Northanger Abbey

To quote the first line of the novel: "No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine."

Catherine Morland is a plain, simple girl from a small town but is spending her holiday in Bath. In Bath, she meets that enchanting Henry Tilney, a young, attractive clergyman. Henry's father mistakenly thinks that Catherine is wealthy and therefore, would make a good wife for his son. As such, she is invited to their country estate, Northanger Abbey. Catherine possesses an abundantly provocative imagination and envisions the abbey as a Gothic house of terror. The plot twists and turns violently as she seeks to unravel the mystery she has created in her mind while also pursuing her love for Henry.

Though it was written at the end of the 18th century, Northanger Abbey wasn't published until 1818, after Austen died. Many note the setting of the novel, which provides a unique look into the middle-class life of England at the time, a stark difference from Austen's other works that center on the wealthiest classes. Some love Northanger Abbey for their study of English literature. Some love it because of their love for Jane Austen. But all agree that they love it for its sheer brilliance as a novel.

This edition includes:

• A biography of Jane Austen to introduce the text.