"Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen

Having recently reread "Pride and Prejudice", I've been thinking about Jane Austen.  Although I'm very familiar with her life and work, I realized that I had never actually read "Northanger Abbey". 

For some reason, "Northanger Abbey" seems to be the forgotten one of Austen's books.  I can't even count how many movies, plays, books and songs have been inspired by her more popular novels (especially "Pride and Prejudice"), but I can't think of any references to "Northanger Abbey".

In some ways, "Northanger Abbey" is classic Jane Austen.  We have a heroine who is good-hearted, but also realistically imperfect.  The novel is full of period information ranging from the fashionable areas of Bath to simple matters of propriety.  The story is focused on mainly domestic settings with a small group of characters.  As usual, there's a love story that includes a few misunderstandings but ends happily.

In other ways, "Northanger Abbey" is unique among Austen's work.  There is a self-conscious narrator.  At times the narrator (assumed to be the author) interjects and speaks directly to the reader.  There are also discussions inserted into the novel.  For example, there is a whole discussion on novels and readership (a theme that is continued through the story as well).

Reading it I can understand why it has not been received as enthusiastically as some of Austen's other novels.  The main character, for example, is slightly younger and more naive.  For most of the novel she is fairly passive and lets the other characters control the action.  Her main love interest is about a decade older than her (not surprising given the time period), but he seems intent on teaching rather than wooing her.  Indeed, one of her main attractions seems to be that she is eager to please him and agree with whatever he tells her (even if it's what her opinion should be).  Perhaps another time I'll go into a longer feminist reading of "Northanger Abbey" as there's plenty of interesting points to discuss. 

Despite not finding it her best novel, I did enjoy reading "Northanger Abbey".  The highlight of the novel, for me, was Austen's use of irony and sarcasm.  If you pay attention, the book is actually very witty and full of humour.