Girlebooks Home | Book Reviews

“Northanger Abbey” by Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey is available for free download from our ebook catalog.

Where would Jane Austen be without film adaptations? Certainly not as widely read 190 years after her death as she is. Not being a purist in literature, I will admit that I saw the 2007 ITV adaptation of Northanger Abbey before reading the book. Thus far I have not been disappointed in seeing an Austen adaptation first. My reasoning this time around is that JJ Field as Henry Tilney is more perfect than I could have imagined, so I am very glad to have had him in mind while reading Henry’s saucy lines.

Even though mystery, misunderstandings, and evildoings pervade the text, it remains a delight throughout. Chapter One, on introducing our heroine, Catherine Morland, Austen actually uses the word “stupid”. And the rest of the book does not prove her wrong! However one does not dislike our heroine for it, on the contrary. While the “bad” characters ramble on and on–and oh it is so obvious that they are not to be trusted–Catherine, with the purest and most naive heart, trusts everyone. And that is why Henry and you, the reader, will love her.