Book Report: Northanger Abbey

Book   Report: “Northanger Abbey”, By Jane Austen

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in a village called Steventon in Hampshire. Jane’s personal life and how she spent her time growing up has a big influence on her main characters, especially the female ones. It is known that Jane loved to talk long walks around Hampshire and to read book, this is portrayed in most of her female characters, notably Catherine Morland and Elizabeth Bennet. Around 1801 Jane Austen was forced to move to Bath, a move which she resented and fought, this could lead to the portrayal of Bath in her works. Northanger Abbey was published after Jane’s death, however it is said to be the first one she wrote.
Northanger Abbey was sent to a publisher in 1803 but never published. It was revised and then published towards the end of 1817; however it is dated to have been published in 1818.   It is a relatively short book consisting of only 177 pages.
In Austen’s first full-length novel, Northanger Abbey, Jane tells the story of a young girl, Catherine Morland, who leaves her sheltered, rural home to enter the busy, sophisticated world of Bath.
Northanger Abbey is set in the 1790’s when it was written it takes place in 3 major locations. At the beginning of the book it is set at the Morlands’s house, after, Catherine is invited to Bath by the Allen’s and finally it is set in Northanger Abbey. The story is written by a narrator, yet whenever Catherine is spoken to directly, it is answered in a first person perspective; “You all drink a great bit more wine than I thought you did.”
Catherine Morland is the main protagonist in this novel, we follow her as she moves from her own home to Bath and finally to Northanger Abbey. Catherine is a very naïve person; she constantly confuses herself due to her naïveté. Nonetheless Catherine is considered an intelligent person and learns from her mistakes, she is also considered to be relativity witty and on-the-ball.   Her strongest traits are...