's birth

During an eventful season at Bath, young, naïve Catherine Morland experiences fashionable society for the first time, both its pleasures and its pitfalls. She is delighted with her new acquaintances: flirtatious Isabella, who shares Catherine’s love of Gothic romance and horror, and sophisticated Henry and Eleanor Tilney, who invite her to their father’s mysterious house, Northanger Abbey. There, Cather learns the danger of an active imagination. With its broad comedy and irrepressible heroine, this is the most youthful and optimistic of Jane Austen’s works.

Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

"Real life is rarely a Gothic novel—but it can be just as treacherous."

Meet Catherine Morland, a delightfully innocent and imaginative young woman who has spent far too much time reading "horrid" Gothic thrillers. When she is invited to the fashionable city of Bath and later to the brooding, ancient estate of Northanger Abbey, she expects to find haunted hallways, hidden scrolls, and dark family secrets. Instead, Catherine must navigate the far more complex terrors of social etiquette, fickle friendships, and the charming but teasing Henry Tilney. Austen's most playful novel explores the danger of letting our imaginations run wild and the necessity of seeing people—and houses—for what they truly are.

The Art of the Parody: Austen uses Catherine's obsession with Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho to poke fun at the literary trends of her day. By placing a girl who expects a villain in a world that only offers a grumpy General, Austen highlights the gap between romantic fiction and the subtle, everyday realities of the Regency period.

A Match of Wit and Heart: The romance between Catherine and Henry Tilney is one of Austen's most unique. Henry is a hero who wins the heroine's heart not through brooding silence, but through humor, intelligence, and a shared love of history and literature. Their relationship is a refreshing take on mutual respect and intellectual compatibility.

Why It Is a Timeless Read: Northanger Abbey is the perfect entry point for those new to Jane Austen. It is fast-paced, funny, and deeply relatable to anyone who has ever let their favorite book influence how they see the world. It reminds us that while there may not be skeletons in the chest, the human heart remains the greatest mystery of all.

Step into the light of Jane Austen's wit. Purchase "Northanger Abbey" today.

Northanger Abbey follows imaginative young Catherine Morland as she ventures from her quiet country home to the dazzling social world of Bath. Enchanted by Gothic novels and romantic fancies, Catherine's active imagination leads her into a series of comical misunderstandings–especially when she visits the mysterious Northanger Abbey and suspects dark secrets hidden within its walls. Both a witty satire of Gothic fiction and a charming coming-of-age story, this beloved novel showcases Austen's sharp humor and keen insight into human nature.

The Northanger Abbey Jane Austen Edition is a beautiful and unique special edition, perfect for book collectors, Jane Austen lovers, and fans of classic literature. Whether you're buying this as a gift or as for yourself, this remarkable edition features decorative interior pages featuring quotes distributed throughout.

Collected alongside the other timeless works in the Jane Austen Collection or enjoyed on its own, this deluxe edition of Northanger Abbey is both a literary treasure and a perfect gift for fans of classic literature.