Northanger Abbey (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jane Austen)

One of the first of Jane Austen's novels to be written, and one of the last to be published, Northanger Abbey is both an amusing story of how a naive girl enters society and wins the affection of a witty young clergyman, and a high-spirited parody of the lurid Gothic novels that were popular during Austen's youth. In the process it features a vivid account of social life in late eighteenth-century Bath, and Austen's famous defence of the novel as a literary form. This edition, based on the text of the novel as published posthumously in 1818, is accompanied by explanatory notes, and an appendix summarising the plots and situations of the Gothic fictions that form the basis of much of Austen's comedy. In addition there is an extensive critical introduction covering the context, publication, and critical history of the novel, a chronology of Austen's life, and authoritative textual apparatus. One Of The First Of Jane Austen's Novels To Be Written, And One Of The Last To Be Published, Northanger Abbey Is Both An Amusing Story Of How A Naive Girl Enters Society And Wins The Affection Of A Witty Young Clergyman, And A High-spirited Parody Of The Lurid Gothic Novels That Were Popular During Austen's Youth. In The Process It Features A Vivid Account Of Social Life In The Late Eighteenth-century Bath, And Austen's Famous Defence Of The Novel As A Literary Form. This Edition, Based On The Text Of The Novel As Published Posthumously In 1818, Is Accompanied By Explanatory Notes And An Appendix Summarizing The Plots And Situations Of The Gothic Fictions That Form The Basis Of Much Of Austen's Comedy. In Addition There Is An Extensive Introduction Covering The Context, Publication, And Critical History Of The Novel, A Chronology Of Austen's Life, And Authoritative Textual Apparatus.--book Jacket. Chronology -- Northanger Abbey -- Corrections And Emendations To 1818 Text -- Appendix : Summaries And Extracts From Ann Radcliffe's Novels. Jane Austen ; Edited By Barbara M. Benedict And Deirdre Le Faye. Includes Bibliographical References. Northanger Abbey is both a perfectly aimed literary parody and a withering satire of the commercial aspects of marriage among the English gentry at the turn of the nineteenth century. But most of all, it is the story of the initiation into life of its naïve but sweetly appealing heroine, Catherine Morland, a willing victim of the contemporary craze for Gothic literature who is determined to see herself as the heroine of a dark and thrilling romance. When Catherine is invited to Northanger Abbey, the grand though forbidding ancestral seat of her suitor, Henry Tilney, she finds herself embroiled in a real drama of misapprehension, mistreatment, and mortification, until common sense and humor—and a crucial clarification of Catherine’s financial status—puts all to right. Written in 1798 but not published until after Austen’s death in 1817, Northanger Abbey is characteristically clearheaded and strong, and infinitely subtle in its comedy.