by
Jane Austen
ISBN: 1-55690-381-2 Order from: Recorded Books
In this comedy of manners that pokes witty holes in the literary conventions of the day, the slightly stilted language occasionally becomes tedious and intrusive in this otherwise excellent, light-hearted and well-characterized romance.
Reviewed by David on June 18, 2000
Genre: Romance (Regency, Humor)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Northanger Abbey, one of the classics of English literature in the 19th century.
Seventeen year-old Catherine Morland is eager for adventure when she is given a chance by a visit to Bath with her parents' fiends. Initially beset by boredom and loneliness, Catherine is fortunate enough to meet several young people eminently eligible to be her friends. In a few tumulteous weeks, the well-natured girl learns some lessons about the complexity and pitfalls of friendship and love.
Full Review: This well-crafted, witty satire originally published in 1818 pokes fun at the contemporary novels. Despite its age, Northanger Abbey is still sharp enough to cut holes in some of the modern genre literature.
Catherine is an engaging and well-drawn heroine. Not unusually bright, Catherine possesses enough intelligence to be quite successful in navigating the occasionally treacherous waters of social interaction, with its dangers of deceit, jealousy, greed and ambition.
What makes her interesting is the combination of innocence, emotional romanticism and common sense. Always willing to believe the best of everyone around her, Catherine is naturally fortunate in having others return her affection and regard. However easily disappointed by those willing to take advantage of such easy trust, Catherine is not deceived more than once.
Eager to indulge her fantasies and excessive imagination fed by her image of young ladies portrayed in the popular novels of the day, Catherine is always brought back from flights of fancy by her down-to-earth childhood and the habits of logical thought.
Despite the generally deft wit of the novel, some of the language is overly laborious and injects distraction or tedium into parts of the book. However, much like Catherine, the novel always recovers its equilibrium, and succeeds in invoking amusement, sympathy and optimism in its readers. In addition, the novel is an excellent, satirical portrait of the high society of Regency England
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6; World-building: 7; Originality: 6;
Recorded Books, 1982, Audio Cassette, 6 cassettes
ISBN: 1-55690-381-2 Order from: Recorded Books