Northanger Abbey

Northanger Abbey is the first novel Jane Austen began to write. It was, along with Persuasion, published after her death at the age of 41. It is known as a parody of the Gothic genre that was popular at the time. The two books are often presented together.

Gothic fiction places the reader in interesting situations and settings and uses many psychological elements. Catherine Moreland, the heroine of our novel was fond of Gothic literature, and expected Northanger Abbey, a home she is invited to visit, to be dark and brooding. She lets her imagination get the better of her, and puts herself into an embarrassing situation with her fantasies.

Catherine Moreland is the seventeen year old heroine, and her male counterpart, and later love interest is Henry Tilney.1 She is invited to visit the Tilney family home at Northanger Abbey because of her friendship with Eleanor Tilney. Also involved in the twists of the plot is a family named Thorpe.

Catherine is inadvertently witty and sarcastic when making observations on the society around her. That is one of the attractions for Henry. Like other Austen heroines, Catherine is sensible, strong, and independent, a self confident young lady.

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