Customer Reviews

Northanger Abbey And Persuasion (1833)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Northanger Abbey was a very entertaining novel. The heroine, Catherine Morland, is a very mediocre but charming girl whose only wish in life is to have an exciting Gothic adventure, which of course will end up with herself saving the day. Like Austen's other work, it is entertainingly ironic, mainly due to the idea that throughout the entire story, Catherine creates the most Gothic of Gothic mysteries out of a situation that is completely normal. Catherine's innocence and amiability are completely captivating, proving that a good heroine need not be particularly witty or mysterious or in any way alluring. It is, on the whole, a very light, entertaining novel.
Persuasion is also very entertaining, but it has a more solid conflict. The heroine, Anne Elliot, is a really wonderful person, which irritatingly is only apparent to the reader and one or two other characters. Anne faces a dreadful situation when she is confronted by her former fiance, whom she chucked on the mistaken advice of her best friend, but still loves deeply. Personally, I was really in suspense nearly the entire time as to how it would turn out, because the entrance of Anne's cousin, Mr. Elliot, hints at an attachment with him. It' s a well-written and of course ironic and well worth reading if you remotely enjoy Austen's style.

Northanger Abbey was a very entertaining novel. The heroine, Catherine Morland, is a very mediocre but charming girl whose only wish in life is to have an exciting Gothic adventure, which of course will end up with herself saving the day. Like Austen's other work, it is entertainingly ironic, mainly due to the idea that throughout the entire story, Catherine creates the most Gothic of Gothic mysteries out of a situation that is completely normal. Catherine's innocence and amiability are completely captivating, proving that a good heroine need not be particularly witty or mysterious or in any way alluring. It is, on the whole, a very light, entertaining novel.
Persuasion is also very entertaining, but it has a more solid conflict. The heroine, Anne Elliot, is a really wonderful person, which irritatingly is only apparent to the reader and one or two other characters. Anne faces a dreadful situation when she is confronted by her former fiance, whom she chucked on the mistaken advice of her best friend, but still loves deeply. Personally, I was really in suspense nearly the entire time as to how it would turn out, because the entrance of Anne's cousin, Mr. Elliot, hints at an attachment with him. It' s a well-written and of course ironic and well worth reading if you remotely enjoy Austen's style.

I particularly like this version for the Biographical Notice of The Author written in 1817 after the death of Jane Austen.The writer of these notes (Chapman??) praises her as never harshly judging another person. My opinion is that she lets her characters speak for themselves-good or not so good.Also thought the last line very interesting as it gives insight into the religious thought of the times "and her opinions accorded strictly with those of our Established Church"

This edition contains both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

Northanger Abbey is quickly becoming not only my favorite Jane Austen novel but my favorite novel. It is the story of Catherine Morland, who has read perhaps too many novels. She is taken to Bath by her friends, the Allens, and there she meets Mr. Henry Tilney and his sister Miss Tilney. She is very eager when invited to stay with them at their home, Northanger Abbey, and she interprets everything that happens there in light of the many Gothic novels she has read. In Northanger Abbey, I am tickled to death not only by Catherine's naïveté but also by Jane Austen herself. The first half of this novel is filled with the most hilarious observations which seem to come directly from Austen, and the second half is filled with the overactive imagination of Catherine Morland. In this parody of Gothic fiction, Austen pokes fun at both herself and her audience. It is truly a delight.

Every time I read Jane Austen, a different novel stands out as my favorite, and the first time it was Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of Anne Elliot, who at nineteen is convinced by her family to reject the man she loves because of his lack of rank and fortune. Seven years later, after he has achieved his fortune, she is thrown again into Captain Wentworth's company. She must watch, her feelings unchanged, while he courts two other young ladies. Anne's courage and fortitude in such circumstances are inspiring, and the novel is one of hope for anyone who has ever wished for a second chance at love.

The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen is an excellent edition of Jane Austen's novels. This particular volume (Volume V) contains the original cancelled chapters of Persuasion from Jane Austen's manuscript as well as excerpts from Ann Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho and Romance of the Forest, which are both referred to in Northanger Abbey. These are must reads for any true Jane Austen devotee. I highly recommend this edition to anyone who enjoys or is interested in Jane Austen's novels.