Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey | Summary & Review 

I loved the long rant Jane goes on in the middle of the novel defending novels and those who enjoy them. ❤

I love your detailed synopsis . I’m reading this book more than halfway but I find it difficult to finish. Your summary makes it easier to understand the plot. I’m going to try to reread this book later. Also, you remind me so much of Spencer Hastings from Pretty Little Liars. You look just like her

I really enjoyed sharing a cup of tea with Arnella, and hearing her thoughts on Northanger Abbey.

If I hadn't read the novel,when you got to the moment when Catherine and Eleanor stayed up till eleven and heard the knock on the door,I would have bet you'd have said John Thorpe!Instead it was the real gold-digger of the piece General Tilney.Remember when Catherine felt mortified in thinking he had killed his wife,but then didn't feel so bad about it when she discovered his true nature.😂❤️

Your videos are so incredibly comforting - its my birthday today and I just received the box set of Jane Austen books and these summaries are really helpful for me to understand the plot! :)

Loved the video! I really got a good overview of Northanger Abbey

Excellent summary! I think it could be improved if you made it clear that Catherine had not read any Gothic novels before she was introduced to them by Isabella. Too many people think she has been reading them at home and arrives in Bath ready for Gothic situations. Also, if I had been doing a summary I would have pointed out how many of the situations in the story really are the same as in the Gothic novels Catherine has been reading. They are just translated into real life. John Thorpe really does kidnap Catherine when he "laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd noises, and drove on," just like in the novels. (BTW John Thorpe has always struck me as the Regency equivalent of a used car salesman. “Curricle-hung, you see; seat, trunk, sword-case, splashing-board, lamps, silver moulding, all you see complete; the iron-work as good as new, or better.") And when Catherine interprets General Tilney's behavior as "slowly pacing the drawing-room for an hour together in silent thoughtfulness, with downcast eyes and contracted brow, she felt secure from all possibility of wronging him. It was the air and attitude of a Montoni!" She is right!

Finally, I am almost at the end on NA and I hate that I have watched the movie first - or at all, because I love the book. Because of the movie I already knew exactly what would happen, so that spoiled the experience, but alas. I will survive😅. I love how it was so light and easy to read. So many conversations! I even like how there is the use of "my heroine", it makes it so playful. The movie made me feel so much second hand embarrassment, that I could not come to like Catherine, but in the book almost all the episodes feel natural. About Catherine, I nicknamed her for myself tabula Rasa. She has just outgrown childhood games and got no preparation for adulthood. She goes from expecting the best, most proper from everyone, taking everything people say literally, and at face value as if she got no capacity to read the room; to placing everyone and everything she sees for this colorful imaginary situation (the gothic colorful style, mind you😊 - the more horrid the better). There is this zero experience, as if she lived in a convent untill going to Bath.Her love for Henry is so sweet and I suspect it to be the epitome of a puppy love. And as for James, he is just the male version of Catherine I think - maybe a bit more gullible. Remember the moment C refused to go with them on a ride - the most proper behaviour even nowadays - I know I would hate it if my friend canceled an appointment with me in order to go fool around with other "friends". So this would be downright rude throughout the centuries. However James sides with Isabella the moment she whines a little. 'Boy, you dodged a bullet right there'. So Henry... I believe this is probably my favourite male lead. He is levelheaded, but not dull, in the picture and experienced but not condescending ( although I think he likes to use condescension to make fun of those dear to him -E and C- so he teases, not bullies). He also knows his place- when to caution, but is not nosy - since he knows in the end everyone is responsible for his own actions. I love especially his conversation with C about captain Tilney's and Isabella's behaviour. He nudges and directs Catherine to realize it takes 2 to create romantic tension and that the one truly responsible to James for her actions is Isabella and not his brother - so it seems to me he is well aware of the characters of both and can easily predict what happens, and at the same time let's the events take their course. So basically, I do not feel much passionate love between Henry and Catherine, but unless there is a major disturbance in their relationship down the road, the two together would make a wonderful couple and a steady one I think. He does have good influence on her. Now the two who made the story fenomenal - Thorp's. I think people call men like him a 'prick' and it fits. The duo make it look like a teen movie from highschool environment - he a muscle head team captain, Isabell the main cheerleader....😂 They just fit there. And Isabell herself would make it a field day for Mr. Bennett. He - would - love her! She's probably the only character in Austen novels, who could match up to Mr. Collins in ridiculousness. Maybe also the woman from Emma... Mrs. Elton. I think... I mean, imagine these three meeting and conversing together.... THAT would be epic. Anyway, thanks for the video. This was a bit long comment, but since I am reading and finishing the novel almost as we speak, it's all so fresh in my memory.😅

I never considered Isabella a friend of Catherine. It was obvious she only uses her from the beginning. Catherine THOUGHT of them as friends, but she's young and terrible naive, and Isabella is abysmally manipulative. She's one of my most hated Austen's characters.

Thanks for this lovely video, I think this is an Austen book I'll see myself re-visiting once in a while. The relationships between different characters is pretty accurate to nowadays, shows how much human behaviour has remained the same throughout time. also the thorpe siblings are insufferable but entertaining nonetheless 😅

I don't knoow I think Thorpe might be worse than Wickham. At least Wickham had some charm and could have lively conversation. Thorpe can only talk about horses and carriages. He's more like a young Mr. Hurst.