Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen
Only Slightly Misleading One-Sentence Summary: Heroine Catherine Morland looks for love among the eligible bachelors at Bath and finds herself transported to a country manor strikingly similar to those in the (highly estimable, mind you) Gothic novels she is wont to read.
I've never read a Jane Austen book, despite being a general fan of the cinematic adaptations of her work I have seen. I found, however, that the trials and tribulations of Elizabeth Bennett did not adequately prepare me for Austen's keen sense of humor and sharply tuned satirical talents. I quickly learned to shed my expectations, however, as my particular edition of Northanger Abbey includes a preface by the author apologizing for its late arrival, asking rhetorically why a publisher would purchase the rights to a book without any intention to publish it. Now, I am a romantic at heart and fully expected to enjoy Ms. Austen, but this paragraph let me know immediately that I had underestimated her and (correctly) predicted a novel that greatly exceeded my expectations.
Okay, sure, Northanger Abbey has a woman's attempt to find romance at its heart- it is Jane Austen we're dealing with here, and readers should expect nothing less. What threw me off in the most pleasant of ways was the sharpness of the satire in the book, which attacks everything from popular perception of novels (with an admittedly misplaced and rambling, yet amusing, rant defense of the genre) to the bizarre formality of courtship rituals to the facetiousness/pompousness of high society to the same Gothic novels Austen herself defended so rigorously in the first place. No character in the book escapes criticism, yet each of the main players is developed with enough complexity that readers are concerned with their efforts (if constantly reminded of their faults). Austen creates a story in which readers at once criticize and sympathize with the heroine, and does it with brilliantly executed editorial comments that (usually) serve not to distract but which enhance the text and make this otherwise dull story more of an understated romp.
While it may appear at first that Austen has no talent for subtlety (and indeed some of the pointiest barbs in the book are unambiguously stated), it seems to me that 21st century eyes can bring a fresh perspective to the book and offer dear Jane more credit. While readers are concerned primarily with the social comedy of manners that drives the book, comments slip in throughout that illuminate the role of women in 19th century England and, in their way, offer subtle criticism missed in the larger outlook. There is much to be said in the novel about its more overt topics, but Austen's almost hidden exposure of attitudes toward women may speak louder than the asides and moral judgments that seem to (perhaps intentionally) bury it or at least make it less detectable.
Looking back, I'm surprised that I enjoyed this book. Austen makes it crystal clear what she thinks of both her own characters as well as their real-life counterparts, yet the book is hardly ever overbearing and is often laugh-out-loud hilarious. Here is an author who knows her targets and, to my mind, is able to hit them perfectly every time in a testament to the power of narrative voice and proper tone. Though the plot is not so seamlessly divided between heroine Catherine Morland's adventures in Bath and tenure as a houseguest at Northanger Abbey, it is sufficient to provide Austen with a suitable platform and readers with a character to root for, with a bit of a laugh at her expense. I enjoyed this book thoroughly from start to finish, and I believe that readers with a passing familiarity with English customs of the era and a willingness to simply enjoy the book as it comes at them will find it a refreshing contemporary counterpoint to its peers.
Northanger Abbey satisfies on many levels as a solid romance story, revealing satire, and thoroughly hilarious book. There are few surprises to those keen on the genre, but the ride is well worth taking and I definitely look forward to reading it again.
Jane Austen
Only Slightly Misleading One-Sentence Summary: Heroine Catherine Morland looks for love among the eligible bachelors at Bath and finds herself transported to a country manor strikingly similar to those in the (highly estimable, mind you) Gothic novels she is wont to read.
I've never read a Jane Austen book, despite being a general fan of the cinematic adaptations of her work I have seen. I found, however, that the trials and tribulations of Elizabeth Bennett did not adequately prepare me for Austen's keen sense of humor and sharply tuned satirical talents. I quickly learned to shed my expectations, however, as my particular edition of Northanger Abbey includes a preface by the author apologizing for its late arrival, asking rhetorically why a publisher would purchase the rights to a book without any intention to publish it. Now, I am a romantic at heart and fully expected to enjoy Ms. Austen, but this paragraph let me know immediately that I had underestimated her and (correctly) predicted a novel that greatly exceeded my expectations.
Okay, sure, Northanger Abbey has a woman's attempt to find romance at its heart- it is Jane Austen we're dealing with here, and readers should expect nothing less. What threw me off in the most pleasant of ways was the sharpness of the satire in the book, which attacks everything from popular perception of novels (with an admittedly misplaced and rambling, yet amusing, rant defense of the genre) to the bizarre formality of courtship rituals to the facetiousness/pompousness of high society to the same Gothic novels Austen herself defended so rigorously in the first place. No character in the book escapes criticism, yet each of the main players is developed with enough complexity that readers are concerned with their efforts (if constantly reminded of their faults). Austen creates a story in which readers at once criticize and sympathize with the heroine, and does it with brilliantly executed editorial comments that (usually) serve not to distract but which enhance the text and make this otherwise dull story more of an understated romp.
While it may appear at first that Austen has no talent for subtlety (and indeed some of the pointiest barbs in the book are unambiguously stated), it seems to me that 21st century eyes can bring a fresh perspective to the book and offer dear Jane more credit. While readers are concerned primarily with the social comedy of manners that drives the book, comments slip in throughout that illuminate the role of women in 19th century England and, in their way, offer subtle criticism missed in the larger outlook. There is much to be said in the novel about its more overt topics, but Austen's almost hidden exposure of attitudes toward women may speak louder than the asides and moral judgments that seem to (perhaps intentionally) bury it or at least make it less detectable.
Looking back, I'm surprised that I enjoyed this book. Austen makes it crystal clear what she thinks of both her own characters as well as their real-life counterparts, yet the book is hardly ever overbearing and is often laugh-out-loud hilarious. Here is an author who knows her targets and, to my mind, is able to hit them perfectly every time in a testament to the power of narrative voice and proper tone. Though the plot is not so seamlessly divided between heroine Catherine Morland's adventures in Bath and tenure as a houseguest at Northanger Abbey, it is sufficient to provide Austen with a suitable platform and readers with a character to root for, with a bit of a laugh at her expense. I enjoyed this book thoroughly from start to finish, and I believe that readers with a passing familiarity with English customs of the era and a willingness to simply enjoy the book as it comes at them will find it a refreshing contemporary counterpoint to its peers.
Northanger Abbey satisfies on many levels as a solid romance story, revealing satire, and thoroughly hilarious book. There are few surprises to those keen on the genre, but the ride is well worth taking and I definitely look forward to reading it again.