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Jane Austen Heroes #6
Henry Tilney's Diary
A charming retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey --a tale of gothic misunderstandings through Henry Tilney's eyes... At the age of four and twenty, Henry is content with his life as a clergyman, leaving his older brother Frederick to inherit Northanger Abbey. But General Tilney is determined to increase the family's means by having all three of his children marry wealthy partners. During a trip to Bath, Henry meets the delightful Miss Catherine Morland and believes he may have found the woman he's been looking for, although she has no great fortune. When the General takes an unusual liking to Catherine and invites her to visit the Abbey, Henry is thrilled. But just as in the Gothic novels Henry loves, not everything is as it seems...
274 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
19 people are currently reading
1807 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Grange
41 books710 followersAmanda Grange was born in Yorkshire and spent her teenage years reading Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer whilst also finding time to study music at Nottingham University. She has had twenty-five novels published including six Jane Austen retellings, which look at events from the heroes' points of view. She has also had two books published under different names: Murder at Whitegates Manor (as Eleanor Tyler; a Regency cosy crime murder mystery) and The Rake (as Amy Watson; a very light and frothy Regency romance).
Woman said of Mr Darcy's Diary: "Lots of fun, this is the tale behind the alpha male," whilst The Washington Post called Mr Knightley's Diary "affectionate". The Historical Novels Review made Captain Wentworth's Diary an Editors' Choice, remarking, "Amanda Grange has hit upon a winning formula."
Austenblog declared that Colonel Brandon's Diary was "the best book yet in her series of heroes' diaries."
Amanda Grange now lives in Cheshire. Her profile photo was taken at the Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton. The museum is well worth a visit!
You can find out more by visiting her website at http://www.amandagrange.com You can also follow her on Twitter @hromanceuk and find her on Facebook
Woman said of Mr Darcy's Diary: "Lots of fun, this is the tale behind the alpha male," whilst The Washington Post called Mr Knightley's Diary "affectionate". The Historical Novels Review made Captain Wentworth's Diary an Editors' Choice, remarking, "Amanda Grange has hit upon a winning formula."
Austenblog declared that Colonel Brandon's Diary was "the best book yet in her series of heroes' diaries."
Amanda Grange now lives in Cheshire. Her profile photo was taken at the Jane Austen House Museum, Chawton. The museum is well worth a visit!
You can find out more by visiting her website at http://www.amandagrange.com You can also follow her on Twitter @hromanceuk and find her on Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
October 15, 2015
For the last few days now, I have happily escaped into the world of Northanger Abbey; first reading the novel by Austen, then watching the 2007 movie adaptation a few times, and finally by reading Henry Tilney's Diary, just to get more of these characters, to lose myself in Regency Bath and the old Abbey, and of course, to see everything through Henry's eyes.
I have come to look upon Amanda Grange as some sort of Austen authority; if she wrote it in one of the diaries, it must have really happened like that off-stage in Jane Austen's novels. I love her take so much on the heroes' points of view that I don't find myself questioning anything she writes. If she says it happened like that for the hero, it did.
Admittedly, Henry Tilney's Diary was a little slow-paced, often included useless passages/dialogue including mainly big quoted paragraphs from A Sicilian Romance which didn't really add anything to the story, but aside from that it was very enjoyable, if you're like me and a devoted Henry Tilney fan who cannot get enough of him. It was wonderful to relive Northanger Abbey through Henry's perspective and to be there with him while he met Catherine, danced with her, teased her, conversed with her. I often wish Jane Austen had included her heroes' points-of-view in her novels, but as she didn't Grange's diaries come in really handy, and although you probably wouldn't ever catch any JA hero writing in a diary, the premise is fun, and the delivery is well done.
This cute and perfectly charming little book read very easily and made for a really relaxing, soothing read, which I strongly recommend to all JAFF fans out there.
"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
One of my favourite quotes, typically Henry Tilney and perfect for blabbing out to your friends who "think reading is boring and/or a waste of time". ;)
I have come to look upon Amanda Grange as some sort of Austen authority; if she wrote it in one of the diaries, it must have really happened like that off-stage in Jane Austen's novels. I love her take so much on the heroes' points of view that I don't find myself questioning anything she writes. If she says it happened like that for the hero, it did.
Admittedly, Henry Tilney's Diary was a little slow-paced, often included useless passages/dialogue including mainly big quoted paragraphs from A Sicilian Romance which didn't really add anything to the story, but aside from that it was very enjoyable, if you're like me and a devoted Henry Tilney fan who cannot get enough of him. It was wonderful to relive Northanger Abbey through Henry's perspective and to be there with him while he met Catherine, danced with her, teased her, conversed with her. I often wish Jane Austen had included her heroes' points-of-view in her novels, but as she didn't Grange's diaries come in really handy, and although you probably wouldn't ever catch any JA hero writing in a diary, the premise is fun, and the delivery is well done.
This cute and perfectly charming little book read very easily and made for a really relaxing, soothing read, which I strongly recommend to all JAFF fans out there.
"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
One of my favourite quotes, typically Henry Tilney and perfect for blabbing out to your friends who "think reading is boring and/or a waste of time". ;)
February 25, 2014
Henry Tilney, arguably Austen's best, most complexly romantic, but less heralded male character in comparison to Darcy, is delivered a gut punch in this trite and inaccurate, mostly plagiarized and awful romp. A good portion of it is just regurgitated dialogue plagiarism and a failed and blathering novel within novel attempt (in offensive italic) of a wholly unconnected story, which I can only guess exists to honor some word count contract or author ego from a rejected, faux gothic publication treatment since it adds nothing to the storyline of Northanger through Henry's 'perspective.' The 'diary' is not even in the universe of Henry's believable, studied perspective, or close to Henry's voice, but more of an 8th grade girl's cut and paste journal entry having never actually read or comprehended Northanger (or Austen nuance) in favor of Sparknotes in time to meet a deadline? Just lazy. Yuck. The typos will astound you too. I feel my adoration in imaginative Henry Tilney motivations of Northanger Abbey is poisoned now. I wish I could unread it. The attempt could have been grand, and yes it has a few bland, sophomoric wish fulfillment sentences in it, but it does far more damage to a fan than it provides, like a ratio of 98% wreckage to 2% silly little uncharacteristic wish fulfillment. I would like to ask the author, if you loathe the Austen hero Henry so much, why did you take a paycheck to spread this rot on me, the duped reader? Ugh. Spend your hard earned funds on the 2007 Masterpiece Northanger Abbey production instead. JJ Feild delivers the best emotive Henry Tilney to be had anywhere outside Austen's actual novel and your imagination to date - with a mere head tilt, you're won. Thank me later. (Negative stars, like, minus 2).
March 30, 2015
This review was first posted on Babblings of a Bookworm: http://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot....
Amanda Grange has written a whole range of these diaries, Austen’s stories from an alternate point of view. Following a recent read of 'Northanger Abbey', it seemed a good time to see what the book may have looked like from Henry Tilney’s point of view. I’ve read a few of these diaries before, the Captain Wentworth one, which was my introduction to JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction) and I followed that up by reading the Mr Darcy one. I enjoyed them both, although I felt, particularly with the Darcy one, that his character hadn’t quite been captured. I was interested to see how Austen’s most amusing hero, Mr Tilney, had been represented.
The story begins when Henry is aged 16, so about 9 years or so before the events of 'Northanger Abbey', and the author builds a picture of the family. At this time, Mrs Tilney is still alive, beloved by all her children and very much the centre of the family, although she has spells of illness. Henry’s older brother, Frederick is extremely wild. He is his mother’s darling and his father’s exasperation, and his wild behaviour is given as the reason for the fact that he, the heir to the estate, was sent into the army. Frederick is feckless with his money, and believes himself to be in love, until a rude awakening makes him realise that the woman he thought he loved was only interested in finding herself as rich a husband as possible. Frederick takes this very hard, and drunkenly warns his brother away from love:
‘Poking me affectionately in the chest, he went on, in a slurred voice, “You’re a good man, Henry, a very good man. You’re not just my brother, you’re my best friend and I love you, I do. So I will tell you something, Henry. Now listen carefully. Come closer. Closer. Never give your heart to a woman. Never, never, never. Promise me. Promise me!’
Henry and his sister Eleanor are very close. Their relationship was so lovely, with plenty of affectionate banter, and a shared love of gothic novels, which they read together. I enjoyed seeing so much of Eleanor Tilney, because in Northanger Abbey she is a lovely character and I would have liked to have seen her get a bit more page time. Here they are discussing how Henry could become suitably villainous if he were to feature in one of these novels:
“I don’t suppose I can become a rake all at once, but I will take it in stages. I will begin by making a mildly scandalous remark to the Lowrys’ governess, perhaps commenting on her shapely ankles. I will make a similar small beginning on gambling, betting five shillings on whether or not it will rain on Saturday, and proceed from there.” Eleanor laughed and ran through into the walled garden, where we were sheltered from the wind.
“You will never make a good villain,” she said. “You will have to resign yourself to being a hero.”
The theme of Henry being the hero goes throughout the novel; I thought it was wonderfully apt when you consider that Northanger Abbey opens with a discussion about Catherine’s suitability to be a heroine.
After Mrs Tilney’s death there is a break in the timeline, which picks up again a few months before the time that the Tilneys travel to Bath. Here we get the details of Eleanor’s forbidden romance, which was quite sweet. Henry approves of her choice:
‘I wondered how I felt about the idea of his becoming my brother-in-law. His gaze, as it fell on Eleanor, was rapt, and that was a point in his favour, for anyone who marries Eleanor must adore her to have my blessing.’
When we move on to Bath we have caught up to the point where the Tilneys meet with Catherine and so pick up with the opposite side of the story we already know from ‘Northanger Abbey’. There is quite a lot of Austen’s dialogue in this part, which I suppose is unavoidable, because the same scenes are being described. In NA, most of the best lines are Henry’s and here we are treated to his thoughts too.
‘Your heroine? Eleanor mouthed silently to me.
I smiled, for Miss Morland certainly had all the hallmarks of a heroine. She was sweet and innocent and honest and loving. She had a great affection for her brother. She was, for the present at least, without a mother and under the care of her mother’s friend. And if she was not presently threatened by some cruel marquis, well she was young and there was still time!’
We also see Catherine’s visit to Northanger Abbey and the part that follows her return to Fullerton from Henry’s point of view, the argument with his father, but also some resolution for Captain Tilney’s story. I thought that part was really nicely done, because not only are reasons put forward for Frederick’s behaviour, but also we see him move on and get some closure.
As I said, I’ve read a couple of other books in this diaries series, but I thought this one was most successful in terms of capturing his voice and humour. I really enjoyed seeing the close relationship between Henry and his sister, seeing the possible back story for Captain Tilney and seeing some of Eleanor’s romance. If you are a fan of ‘Northanger Abbey’ I think you’d probably enjoy this book. I certainly did, it was the type of read where I kept finding myself smiling as I read along!
The only real downside I found with this book was the formatting. I read the kindle version and I wasn’t expecting any problems in this regard, as this is a book from a long-established publisher, but the formatting wasn't great, especially at the beginning. There are many spaces missing between words and line breaks in odd places. Thankfully, the missing spaces between the words was only at the beginning of the book because otherwise it'd be unreadable, but the line break problem happens throughout the book, almost as if it had been converted to kindle from a different format and the spacing not checked, not even on the first page. There were also instances of words being incorrect that seem to have been done by a spellchecker e.g. ‘deus ex machina’ was ‘deus ex machine’ etc. I was pretty unimpressed by this, I’d expect better from a publishing house. However, I am not going to let this affect my star rating, it gets a highly enjoyable 5 star rating from me.
Amanda Grange has written a whole range of these diaries, Austen’s stories from an alternate point of view. Following a recent read of 'Northanger Abbey', it seemed a good time to see what the book may have looked like from Henry Tilney’s point of view. I’ve read a few of these diaries before, the Captain Wentworth one, which was my introduction to JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction) and I followed that up by reading the Mr Darcy one. I enjoyed them both, although I felt, particularly with the Darcy one, that his character hadn’t quite been captured. I was interested to see how Austen’s most amusing hero, Mr Tilney, had been represented.
The story begins when Henry is aged 16, so about 9 years or so before the events of 'Northanger Abbey', and the author builds a picture of the family. At this time, Mrs Tilney is still alive, beloved by all her children and very much the centre of the family, although she has spells of illness. Henry’s older brother, Frederick is extremely wild. He is his mother’s darling and his father’s exasperation, and his wild behaviour is given as the reason for the fact that he, the heir to the estate, was sent into the army. Frederick is feckless with his money, and believes himself to be in love, until a rude awakening makes him realise that the woman he thought he loved was only interested in finding herself as rich a husband as possible. Frederick takes this very hard, and drunkenly warns his brother away from love:
‘Poking me affectionately in the chest, he went on, in a slurred voice, “You’re a good man, Henry, a very good man. You’re not just my brother, you’re my best friend and I love you, I do. So I will tell you something, Henry. Now listen carefully. Come closer. Closer. Never give your heart to a woman. Never, never, never. Promise me. Promise me!’
Henry and his sister Eleanor are very close. Their relationship was so lovely, with plenty of affectionate banter, and a shared love of gothic novels, which they read together. I enjoyed seeing so much of Eleanor Tilney, because in Northanger Abbey she is a lovely character and I would have liked to have seen her get a bit more page time. Here they are discussing how Henry could become suitably villainous if he were to feature in one of these novels:
“I don’t suppose I can become a rake all at once, but I will take it in stages. I will begin by making a mildly scandalous remark to the Lowrys’ governess, perhaps commenting on her shapely ankles. I will make a similar small beginning on gambling, betting five shillings on whether or not it will rain on Saturday, and proceed from there.” Eleanor laughed and ran through into the walled garden, where we were sheltered from the wind.
“You will never make a good villain,” she said. “You will have to resign yourself to being a hero.”
The theme of Henry being the hero goes throughout the novel; I thought it was wonderfully apt when you consider that Northanger Abbey opens with a discussion about Catherine’s suitability to be a heroine.
After Mrs Tilney’s death there is a break in the timeline, which picks up again a few months before the time that the Tilneys travel to Bath. Here we get the details of Eleanor’s forbidden romance, which was quite sweet. Henry approves of her choice:
‘I wondered how I felt about the idea of his becoming my brother-in-law. His gaze, as it fell on Eleanor, was rapt, and that was a point in his favour, for anyone who marries Eleanor must adore her to have my blessing.’
When we move on to Bath we have caught up to the point where the Tilneys meet with Catherine and so pick up with the opposite side of the story we already know from ‘Northanger Abbey’. There is quite a lot of Austen’s dialogue in this part, which I suppose is unavoidable, because the same scenes are being described. In NA, most of the best lines are Henry’s and here we are treated to his thoughts too.
‘Your heroine? Eleanor mouthed silently to me.
I smiled, for Miss Morland certainly had all the hallmarks of a heroine. She was sweet and innocent and honest and loving. She had a great affection for her brother. She was, for the present at least, without a mother and under the care of her mother’s friend. And if she was not presently threatened by some cruel marquis, well she was young and there was still time!’
We also see Catherine’s visit to Northanger Abbey and the part that follows her return to Fullerton from Henry’s point of view, the argument with his father, but also some resolution for Captain Tilney’s story. I thought that part was really nicely done, because not only are reasons put forward for Frederick’s behaviour, but also we see him move on and get some closure.
As I said, I’ve read a couple of other books in this diaries series, but I thought this one was most successful in terms of capturing his voice and humour. I really enjoyed seeing the close relationship between Henry and his sister, seeing the possible back story for Captain Tilney and seeing some of Eleanor’s romance. If you are a fan of ‘Northanger Abbey’ I think you’d probably enjoy this book. I certainly did, it was the type of read where I kept finding myself smiling as I read along!
The only real downside I found with this book was the formatting. I read the kindle version and I wasn’t expecting any problems in this regard, as this is a book from a long-established publisher, but the formatting wasn't great, especially at the beginning. There are many spaces missing between words and line breaks in odd places. Thankfully, the missing spaces between the words was only at the beginning of the book because otherwise it'd be unreadable, but the line break problem happens throughout the book, almost as if it had been converted to kindle from a different format and the spacing not checked, not even on the first page. There were also instances of words being incorrect that seem to have been done by a spellchecker e.g. ‘deus ex machina’ was ‘deus ex machine’ etc. I was pretty unimpressed by this, I’d expect better from a publishing house. However, I am not going to let this affect my star rating, it gets a highly enjoyable 5 star rating from me.
May 12, 2012
This was the seventh of Amanda Grange's Jane Austen character's Diary series that I have read. I just love the idea of righting from the heroes perspective since Jane Austen's novels were all from the heroine's side. I like how these are retellings of the stories, but yet, Ms. Grange offers a little extra to the storyline that still manages to fit the original in timeline and in spirit.
In this retelling of Northanger Abbey, Henry's diary starts when he is a young man of sixteen. Elinor is a sweet girl, Frederick is the wastrel, but tender of heart heir, and their mother is still alive. It goes on to outline the backstory of Frederick, Eleanor's private romance and the closeness of Henry and Elinor along with their mother's failing health all in the pages of Henry's diary.
The rest of the story pretty much follows the Northanger Abbey plot again with the insight of knowing Henry's thoughts. The end is back to filling in those gaps in the original when we know that Henry and Catherine must part for a time while they await the General's blessing on the marriage. I will stay deliberately vague so other's can enjoy this sweet story for themselves.
The plot has no important twists to it that cannot be surmised from the original other than the addition of Frederick and Eleanor's storylines which I truly enjoyed. I loved what Amanda Grange did with Frederick and Isabella.
The voice of the story truly paid homage to the original. I found Henry's thoughts and words comfortable with what impression Jane Austen's Henry Tilney had made on me. Ms. Grange obviously did her homework.
The characters were all well-written and the best homage I can pay to them is that I was either impressed with how they aligned with what I remember of the originals or the new depth given to their story made me like/dislike certain characters better or more fully than I did before. (if that last doesn't make sense, I apologize)
All in all, a good read that I recommend to Austen lovers particularly those who love Northanger Abbey.
In this retelling of Northanger Abbey, Henry's diary starts when he is a young man of sixteen. Elinor is a sweet girl, Frederick is the wastrel, but tender of heart heir, and their mother is still alive. It goes on to outline the backstory of Frederick, Eleanor's private romance and the closeness of Henry and Elinor along with their mother's failing health all in the pages of Henry's diary.
The rest of the story pretty much follows the Northanger Abbey plot again with the insight of knowing Henry's thoughts. The end is back to filling in those gaps in the original when we know that Henry and Catherine must part for a time while they await the General's blessing on the marriage. I will stay deliberately vague so other's can enjoy this sweet story for themselves.
The plot has no important twists to it that cannot be surmised from the original other than the addition of Frederick and Eleanor's storylines which I truly enjoyed. I loved what Amanda Grange did with Frederick and Isabella.
The voice of the story truly paid homage to the original. I found Henry's thoughts and words comfortable with what impression Jane Austen's Henry Tilney had made on me. Ms. Grange obviously did her homework.
The characters were all well-written and the best homage I can pay to them is that I was either impressed with how they aligned with what I remember of the originals or the new depth given to their story made me like/dislike certain characters better or more fully than I did before. (if that last doesn't make sense, I apologize)
All in all, a good read that I recommend to Austen lovers particularly those who love Northanger Abbey.
March 25, 2012
I'm feeling a little guilty about the two-star rating, because it was a fun, entertaining book. But - when I read Captain Wentworth's Diary, I remember being really inspired by the way Grange was able to take Captain Wentworth's character and augment it. Wentworth was the same sanguine personality from Persuasion, but I felt that he was much easier to understand and there was so much more to him than what you could see in Persuasion... his was a backstory worth telling.
Henry Tilney has always been a favorite character of mine because of his wit, his ability to laugh at himself and others, and the way he both teases and instructs Catherine. I felt that Grange only started communicating Tilney's voice once she reached the places where Austen's dialogue began to kick in. In some ways, I think Tilney's would be a harder voice to adopt than Wentworth's, because he is so adept in his speech, conveying irony so easily with the perfect word choices. His "diary" communicated a kinder, gentler version of the character I knew in Northanger Abbey, with only rare incidences of sardonic humor.
But all this aside, it just seemed that there wasn't much more to get from this story that hadn't already been written by Austen. Part of Tilney's charm is the somewhat Cheshire-cat way he appears to the naive Catherine: you find yourself wondering how he will respond to her, and are always delighted by his perspective and how it adds humor and insight to her own. Seeing the story from Tilney's point of view somewhat diminishes this effect: it's kind of like seeing the Wizard of Oz behind his curtain, when he just appears this very ordinary man who is somewhat proud of his ability to produce awe and admiration.
Although I love the idea of reading Jane Austen's stories from the heros' perspectives, I don't think such a scheme works equally well for each novel, and this is one book for which I don't believe a retelling added new meaning.
Henry Tilney has always been a favorite character of mine because of his wit, his ability to laugh at himself and others, and the way he both teases and instructs Catherine. I felt that Grange only started communicating Tilney's voice once she reached the places where Austen's dialogue began to kick in. In some ways, I think Tilney's would be a harder voice to adopt than Wentworth's, because he is so adept in his speech, conveying irony so easily with the perfect word choices. His "diary" communicated a kinder, gentler version of the character I knew in Northanger Abbey, with only rare incidences of sardonic humor.
But all this aside, it just seemed that there wasn't much more to get from this story that hadn't already been written by Austen. Part of Tilney's charm is the somewhat Cheshire-cat way he appears to the naive Catherine: you find yourself wondering how he will respond to her, and are always delighted by his perspective and how it adds humor and insight to her own. Seeing the story from Tilney's point of view somewhat diminishes this effect: it's kind of like seeing the Wizard of Oz behind his curtain, when he just appears this very ordinary man who is somewhat proud of his ability to produce awe and admiration.
Although I love the idea of reading Jane Austen's stories from the heros' perspectives, I don't think such a scheme works equally well for each novel, and this is one book for which I don't believe a retelling added new meaning.
April 29, 2025
Rilettura di questo romanzo in forma di diario, retelling di Northanger Abbey, in attesa che venga tradotto in italiano. È decisamente uno dei migliori, anche perché Henry Tilney è uno dei miei protagonisti maschili preferiti, anche se Grange non riuscirà mai a eguagliare l'ironia del personaggio austeniano, dietro cui - a mio avviso - si nasconde la stessa scrittrice. Catherine Morland attraverso i suoi occhi è ancora più interessante, la sua ingenuità affascinante. Bella rilettura.
November 23, 2022
This might just be my favorite of the Austen Hero diaries by Amanda Grange. I quite like this version of Henry better than the original.
November 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. Henry is so darling, and General Tilney is the worst.
October 24, 2015
I have liked all of these but this one was uneven. Northanger Abbey's hero is perhaps my favorite - Henry is so playful, and Grange nails that, but Austen gives him a depth, too, that is missing (outside of the scenes that are Austen's.) The relationship with his sister Eleanor is perfect. Frederick is rehabilitated a bit, but not General Tilney. But my big disappointment was that the romance between Catherine and Henry, which I longed to see fleshed out, is limited to a described glance or so - I still don't understand why Henry falls in love with her, as much as I like her. I suppose it isn't fair to expect Amanda Grange to better Jane Austen but there you are, I did. She clung a bit too hard to the original plot which is too bad because where she veered off (say, the discussions of Eleanor's romance), there is much more story.
January 21, 2023
This book is just absolutely adorable. Mr. Tilney is my favorite Austen hero, second maybe only to Mr. Darcy, so this was just such a delight to read. I feel like the author captures the wittiness of Mr. Tilney well, and I loved reading the little quips he wrote about his parishioners between the larger plot points of what we read during
Northanger Abbey
. She also fills in the blanks of his story growing up too, letting us see the relationship between Eleanor and her sweetheart. :) Henry and Eleanor share the sweetest bond - he definitely gives off big brother vibes - and his thoughts about Catharine were so sweet too. :) I definitely think if you're a lover of Northanger Abbey you should add this to your to-read list!
January 22, 2015
This book is the story of Northanger Abbey from Henry Tilney's point of view.
I think I love Henry Tilney more after reading this! I like what was added to the different characters' backgrounds, especially the relationship between Henry and his sister Eleanor. Since Henry was not with Catherine for much of the original story, a lot of it had to be brand new. I like what the author wrote, the new parts were fresh, and insightful, while also keeping true to the original text. The author also captured the wit, snark that I loved in Northanger Abbey.
I think I love Henry Tilney more after reading this! I like what was added to the different characters' backgrounds, especially the relationship between Henry and his sister Eleanor. Since Henry was not with Catherine for much of the original story, a lot of it had to be brand new. I like what the author wrote, the new parts were fresh, and insightful, while also keeping true to the original text. The author also captured the wit, snark that I loved in Northanger Abbey.
September 6, 2018
I quite enjoyed this retelling of "Northanger Abbey".
Henry Tilney and his younger sister, Eleanor, and their new friend, Catherine Moreland, are adorable and amusing. General Tilney, their father, and Frederick, their older brother, were not so endearing--even through to the end.
The worst of the lot were the Thorpes, Isabelle and John, the former an outrageous flirt who almost snags Catherine's brother, John... and the latter who loves nothing more to tell lies about people--especially the Morelands.
Forgive me, Jane Austen, but this was a bit easier to read than your original masterpiece. I liked this one immensely, except for one thing: I wish I'd had closure regarding the Thorpes; they most certainly needed their come-uppance.
PS: This book was a clean read; it has no mentions of sex, nudity, or violence.
Henry Tilney and his younger sister, Eleanor, and their new friend, Catherine Moreland, are adorable and amusing. General Tilney, their father, and Frederick, their older brother, were not so endearing--even through to the end.
The worst of the lot were the Thorpes, Isabelle and John, the former an outrageous flirt who almost snags Catherine's brother, John... and the latter who loves nothing more to tell lies about people--especially the Morelands.
Forgive me, Jane Austen, but this was a bit easier to read than your original masterpiece. I liked this one immensely, except for one thing: I wish I'd had closure regarding the Thorpes; they most certainly needed their come-uppance.
PS: This book was a clean read; it has no mentions of sex, nudity, or violence.
July 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book because Henry Tinley was a hero I wanted to understood more. This book made me achieve this goal and Grange's interpratation of Tinley made me like him more in this retelling.
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November 3, 2017Henry Tilney’s Diary is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey from the point of view of its hero. Amanda Grange is well known for her diaries of Austen’s heroes (and even one of a rake), and I’ve enjoyed how she gets into the heads of the male characters and gives them a voice.
The novel opens in 1790 when Henry is just 16, giving readers a chance to meet the Tilneys in happier times. Henry’s mother is still alive, though frequently ill, and his father, General Tilney, tries to whip his older brother, Frederick, into shape by forcing him to join the army despite the fact that he stands to inherit their estate, Northanger Abbey. Henry and his younger sister, Eleanor, just 13, are very close and have similar personalities. Both are romantics and take pleasure in Gothic novels.
Grange successfully uses the book-within-a-book technique to show how ridiculous and enjoyable Henry and Eleanor find such novels. The two read A Sicilian Romance together and poke fun at the formula used by the Gothic novelists, with heroines who lose their mothers, are forced to marry men they don’t love, live in haunted houses, find family members hidden away or are locked away themselves, and faint at every turn.
Although each of the Tilney children has their own fortune, General Tilney is adamant that they each marry someone with money or a title, and he is always trying to set them up with children of his friends. Even though Frederick has given up on finding the perfect mate, Henry and Eleanor wish to marry for love. Henry even jokingly states that his heroine must first and foremost be a fan of novels.
Fast-forward eight years later, and the Tilneys are a more solemn crowd, having lost their mother and Eleanor falling for a man of whom her father would never approve. A trip to Bath lifts their spirits when they meet Catherine Morland, a young woman who loves Gothic novels and whose innocence captures Henry’s heart. When Catherine is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, she can’t wait to see a real abbey, and Henry encourages her fanciful notions of ghosts behind its closed doors and within its secret spaces. Meanwhile, he and Eleanor are wondering if their father has had a change of heart, as General Tilney bends over backward to impress Catherine even though she doesn’t have a fortune or a title.
Fans of Northanger Abbey will enjoy reading Henry’s side of the story, especially his thoughts on Catherine’s zeal for Gothic novels, his brother’s flirtations with Catherine’s brother’s intended, and John Thorpe’s bragging and designs on Catherine. However, you could easily enjoy Henry Tilney’s Diary without having read Austen’s novel, though I suspect by the time you’re done, you’ll be rushing to get your hands on a copy of Northanger Abbey, where Austen’s humor is on display as Catherine fancies herself a heroine in a Gothic novel but merely ends up embarrassing herself.
I really enjoyed Henry Tilney’s Diary because it enabled me to revisit Northanger Abbey and see it from a different perspective. It is impossible to know how Austen imagined Henry’s side of the story, but Grange understands Austen’s view of Gothic novels, respects the original novel, and obviously has a real love for the characters Austen created, so her take feels authentic.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
I received a free copy of this book for review.
The novel opens in 1790 when Henry is just 16, giving readers a chance to meet the Tilneys in happier times. Henry’s mother is still alive, though frequently ill, and his father, General Tilney, tries to whip his older brother, Frederick, into shape by forcing him to join the army despite the fact that he stands to inherit their estate, Northanger Abbey. Henry and his younger sister, Eleanor, just 13, are very close and have similar personalities. Both are romantics and take pleasure in Gothic novels.
Grange successfully uses the book-within-a-book technique to show how ridiculous and enjoyable Henry and Eleanor find such novels. The two read A Sicilian Romance together and poke fun at the formula used by the Gothic novelists, with heroines who lose their mothers, are forced to marry men they don’t love, live in haunted houses, find family members hidden away or are locked away themselves, and faint at every turn.
Although each of the Tilney children has their own fortune, General Tilney is adamant that they each marry someone with money or a title, and he is always trying to set them up with children of his friends. Even though Frederick has given up on finding the perfect mate, Henry and Eleanor wish to marry for love. Henry even jokingly states that his heroine must first and foremost be a fan of novels.
Fast-forward eight years later, and the Tilneys are a more solemn crowd, having lost their mother and Eleanor falling for a man of whom her father would never approve. A trip to Bath lifts their spirits when they meet Catherine Morland, a young woman who loves Gothic novels and whose innocence captures Henry’s heart. When Catherine is invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, she can’t wait to see a real abbey, and Henry encourages her fanciful notions of ghosts behind its closed doors and within its secret spaces. Meanwhile, he and Eleanor are wondering if their father has had a change of heart, as General Tilney bends over backward to impress Catherine even though she doesn’t have a fortune or a title.
Fans of Northanger Abbey will enjoy reading Henry’s side of the story, especially his thoughts on Catherine’s zeal for Gothic novels, his brother’s flirtations with Catherine’s brother’s intended, and John Thorpe’s bragging and designs on Catherine. However, you could easily enjoy Henry Tilney’s Diary without having read Austen’s novel, though I suspect by the time you’re done, you’ll be rushing to get your hands on a copy of Northanger Abbey, where Austen’s humor is on display as Catherine fancies herself a heroine in a Gothic novel but merely ends up embarrassing herself.
I really enjoyed Henry Tilney’s Diary because it enabled me to revisit Northanger Abbey and see it from a different perspective. It is impossible to know how Austen imagined Henry’s side of the story, but Grange understands Austen’s view of Gothic novels, respects the original novel, and obviously has a real love for the characters Austen created, so her take feels authentic.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
I received a free copy of this book for review.
July 12, 2022
I LOVE Amanda Grange’s writing style and her books! If you didn’t love Tilney before, you 100% will now! There was only 1 time (in all her books that I’ve read) that felt a little lazy, but that didn’t take away my enjoyment at all! I fell in love with this book. Please take the time and read it!
February 16, 2012
A lovely page-turner, a charming re-telling of Northanger Abbey focusing on Henry Tilney and on his personal vision of the events we loved reading in Jane Austen’s amusing tale of Catherine Morland’s adventures.
In Amanda Grange’s Herny Tilney’s Diary we meet a very young hero - almost 16 at the beginning - writing about his careless holidays back home from school, his older brother Frederick’s bravado, his special bond with his sister Eleanor, his mother’s frail health, his father’s strong temper and authoritative grasp on his own family. On the whole, a happy picture, especially because Henry is a very sensitive, humorous, witty boy who loves dearly his family and life itself. He is destined to become a clergyman and is in search for his heroine. What is the characteristic he can’t renounce? She must love Gothic tales as much as he does.
During a trip to Bath, Henry meets Catherine Morland, who not only loves reading Gothic novels but even believes them true accounts of possible realities. She is also innocent, honest, sincere, lovely and cute so Henry starts believing he may have found his heroine, even if she is not in possession of a great fortune.
What does he love in her? In his diary he writes:
“Miss Morland was not jaded by her surroundings, nor did she pretend to be. It was entertaining to see how much she enjoyed the bustle, the rooms, the people and the dancing, instead of affecting boredom, like the other young ladies, saying that there was not one interesting person to be met with in the whole of Bath. Instead, she was charmed, and through her eyes I found that some of the charm of Bath was restored for me”
General Tilney, Henry’s father, is instead in search for wealthy partners for all his children. His stubborness makes life hard for Eleanor, for example, since she is supposed to marry a marquis or a viscount but is in love with humble Mr Morris. So why is the General eager to make penniless Miss Morland the perfect match for his younger son, Henry? That’s really unexpected - if not unbelievable - to Eleanor and Henry , who both like Catherine very much and are really hopeful their father is going mild in his old age. They are terribly wrong, unfortunately.
If you love the irony and wit in Northanger Abbey , you will obviously enjoy this amusing re-telling from a different perspective. Henry is such a brilliant hero and through his diary we can know about the young Tilneys’ early lives and the events that shaped them and, moreover, we can follow his innermost thoughts and feelings at meeting his “in-training” heroine.
As a tender, thoughtful knight he will rescue Catherine, like the sensitive, brave hero of the Gothic tales he loves . But not from a devilish villain , he saves her from her imagination, inexperience and naivety which might have led her to an uncertain future or to a very negative epilogue (something similar to that of Isabella Thorpe?)
Ms Grange's diaries are indeed a great way to discover more about our beloved Austen heroes. Before Henry Tilney's Diary she wrote and publish Mr Darcy's , Mr Knightley's, Colonel Brandon's, Edmund Bertram's and Whickham's diaries which make an unmissable series on a well-provided shelf of Austenesque reads.
In Amanda Grange’s Herny Tilney’s Diary we meet a very young hero - almost 16 at the beginning - writing about his careless holidays back home from school, his older brother Frederick’s bravado, his special bond with his sister Eleanor, his mother’s frail health, his father’s strong temper and authoritative grasp on his own family. On the whole, a happy picture, especially because Henry is a very sensitive, humorous, witty boy who loves dearly his family and life itself. He is destined to become a clergyman and is in search for his heroine. What is the characteristic he can’t renounce? She must love Gothic tales as much as he does.
During a trip to Bath, Henry meets Catherine Morland, who not only loves reading Gothic novels but even believes them true accounts of possible realities. She is also innocent, honest, sincere, lovely and cute so Henry starts believing he may have found his heroine, even if she is not in possession of a great fortune.
What does he love in her? In his diary he writes:
“Miss Morland was not jaded by her surroundings, nor did she pretend to be. It was entertaining to see how much she enjoyed the bustle, the rooms, the people and the dancing, instead of affecting boredom, like the other young ladies, saying that there was not one interesting person to be met with in the whole of Bath. Instead, she was charmed, and through her eyes I found that some of the charm of Bath was restored for me”
General Tilney, Henry’s father, is instead in search for wealthy partners for all his children. His stubborness makes life hard for Eleanor, for example, since she is supposed to marry a marquis or a viscount but is in love with humble Mr Morris. So why is the General eager to make penniless Miss Morland the perfect match for his younger son, Henry? That’s really unexpected - if not unbelievable - to Eleanor and Henry , who both like Catherine very much and are really hopeful their father is going mild in his old age. They are terribly wrong, unfortunately.
If you love the irony and wit in Northanger Abbey , you will obviously enjoy this amusing re-telling from a different perspective. Henry is such a brilliant hero and through his diary we can know about the young Tilneys’ early lives and the events that shaped them and, moreover, we can follow his innermost thoughts and feelings at meeting his “in-training” heroine.
As a tender, thoughtful knight he will rescue Catherine, like the sensitive, brave hero of the Gothic tales he loves . But not from a devilish villain , he saves her from her imagination, inexperience and naivety which might have led her to an uncertain future or to a very negative epilogue (something similar to that of Isabella Thorpe?)
Ms Grange's diaries are indeed a great way to discover more about our beloved Austen heroes. Before Henry Tilney's Diary she wrote and publish Mr Darcy's , Mr Knightley's, Colonel Brandon's, Edmund Bertram's and Whickham's diaries which make an unmissable series on a well-provided shelf of Austenesque reads.
December 29, 2015
I highly enjoyed Northanger Abbey and I must say, it was to a great extant due to the character Henry Tilney. So I was super excited when I discovered a series which told the Jane Austen stories from the perspective of the male love-interests.
The ‘diary’ managed to capture the essence of the original character of Henry Tilney: sarcastic, maybe a bit mean but also open and a good lad. The language suited the time period but was also easier for me to read than an original classic novel. It was good to hear Henry’s satirical take on matters that were not in the original novel such as when he went away to his parish or when he had interactions with other women.
I thought this book was more faithful to the original book than the movie version. I always thought Catherine’s love of gothic novels –novels which Henry and his sister are also fond of- was more due to the themes of suspense and I suppose drama. But the movie paralleled her fascination in this genre to liking steamy novels… I can see that the movie has taken a more tongue-in-cheek approach but didn’t quite like it. Whereas this book recounts Henry and his sister discussing Gothic novels with satire which was great fun. Although I found the extracts of the novel they were reading rather boring or I guess a distraction from Henry’s story. There are also large extracts from the original Northanger Abbey which I was mostly ok with as I liked the novel and didn’t mind rereading it.
The other thing that I had slight disagreements with was the love storyline.
That aside, this book is very rewarding for Northanger Abbey/Henry Tilney fans and is just as lively and accessible as the character is.
The ‘diary’ managed to capture the essence of the original character of Henry Tilney: sarcastic, maybe a bit mean but also open and a good lad. The language suited the time period but was also easier for me to read than an original classic novel. It was good to hear Henry’s satirical take on matters that were not in the original novel such as when he went away to his parish or when he had interactions with other women.
I thought this book was more faithful to the original book than the movie version. I always thought Catherine’s love of gothic novels –novels which Henry and his sister are also fond of- was more due to the themes of suspense and I suppose drama. But the movie paralleled her fascination in this genre to liking steamy novels… I can see that the movie has taken a more tongue-in-cheek approach but didn’t quite like it. Whereas this book recounts Henry and his sister discussing Gothic novels with satire which was great fun. Although I found the extracts of the novel they were reading rather boring or I guess a distraction from Henry’s story. There are also large extracts from the original Northanger Abbey which I was mostly ok with as I liked the novel and didn’t mind rereading it.
The other thing that I had slight disagreements with was the love storyline.
That aside, this book is very rewarding for Northanger Abbey/Henry Tilney fans and is just as lively and accessible as the character is.
October 5, 2012
There was a bit too much just outright quotation from the original novel for my taste, but otherwise I liked this take on Austen's book from the perspective of the hero.
I especially loved how Grange worked Tilney's love of gothic novels into a search for a heroine of his own in order to tie in with the original story. It made him seem more human and approachable to me. His teasing seems less like something he does for his own amusement so he can giggle at Catherine and more like a subtle way to flirt with her. (Possibly this is how it was meant in Northanger Abbey as well, but it comes off a lot less strongly than in Grange's novel.)
Also, he admits how cool it is to live in an old, maybe-haunted Abbey. Awesomeness.
I think the only other flaw the book suffers from other than too much quotation (it's okay to summarize if you're writing a book set in the Austenverse, really--most of us have either read the book in question or know enough about it to get by) is that the time skips do seem a little jarring. I recognize that this was done for a very good reason, but the author didn't quite pull it off smoothly, so it's a tad weird to suddenly go from Henry's schooldays to the trip to Bath.
Otherwise, it's a fun book, especially since Henry Tilney is such a fun character. Grange gives him a really lively voice and wit. I'm rather pleased with this book and wouldn't mind having it on my shelf in paperback format.
I especially loved how Grange worked Tilney's love of gothic novels into a search for a heroine of his own in order to tie in with the original story. It made him seem more human and approachable to me. His teasing seems less like something he does for his own amusement so he can giggle at Catherine and more like a subtle way to flirt with her. (Possibly this is how it was meant in Northanger Abbey as well, but it comes off a lot less strongly than in Grange's novel.)
Also, he admits how cool it is to live in an old, maybe-haunted Abbey. Awesomeness.
I think the only other flaw the book suffers from other than too much quotation (it's okay to summarize if you're writing a book set in the Austenverse, really--most of us have either read the book in question or know enough about it to get by) is that the time skips do seem a little jarring. I recognize that this was done for a very good reason, but the author didn't quite pull it off smoothly, so it's a tad weird to suddenly go from Henry's schooldays to the trip to Bath.
Otherwise, it's a fun book, especially since Henry Tilney is such a fun character. Grange gives him a really lively voice and wit. I'm rather pleased with this book and wouldn't mind having it on my shelf in paperback format.
December 22, 2011
Ever since I read Mr. Darcy's Diary in 2008, I have admired Amanda Grange's Austen Men Retellings. Having read and enjoyed all of Ms. Grange's previous retellings, I was most anxious to read Henry Tilney's Diary – after all, he is Jane Austen's most entertaining and charming hero! The two year period between Ms. Grange's last novel in this series (Colonel Brandon's Diary) and Henry Tilney's Diary was long, but the wait was definitely worth it! Henry Tilney's Diary is my new favorite in the series, usurping my previous favorite, Colonel Brandon's Diary.
What do I love so much about Henry Tilney's Diary and Colonel Brandon's Diary? Their back-stories. I love that both stories start prior to to Jane Austen's novel, making these diaries not only a retelling, but also a prequel. Captain Wentworth's Diary also provides an intriguing back-story. Henry Tilney's Diary opens in the year 1790 when Henry was at the young age of sixteen. Through these early diary entries readers are able to witness Henry's relationship with his mother, understand how Frederick became a cold-hearted deviant, and discover where Henry acquired his penchant for fine muslin and Gothic novels. I especially loved seeing Henry's close relationship with his sister!
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
What do I love so much about Henry Tilney's Diary and Colonel Brandon's Diary? Their back-stories. I love that both stories start prior to to Jane Austen's novel, making these diaries not only a retelling, but also a prequel. Captain Wentworth's Diary also provides an intriguing back-story. Henry Tilney's Diary opens in the year 1790 when Henry was at the young age of sixteen. Through these early diary entries readers are able to witness Henry's relationship with his mother, understand how Frederick became a cold-hearted deviant, and discover where Henry acquired his penchant for fine muslin and Gothic novels. I especially loved seeing Henry's close relationship with his sister!
To continue reading, go to: http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com...
December 15, 2011
Henry Tilney’s Diary by Amanda Grange provides readers with the inner thoughts and past of Northanger Abbey‘s hero. Like his sister Eleanor, Henry has a passion for the written word, which mirrors Austen’s homage to readers in the original novel. Grange steeps her prose in Gothic tales of secret passages and story telling between brother and sister and between Henry Tilney and Catherine Morland. Drawing inspiration from Mrs. Radcliff and her novels, A Sicilian Romance and The Mysteries of Udolpho.
Unlike Austen’s version, Tilney reads Gothic novels for pleasure, a pleasure he shares with his sister, and while he remains very logical in his thinking about finding a wife, he is soon swept up by the charms of Catherine. His requirements in a wife are listed on more than one occasion with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2011/12/h...
Unlike Austen’s version, Tilney reads Gothic novels for pleasure, a pleasure he shares with his sister, and while he remains very logical in his thinking about finding a wife, he is soon swept up by the charms of Catherine. His requirements in a wife are listed on more than one occasion with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2011/12/h...
July 28, 2014
With a very rocky start, I actually came to enjoy this novel mid-way through. However, when it preceded the time frame of Northanger Abbey it dropped in quality again. I think it should have ended where the original did, as it just seemed to drag on. There were points where Grange adopts Austen's tone very well, but her timing isn't always accurate. Some events move too fast and others too slow, for instance, Mr Morris' declaration of love seemed to escalate very quickly. Overall, the back story was interesting, but a few major plot points were changed which should have been left as is (ie. Henry was meant to be angry with Catherine's assumptions of his father, not find it "adorable"). A nice read for Austen fans who felt the original was just not quite enough to satisfy them.
February 25, 2012
I love Henry Tilney, I love Catherine Morland, and I love Northanger Abbey. I've read all of Amanda Grange's other books and knew what to expect... and I love seeing the "other side" of Jane Austen's heroes. I think this one started with too much backstory, which I think could have been incorporated into the story more creatively. The end was a little murky as well... but all in all I did like seeing Henry's view of the world. I especially liked reading the part when he found out that his father had sent Catherine home in an uproar... Oh Henry! :)
November 20, 2016
This really could be a companion novel to Northanger Abbey. Every joke, reference, or behavior is explained. Justifications are offered for characters who never got a chance in the original to explain themselves. It's really not too bad if Jane Austen is difficult to understand; Grange does a great job of getting inside that world and making it relatable to a modern audience. And all that by simply changing the protagonist.
March 23, 2014
I know it's a bit sacrilegious, but Henry Tilney is my favorite Austen hero. I give this book an extra star just because he's in it. Alas, there are only a few "Northanger Abbey" re-tellings, sequels, etc. This one is worth the read for fellow Tilney fans.
February 2, 2020
After reading this, I have to wonder if the author actually read the source material before deciding to write this novel. Tilney's entries just don't have the same heart as the Tilney that Austen created, and the whole thing hinged on getting that right. It didn't read like a well read gentleman's diaries, but a young woman writing a very tedious diary.
Also, I almost stopped reading it when the author decided to include huge chunks of another novel at the beginning. She decided to make this in epistolary style, then did that? That's just unnecessary. Honestly, what kind of person writes a journal entry that includes half a chapter of a novel in the entry? Was she just trying to pad her word count?
It was a little nice to see how she tried to humanize Captain Tilney, but when added to all the other liberties the author took, it lacked some of the emotional punch it could've had.
It wasn't awful. I mean, Northanger Abbey isn't Austen's greatest work, either, but if you're gonna base your own book on another book character's POV, it does need to at least match the original in tone and basic plot points.
Just pretend it's mediocre fanfiction (which it is) and you can probably appreciate it more.
Also, I almost stopped reading it when the author decided to include huge chunks of another novel at the beginning. She decided to make this in epistolary style, then did that? That's just unnecessary. Honestly, what kind of person writes a journal entry that includes half a chapter of a novel in the entry? Was she just trying to pad her word count?
It was a little nice to see how she tried to humanize Captain Tilney, but when added to all the other liberties the author took, it lacked some of the emotional punch it could've had.
It wasn't awful. I mean, Northanger Abbey isn't Austen's greatest work, either, but if you're gonna base your own book on another book character's POV, it does need to at least match the original in tone and basic plot points.
Just pretend it's mediocre fanfiction (which it is) and you can probably appreciate it more.
April 2, 2018
I really like Amanda Grange's Diaries series. They do what good retellings do - keep close enough to the plot that it's comfortable, but provide enough of a fresh perspective to keep it interesting. By focusing on the men of the books, she has the perfect alternate viewpoint that allows her to stay close enough to the original that I'm not saying "Wait. No. What? No!" (I'm looking at you Laurence Olivier and your bogus Aunt Catherine!) and yet I am saying, "Hmm. I never thought about it that way."
Although, Northanger Abbey is my favorite Jane Austen, Henry Tilney's diary is not my favorite of Ms. Grange's. It's definitely funny. She captures the humor and spirit of Mr. Tilney, and I enjoyed seeing more of the loving, teasing relationship between Henry and his sister Eleanor. I think the "problem," is that there aren't dark secrets in Henry's past, there aren't great swatches of time that Henry is gone from the scene, there aren't character flaws that have to be explained like with many of the other Jane Austen Hero diaries. These "problems" are why I'm #TeamTilney, but it also meant fewer "Ah, interesting!" moments.
Still, lesser Grange is better than most. 4 stars.
Although, Northanger Abbey is my favorite Jane Austen, Henry Tilney's diary is not my favorite of Ms. Grange's. It's definitely funny. She captures the humor and spirit of Mr. Tilney, and I enjoyed seeing more of the loving, teasing relationship between Henry and his sister Eleanor. I think the "problem," is that there aren't dark secrets in Henry's past, there aren't great swatches of time that Henry is gone from the scene, there aren't character flaws that have to be explained like with many of the other Jane Austen Hero diaries. These "problems" are why I'm #TeamTilney, but it also meant fewer "Ah, interesting!" moments.
Still, lesser Grange is better than most. 4 stars.
April 5, 2022
The idea behind this book was really good. A must read for any Jane Austin or Ann Radcliffe fan. However, in the main it just made me want to read the Jane Austin book Northanger Abbey and the Ann Radcliffe books The Sicilian Romance and Mysterious of Udolpha, which are so much better. Overall this book once you remove the quotes from Northanger Abbey and the Ann Radcliffe books, there is very little left. Some dates in this book only have 4 or 5 lines. I think it would of helped if the writer had used a writing group for more ideas. The ideas used for the additional material was in keeping with the era and believeable. I like the fact that the writer made us like Frederick and the father, she could of explored more the jealously the father had of his son, as his wife before her death appears to love him more than her husband. Colonel Tilney is clearly grieving hence his extreme mood swings. Also Miss Tilney acting as the go between the 3 male Tilney could of been expounded on and how this drained her and left her needing a friend and confident untouched by real tragedy.
February 26, 2022
This was really cute! A lot of the middle was literally copy and pasted from Northanger Abbey, and since I just read that I skipped those sections. However, I enjoyed all the new scenes. It followed the original story well and felt very in-character. I really loved the author's interpretation of what happened after Tilney proposed to Catherine since that was essentially summed up in a sentence in the original book. It was really sweet and made me wish that Austen had extended her book a bit to include it.
My one complaint about this was that this in no way felt like a diary. It just felt like a regular first-person book. There is no way that anyone records extremely long passages of conversation into their diary, and this book is mainly just talking! The conversations were well written, but it wasn't realistic that Tilney would have recorded them in such detail.
Aside from that, I really enjoyed this and will definitely pick up the other books in this series at some point.
My one complaint about this was that this in no way felt like a diary. It just felt like a regular first-person book. There is no way that anyone records extremely long passages of conversation into their diary, and this book is mainly just talking! The conversations were well written, but it wasn't realistic that Tilney would have recorded them in such detail.
Aside from that, I really enjoyed this and will definitely pick up the other books in this series at some point.
July 27, 2019
Well written
However, the reconstruction of Captain Tilney's character is both dull and overstepping. This isn't presented as a rewrite of the original but as showing a different point of view. And if there must be a rewrite, couldn't it be the slightest bit original? Does the author intend to modify every negative aspect of each of Jane Austen's books?
Also, this book makes it clear the author considers Catherine to be a slow-witted idiot, as she looks "perplexed" every time Henry uses a compound sentence and pretends not to have believed his over-the-top storytelling. (I half expect her to cross her eyes and make "duh" noises.) She is caught up in his stories, not fooled by them. Catherine is naive and sometimes ignorant, but she is not portrayed as stupid in the original.
However, the reconstruction of Captain Tilney's character is both dull and overstepping. This isn't presented as a rewrite of the original but as showing a different point of view. And if there must be a rewrite, couldn't it be the slightest bit original? Does the author intend to modify every negative aspect of each of Jane Austen's books?
Also, this book makes it clear the author considers Catherine to be a slow-witted idiot, as she looks "perplexed" every time Henry uses a compound sentence and pretends not to have believed his over-the-top storytelling. (I half expect her to cross her eyes and make "duh" noises.) She is caught up in his stories, not fooled by them. Catherine is naive and sometimes ignorant, but she is not portrayed as stupid in the original.
November 4, 2021
Another wonderful Austen-man book from Amanda Grange!
I absolutely loved her Edmund Bertram book and went into this one with high expectations. I'll admit I wasn't totally thrilled at first, as this one was a bit harder to get into, the beginning is super slow and for some reason Henry writes long portions of Ann Radcliffe novels into his diary and it's very distracting. However, my advice to anyone reading this is push through it! It gets so, so much better after he meets Catherine, and his interactions with his brother and sister as the book progresses are so wonderfully in character, it really feels like Grange understands these people perfectly.
Big recommendation!
I absolutely loved her Edmund Bertram book and went into this one with high expectations. I'll admit I wasn't totally thrilled at first, as this one was a bit harder to get into, the beginning is super slow and for some reason Henry writes long portions of Ann Radcliffe novels into his diary and it's very distracting. However, my advice to anyone reading this is push through it! It gets so, so much better after he meets Catherine, and his interactions with his brother and sister as the book progresses are so wonderfully in character, it really feels like Grange understands these people perfectly.
Big recommendation!
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