Northanger Abbey (Wordsworth Classics)

Short, readable and gives some idea of tourist Bath of long ago.

No problem

Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey follows non-stereotypical heroine Catherine Morland as she visits Bath for the season, and meets a friend and unfortunate suitor in Isabella and John Thorpe, and a friend and fortunate suitor in Eleanor and Henry Tilney. Eleanor and Henry invite her to stay with them at Northanger Abbey, and as she has recently gotten into reading gothic fiction, she is really looking forward to this. She gets a bit too excited about her gothic fantasies, but is still able to enjoy her time there and become closer to both Eleanor and Henry. My favourite character was Catherine and my least favourite character was either General Tilney or John Thorpe. I recommend this book if you like gothic literature, classic literature, romance, or satire. I wish the ending had been a little less rushed, though, and we heard more about Isabella and James as well as Catherine and Henry. ‘There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.’

Catherine Morland is an unlikely heroine as she is more practical and down to earth than a romantic heroine is supposed to be. She goes on an extended visit at the age of 17 to Bath with her friends and neighbours Mr and Mrs Allen. There she becomes entangled with the Thorpes - Isabella and John. Before long Catherine realises they aren't the best friends she could have when they start to try and manipulate her. But the Tilneys - Henry and Eleanor - are more to her taste and she is thrilled when Eleanor invites her to stay with them at Northanger Abbey.What follows involves many misunderstandings partly influenced by Catherine's avid reading of the Gothic novels of authors such as Mrs Radcliffe. The book is humorous with many well drawn characters. It is lighter hearted even than  Pride and Prejudice (Wordsworth Classics) with many ironical asides from the author. It is an ideal choice for any reader coming new to Jane Austen.This Wordsworth edition is good value and well produced with an interesting introduction, list of further reading and notes on the text.

Enjoyable read

Though there is some debate around the exact date Austen wrote this book, we can be pretty sure it is her first novel. And it does feel like a first attempt. This is by no means a bad thing, it just means it's simpler, less intricate than her better known novels.We meet Catherine Morland at the tender age of 17, and see her entering society for the first time as she is invited to join the wealthy, childless Allens to Bath. Austen accentuates Catherines inexperience and innocence by making it clear that this is her very first experience of society, a far cry from her sheltered, isolated, happy, country upbringing. Catherine's innocence and simplicity is, however, deceptive. I believe that Austen has been extremely clever in creating this character, as she is an almost perfect picture of what every woman was at that age, thus creating an immediate bond between the reader and the heroine. She is awkward at the same time as being clever and spirited, she can be clumsy and immature at the same time as showing remarkable firmness and moral standard. Her imagination carries her away on fanciful tangents, yet she is gratifyingly shameful when real life catches up with her. I feel like all women would love Catherine because they will recognise a themselves in her.This is a story of growing up and all the painful embaressments that can sometimes involve. It is a story of learning how to distinguish your friends from your enemies, and it is of course a story of love. I guess that the only thing that sits uncomfortably with me is that Catherine's story begins with her leaving her father's house and ends with her entering the house of her husband. You can say the same for all of Austen's books, but in Northanger Abby it's more pronounced, because it is much shorter and because there is less emphasis on romance than her other books. We see little of Catherine's feelings for Mr. Tilney that hint to anything stronger than a crush and she is married to him less than a year after she meets him. Compared to the slow-developing, intense love of Elizabeth Bennett or the enduring love of Anne Elliott, both older heroines than Catherine, this seems rather rushed and superficial, and perhaps a bit too easy. Besides, both Elizabeth and Anne reject the hero at first, showing their independence and their resolution to live happily as an individual, rather than unhappy as a wife. We never see this spirit in Catherine.But make no mistake, I enjoyed this book, with the horrid siblings Isabella and John Thorpe, the one-tracked mind of Mrs. Allen, the stormy, intimidating and mysterious General Tilney and Catherine's well meaning, simple mother. Maybe it is not quite of Pride & Prejudice calliber, but it is a lovely little book none the less

cheap and quick, good value, good condition

Delivered on time as promised. Excellent value for money.It is a parody of Gothic novels , such as 'The Castle of Otranto', popular at the time Austen wrote 'Northanger Abbey'; it's the story of a naive heroine Catherine Morland's misadventures when she goes to stay with relations in Bath.. all ends happily. Innocence is rewarded.Marion in Hailey Oxfordshire

A nice-looking cover to this book! The size feels good in the hands, too. Not too big or bulky. The Dover Thrift one has a pretty cover but is kind of awkward to hold. The story, of course, is funny. If you know the aims of gothic romance, you know Jane Austen is lightly poking fun at it, but in good taste. She is crafty and also shows the details of her Era with mastery. A nice book to read and a great own for a lover of literature.

Even though the product was delivered on time, I'm quite unhappy with it. There is a considerable amount of damages done- folded pages, scarred and scratched cover. Moreover, the page quality and the print is so cheap and fragile that the ink looks like it may smear and smudge. It is not worth the money. (I had ordered the paperback version of Wordsworth Classics.)

J'adore cette collection qui propose des oeuvres classiques à un prix imbattable entre 2 à 3 €. Après avoir vu le film je vais pouvoir lire l'oeuvre. D'habitude je préfère faire le contraire car j'aime me représenter les personnages et les décors par moi-même d'après les descriptions de l'auteur. Toutefois cela ne gâchera rien au plaisir de lire.

Livro lindo, mas as letras são muito pequenas. Atrapalha a leitura.

Llegó en perfecto estado.