Northanger Abbey (1817)

While the original Northanger Abbey was published in 1817 after the death of Jane Austen, my copy is a Collins Classics edition published in 2010. The novel itself is 230 pages and there are an additional 27 pages of "Words and Phrases from Classic Literature" to help with any unknown terms. I'll give a little insight into my thoughts on the style and some other points of interest raised by Austen. I'll also compare this novel more to Mansfield Park, since I read it not so long ago.

Reading Northanger Abbey straight after Mansfield Park allowed me to make more direct and precise comparisons between the two. While I find the plot of Mansfield Park to be somewhat more complex and with more closely interwoven stories, I can appreciate Austen's not-so-affluent heroines and their relatively more humble family backgrounds in both of these works. That's not to say Austen isn't about high class society, but she plays on the interactions between the various levels in the hierarchy of the gentry.

I found Austen's style in Northanger Abbey to be rather distinct in its more overt sarcasm and wit. I believe the tongue in cheek humour in the descriptions is somewhat more discreet and subtle in some of her other works. To incorporate some Gothic thriller elements into her writing illustrates Austen's engagement with other literature of her time and her own attempts at experimentation with other genres. This is also evident in her significant emphasis on a theatrical play in Mansfield Park, another example of crossing between various art forms. She also overtly discusses the role and nature of novels of the period, especially those written by Anne Radcliffe. Austen opens up this discussion on female writers and attempts to determine where their value in society is in relation to other traditional texts, such as histories, written largely by rich men.

Austen's way of developing characters seemed different from her previous approach, such as in Mansfield Park, where she describes the character for you. I was quite fascinated this time as Austen used her protagonist, Catherine's naiveté to give every other character she interacted with a fair chance to expose themselves through their own words and actions. I found this characterisation intelligent and a refreshing change from a dictated judgement from the narrator. In terms of character, I found the hero in this novel, Henry Tilney, to be fairly likeable excepting his tendency to make general passing judgements on what is appropriate, acceptable and/ or good in the female sex. But it probably represents a fair part of ideal gender roles of the time. Austen chooses to (sarcastically) elaborate on this tendency through her narrator, who enlightens us on the advantages of ladies, especially pretty ones, to remain ignorant in order to flatter the vanity and ego of their conversational partner. Charming tips!

Another similarity between the two novels is that of the rather swift conclusions. I felt that Northanger Abbey's conclusion could have been lengthened and developed a little more as it felt unsatisfactory, considering the sudden plot twist that had to be explained and then resolved. There was little news on James, Catherine's brother, and his future. I personally felt as if Austen needed to quickly create and write her happy ending without wanting to write reams more and thus wrapped up the story in a rushed fashion. I think the emotional challenges in Mansfield Park made the quick conclusion an acceptable relief, yet insufficient in Northanger Abbey since there was less "drama" so to speak.

Overall, it was a less gripping read than Mansfield Park, yet more light and humorous. It was also a much shorter novel, comparatively, which explains the less dense plot, yet Austen still explores a wide range of issues from gender roles, social hierarchy, education, honesty and sincerity as well as the role of literature in relation to real life. She merges the concepts of fiction and reality and this makes for some thought-provoking discussion.