Monthly Archives: October 2008

I bought a new edition of Northanger Abbey  – it was published by Cameron House (an imprint of Bookwise International). This is what it has on the back …

The complete text in a modern, readable typeface.

Four clear introductions by renowned Austen scholars.

A timeline in colour of Jane Austen’s world.

A colour map of Jane Austen’s England.

An illustrated section on Regency Bath.

A stylish embossed black jacket with an easy-to-use elastic closure.

It certainly looks nice …

I’m continuing to read Northanger Abbey (as part of Go Gothic month at Austenprose). Here are some more of my favourite bits …

He was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to be easy.

Chapter 7

On describing Miss Tileny

Her manners showed good sense and good breeding; they were neither shy, nor affectedly open; and she seemed capable of being young, attractive and at a ball, without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her, and without exaggerated feelings of extactic delight or inconceivable vexation on every little trifling occurrence.

Chapter 8

Catherine listened with astonishment; she knew not how to reconcile two such very different accounts of the same thing; for she had not been brought up to understand the propensities of a rattle, nor to know how many idle assertions and impudent falsehoods the excess of vanity will lead.

Chapter 9 

Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her better for it.

Chapter 10

‘And such is your definition of matrimony and dancing. Taken in that light certainly, their resemblance is not striking, but I think I can place them in such a view. – You will allow, that in both, mann has the advantage of choicem woman only the power of refusal; that in both, it is an egagement between man and woman, formed for the advantage of each; and that when once entered into, they belong exclusively to each other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty, each to endeavour to give no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves elsewhere, and their best interest to keep their own imaginations from wandering towards the perfection of their neighbours, or fancying they would have been better off with anyone else.’

Chapter 10

The above quote is fabulous. How many of us in today’s divorce prone society think it our duty ‘to give no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves elsewhere’?

 

 

Well in the spirit of Go Gothic, I’ve started reading Northanger Abbey – just chapters one to three. I’ve forgotten how much I like it. I would say my favourite Austen is Emma, but Northanger Abbey has a really light touch. Here are some quotes I loved …

Her father was a clergyman, without being neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his name was Richard – and he had never been handsome.

and

Mrs Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them. She had neither beauty, genius, accomplishment, nor manner.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the novel.

I haven’t read any Northanger Abbey continuations or prequels – Are there any?

I have seen the latest BBC adaptation though and I really liked it.

I have just read on Austenprose that the reading schedule has changed we  now have longer to read The Mysteries of Udolpho (brilliant!).