Northanger Abbey

In 'Northanger Abbey,' Jane Austen creates some of her most entertaining characters. Catherine Morland is not the typical heroine, leading an unexceptional life up until her seventeenth year, when she embarks on an adventure to Bath with family friends, the Allens. There, Catherine attends her first ball, which doesn't turn out to be as exciting as she had imagined, due to her lack of acquaintance in Bath. However, she later meets two people who change her life in ways she could never have anticipated. Isabella Thorpe professes to be extraordinarily attached to Catherine upon their first meeting, partly from a previous acquaintance with her brother, James, and partly from Catherine's sweet temperament. The two girls quickly become inseparable, until the arrival of James Morland, toward whom Isabella seems to have more than friendly feelings. Their friendship is further complicated by the unwelcome attentions of Isabella's brother, John, towards the oblivious Catherine.

Fortunately, Catherine forms an acquaintance of a better sort in the form of Henry Tilney, a charming, sarcastic, witty and intriguing character with whom Catherine almost immediately falls in love. Further adding to his appeal, his sister, Eleanor, is charming and endearing and forms a friendship of a more loyal sort with Catherine. Captain Frederick Tilney arrives in town and begins to interfere with Isabella and James's relationship just as Catherine is invited to visit the Tilney homestead, Northanger Abbey, by General Tilney, Henry's father, who is paying pointed attention to the young heroine. The acceptance of this invitation proves to be the beginning of an adventure wilder than Catherine could have imagined.

Northanger Abbey is arguably Jane Austen's most engaging novel. The comedy of manners contains characters of every sort ? from noble to despicable, witty to witless. The heroine is endearing simply for being an average girl, and her sweet temper and naivety only add to her charm. Henry Tilney will win the reader's heart from his very first appearance. His sarcasm and satire are witty and entertaining and serve to point out the absurdities of society. Perhaps the most pointed of Austen's social commentaries, her points are valid and her method of delivery is engaging and amusing. Catherine's flights of fancy, stemming from one too many gothic novels, combined with the enigmatic nature of the Abbey, add a darker aspect to the comedy that is a refreshing change from Austen's typically light and airy situations. Northanger Abbey is a fun and enchanting read, full of memorable moments and heartwarming scenes. The plot twist near the end is surprising and only adds to the drama of the novel, making the signature happy ending all the more welcome.