Northanger Abbey facts for kids
Title page of the original 1818 edition
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| Author | Jane Austen |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Gothic novel, Romance novel, Satire |
| Publisher | John Murray |
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Publication date
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December 1817 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Preceded by | Emma |
| Followed by | Persuasion |
Northanger Abbey is a famous novel written by Jane Austen. It was actually the first novel she finished writing, though it wasn't published until after her death. This story is a fun mix of a romance novel and a satire. It also makes fun of popular gothic novels that were popular at the time.
Contents
What is Northanger Abbey About?
The story begins with Catherine Morland, a 17-year-old girl. She is innocent and has not seen much of the world. Catherine travels with her wealthy relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, to Bath, England. Bath is a busy city known for its social events.
Catherine's New Friends
At first, Catherine feels a bit lost in the big city. She doesn't have many friends there. But soon, she meets a charming young man named Mr. Tilney. Catherine is very interested in him. However, he disappears the next day, leaving her feeling sad.
Then, Catherine meets a lively girl named Isabella Thorpe. Isabella is very friendly and seems like a lot of fun. Catherine becomes happier with her new friend. But Catherine doesn't realize that Isabella might not be as good a friend as she seems.
Discovering Gothic Novels
Isabella introduces Catherine to exciting gothic novels. These books are full of mystery, old castles, and sometimes ghosts. Catherine loves these stories, but she starts to believe they are real. She finds it hard to tell the difference between reality and fiction.
Catherine also meets Isabella's brother, John Thorpe. John quickly decides he wants to marry Catherine. He thinks Catherine likes him too, but she doesn't.
Meeting the Tilney Family
Soon, Catherine meets Henry Tilney again. She is also introduced to his sister, Miss Eleanor Tilney. Eleanor is a smart and sensible lady. She is very different from Isabella. Catherine also meets their father, General Tilney.
Isabella shares happy news with Catherine: she is engaged to Catherine's brother, James Morland. Later, John Thorpe tries to propose marriage to Catherine. But Catherine doesn't even realize he is asking her to marry him! When Isabella tells her about John's feelings, Catherine is very surprised. She immediately says no to John's proposal.
A Visit to Northanger Abbey
Eleanor Tilney invites Catherine to visit their family home, Northanger Abbey. Catherine is very excited. She expects the abbey to be like the spooky places in her gothic novels. She thinks it might be haunted or have dark secrets.
However, Catherine soon learns that Northanger Abbey is a perfectly normal place. It is not haunted at all. This helps her understand that her gothic novels are just stories. They are not real life.
Catherine's Mistake
While at the abbey, Catherine listens to General Tilney's conversations. She notices he avoids talking about his late wife. Because of her love for gothic novels, Catherine starts to suspect something terrible. She thinks General Tilney might have murdered his wife.
Catherine even convinces Eleanor to take her to Mrs. Tilney's old room. But when General Tilney appears, Catherine quickly runs away in fear. She later tries to visit the room again. This time, Henry Tilney finds her there. Catherine accidentally tells him her strange suspicions. Henry is not angry, but he is surprised. Catherine runs to her room, crying. She worries that Henry will not like her anymore.
Soon after, Eleanor Tilney takes Catherine to a stagecoach. She tells Catherine she must go home immediately. Catherine is very frightened and surprised. She believes this is happening because of her wrong ideas about General Tilney and his wife. When she arrives home, she is quiet and sad.
A Happy Ending
Later, Henry Tilney visits Catherine's house. He asks her to marry him, even though his father, General Tilney, has said no. Henry explains what happened. At first, John Thorpe had lied to General Tilney. John told the General that Catherine was very rich. Because of this, General Tilney wanted Henry to marry Catherine.
But then, Catherine refused to marry John Thorpe. So, John angrily told General Tilney another lie. He said that Catherine was very poor. General Tilney was shocked and upset. He then rudely sent Catherine home.
Catherine's parents tell Henry and Catherine that they must wait. They need General Tilney to agree to the marriage.
Finally, Eleanor Tilney marries a charming and very wealthy man. This makes General Tilney extremely happy. Because he is so pleased, he agrees that Henry can marry Catherine. He also finds out that Catherine is not as poor as he thought. This makes him even happier! At last, Catherine and Henry are married, and they live happily ever after.
See also
Images for kids
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Catherine Morland in an illustration from an 1833 edition of the novel
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Isabella and Catherine walking arm and arm in an illustration by H. M. Brock from a 1904 edition of the novel
See also
In Spanish: La abadía de Northanger para niños
