Northanger Abbey

Today we are going to approach--but not really go into--the subject of Jane Austen's least popular book, Northanger Abbey. Why it is the least popular is a subject for huge debate which I shall not attempt to address, except that I think it's a lack of true character development except for our heroine. But that's just me.

This story is the "dark and mysterious" of Jane's novels, which may be another reason it isn't as popular, as she should stick to semi-realistic sensible romatics, but anyway. Our heroine is Catherine Morland, who, like so many of us, has more romantic imaginations than she knows what to do with. She's very innocent, but thinks she knows much as far as romanticism goes. She goes with some friends to Bath and meets a sister of her brother's friend, who, it turns out, is engaged to her brother, go figure. They become friends, and this friend (I think her name is Isabella) is someone that you don't like right from the getgo and you have no idea why our lovely and likeable Catherine is friends with. She's shallow, base, and utterly irritating. Her brother tries to make some moves on Catherine, causes her to lose the opportunity to go out with the handsome and charming (and all-around good guy) Mr. Tilney. Somehow she discourages the jerk and Mr. Tileny and his sister end up inviting her to their home, Northanger Abbey. Dark and mysterious is the place, haunted by the ghost of the late Mrs. Tilney, whose demise is a subject for further investigation, in Catherine's mind. The fact that their father is a crazy miserly creepy old dude doesn't help matters either.

Catherine's imagination goes wild, and that's what leads to the rift between our potential lovers. That and the fact that Mr. Tileny's dad found out she';s poor and basically had her cast from the house...

If you really care all that much, read the book. It's not so bad, really.

This is a decent version...if you like creepy 80's adaptations.

This one is REALLY good. I enjoyed it very much. It made me just about like the story. Oh, who am I kidding, this version MADE the story for me. Watch it! It's the BBC.