(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

R: So we begin Northanger Abbey, the second to last of Jane Austen’s novels that we’ll be writing about. I believe I’ve only read this one once, and other than the protagonist’s name, I remember nothing about it.

S: Although I had seen some movie adaptations for the first four we’ve read I tried to come at the books as one who knew nothing about the stories, which has been a lot of fun. With this one I’m completely in the dark! 

R: Our introduction to Catherine Morland is humourous and cheeky. The young woman is one of ten children. What Austen writes about her mother gave me a bit of a giggle: ‘Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might expect, she lived on–lived to have six children more–to see them growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself.’ This seems to be a poke at the trope of the heroine’s mother having died in childbirth (obviously not funny in actuality), but it must have been as common as it is now in novels.

After the introduction, Catherine is invited to join the Allens, friends and neighbors of the Morlands, for a trip to Bath.

S: I laughed at that sentence as well. There is such wit and tongue-in-cheek in this first chapter. I appreciate how Austen introduced Catherine Morland as a heroine-in-training and says that, as of yet, she has nothing really heroic in her to even be considered as a heroine. There are so many delicious sentences in these first few pages, one of which I happen to very much enjoy is, ‘But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way’. I have a feeling I’m going to giggle quite a bit during this read.

R: Chapter 2 moves right along with Catherine and Mr. and Mrs. Allen arriving in Bath and getting settled. One of their first activities is attending a very crowded ball where they know no one. I think this must have been a public ball. I assume that means that anyone can attend; whereas I would surmise that only invitees would attend a private ball.

S: Even more delicious sentences are found in Chapter 2! The reader can sense Catherine’s disappointment that nothing has yet introduced ‘them to the hero’ she assumes she will undoubtedly encounter, and yet she is nonetheless enthralled by everything around her. Mrs. Allen reminds me of a mix between Mrs. Jennings with her know-how of style and dress from Sense and Sensibility and Lady Bertram with her general demeanor from Mansfield Park. I honestly feel as if I’m reading a bit about how I felt in life as a seventeen-year-old: I was the heroine and any small nod to my beauty was well received. I, like Catherine, always felt out of place and felt as though I stood out in the crowd. In all honesty none of this was probably true, but rather than contenting herself with conversing with Mrs. Allen, Catherine instead longs for both more and less – to be danced with but also to not stand out. 

R: In Chapter 3, we find our heroine at another ball, dancing with a young man, a clergyman by the name of Mr. Tilney. I think I like him very much! He is quite funny. Saying of Catherine, of what she might write in her journal later: ‘was strangely harassed by a queer, half-witted man, who would make me dance with him, and distressed me by his nonsense.’ This may be the best introduction of what I assume is the male protagonist in all of Austen’s books so far! I do so love nonsense. He reminds me a little of Mr. Bennet in that way.

S: This was a short but fun chapter and I was sad it was over so quickly for I, too, enjoyed Mr. Tilney and I hope he ends up being a good guy. He makes me think of Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice but he also reminds me a bit of Frank Churchill from Emma so I’m not sure how to view him yet. I am further puzzled by Mrs. Allen’s character as now she reminds me of Mrs. Palmer from Sense and Sensibility with her long-windedness. Also, I’m glad Mr. Allen is looking out for Catherine; he reminds me of Mr. Palmer from Sense and Sensibility. 

R: The next day, we find Mrs. Allen complaining that they have no acquaintance in Bath, only to encounter a former friend and schoolmate named Mrs. Thorpe. Catherine and Mrs. Thorpe’s daughters become fast friends, finding that their brother and hers are known to each other as well. Catherine and the elder Miss Thorpe become particularly friendly. 

S: ‘Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.’ Possibly this is written in jest, but it is nonetheless a sweet sentiment. In a strange way, Catherine Morland reminds me of Harriet from Emma – very naive, very innocent, very hopeful. I am a bit concerned if Miss Thorpe will indeed remain a friend and am also wondering if she may become a sister-in-law. This chapter raises so many questions: Will Catherine catch the fancy of both Mr. Tilney and Mr. Thorpe? Will she be persuaded to be matched with one of them when she really loves the other? Will Miss Thorpe fall in love with Catherine’s brother, Mr. James Morland, but leave him because her mother wants better for her since she has little money left? Or is Mr. Tilney engaged to Miss Thorpe? I think it would be satisfying if Catherine, whose father is a clergyman, married a clergyman, but we shall see.

R: Catherine looks in vain for Mr. Tilney everywhere she goes. I find myself wondering what an ‘undressed’ ball is: ‘He was nowhere to be met with; every search for him was equally unsuccessful, in morning lounges or evening assemblies; neither at the Upper nor Lower Rooms, at dressed or undressed balls, was he perceivable;’. Actually, what on earth are pump rooms, anyway? This may call for some investigation.

S: This was a very funny chapter! I, too, was unsure about what the Pump Room was. According to the interwebs, this refers to an historic building named the Grand Pump Room which, indeed, is located in Bath. 

S: I wonder, again, if Isabella Thorpe is in love with Mr. Tilney or with a friend of his; Austen never actually says that Catherine gave his name, although I suppose it’s implied. The relationship between Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe is rather funny for as civil as they are to each other it does sound like they’re trying to one-up the other and Mrs. Allen reminds me a little bit of Mrs. John Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility with her pride.

R: I love how Austen addresses the reader at the end of Chapter 5 regarding the reading of novels! So far, this book seems to be far more directly humourous than the previous ones, and it’s working for me.

S: Austen’s rant against those who shame novels has been my favourite part so far, so much so that I laughed aloud after reading it and proceeded to read it aloud to my friend who was also very amused. From reading the first five chapters I’m honestly surprised this is not one of people’s favourites of Austen’s novels. Admittedly, I had to start it over three times before I finished the first five chapters, but I’ve laughed or giggled so much in these few pages I’m glad I was tenacious. 

Chapters 6-10 will be discussed in March!