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Northanger Abbey (version 4)

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By: (1775-1817)

In Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen delivers a delightful tale of young love, misunderstandings, and the pitfalls of indulging in too many gothic novels. The protagonist, Catherine Morland, is a charming and naive young woman who is swept up in the excitement of her first trip to Bath and the attention of the dashing Henry Tilney. As Catherine navigates the complexities of society and learns to trust her own perceptions, she discovers the importance of honesty and self-awareness in relationships.

Austen's wit and insightful commentary on human nature shine through in this novel, with engaging characters and clever dialogue that keep the reader entertained from start to finish. The novel's light-hearted tone is balanced by deeper themes of trust, communication, and personal growth, making it a satisfying and enjoyable read. Austen's skillful storytelling and vivid descriptions draw the reader into the world of Regency-era England, bringing to life the social dynamics and romantic entanglements of the time.

Overall, Northanger Abbey is a delightful and entertaining novel that showcases Austen's wit and wisdom. Fans of classic literature and romantic fiction will surely enjoy this charming tale of love and self-discovery. A must-read for anyone who appreciates Austen's timeless storytelling and sharp insights into human relationships.

Book Description:
If it is a truth universally acknowledged that a good-looking girl cannot fail of attracting a clever young man does it follow that the reverse is also true? If the man comes of a terrifyingly dysfunctional family and the girl in question likes to see spooks and horrors round every corner, yes. Morland by name, Lackland by nature, Catherine, not altogether addicted to the heroine role in general, finds this greatness thrust upon her in the (fortunately, principally financial) fantasies of her would-be inamorato's father, the General. When the General finds she is the artless, simple girl that she appears and not the creature of his frankly heartless imaginings of her, he thrusts her - but I leave the event to your fevered, no doubt Gothick, even, imaginination to determine.

A deliberate parody of the horrific strand in popular culture, as Jane Austen no doubt herself would observe if she could see the burgeoning cult of the Undead in Unliterary culture - It is as if Northanger Abbey had never been written! Hear it and laugh.


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Reviews (Rated: 4 Stars - 9 reviews)

Reviewer: - May 1, 2018
Subject: Mostly good reading
Most of the readers are good and the story was quite enjoyable.
Reviewer: - July 17, 2016
Subject: Different versions available
At time of this review, Librivox offers three different versions of the audiobook. Curiously, it seems they share all the same reviews. So, if you don't like one version, then try another! Quite different from one another ....
Reviewer: - September 28, 2015
Subject: Great book, decent reading
The majority of the readers are great. I'm not sure why there are so many complaints. There were only a couple readers that were very terrible, but as they only read a few chapters the book was still enjoyable.
Reviewer: - September 23, 2014
Subject: Northanger Abbey
I should have checked before I began reading this because I do not like the change of readers in any book. Some of these readers were distracting and the flow of the story was therefor uneven.
Reviewer: - July 1, 2014
The readers switching for each chapter was distracting. Chapter 5 was brutal and I had to stop.
Reviewer: - September 25, 2013
I did not like that there was a new reader with every chapter. Hard to enjoy the story when you're constantly adjusting to a new reading style.
Reviewer: - June 3, 2013
Most of the readers were very good, but I wasn't happy with the chapter 10 reader. She read with absolutely no inflection and you couldn't tell who was talking in the dialogue sections. Other than that, I loved listening to this. Witty, enjoyable, and I loved all the characters. One of Jane's best.
Reviewer: - May 31, 2013
Very enjoyable read. Surprisingly funny and very well written. Definitely one of Austen's best.
Reviewer: - December 2, 2012
Subject: many readers
A lovely treat to listen to this early Austen novel. Her work certainly lends itself to being read - unsurprising given Austen's family culture of giving readings and putting on plays. The rhythm and nuances are less likely to escape the ear than the impatient eye, at least in my case. Some of the characterisation, particularly of the hero, seems a little idealised and not fully rounded, as you might expect in an early work - but it is witty, fluent and uplifting. There are many readers, with different voices for the characters, which is a little unsettling, but don't forgo the pleasure of the book on that account.


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