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Miss Eleanor Tilney: or, The Reluctant Heroine
Eleanor Tilney is little more than a plot device in Jane Austen's tale, whose first half scintillates so brightly, but whose second half hints at the brilliance to come. This reimagining attempts to bring life, color, and a little laughter to that second half.
Eleanor gets a voice, and a romance, as we see Catherine through hers and Henry's eyes.
Eleanor gets a voice, and a romance, as we see Catherine through hers and Henry's eyes.
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2016
11 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Sherwood Smith
167 books37.5k followersI am a writer,( Patreon here) but I'm on Goodreads to talk about books, as I've been a passionate reader as long as I've been a writer--since early childhood.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
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September 13, 2016Written for fun, as stress relief, and to exist in the world of Northanger Abbey. All these years I wondered about Eleanor's story, so I decided to give her one.
February 4, 2021
One of Jane Austen's gentlest and sweetest of secondary characters appears in Northanger Abbey. She comes on the scene later and isn't vibrant or boisterous nor does she make a nuisance of herself. Some might argue that she is just... there. For me, Eleanor Tilney was an important, quiet anchor in that story and I was tickled to discover that she gets to be the heroine in her own tale that parallels the events of Northanger Abbey after introducing her as a young girl on the cusp of womanhood.
Miss Eleanor Tilney opens when Eleanor is at her ladies' school and endures the death of her beloved mother. She encounters an older girl, Lady Alice Longtown, whose mother was Eleanor's mother's dearest school friend. Eleanor needs this lady's tender solicitude and Alice's friendship when her own blustering, temperamental father and oldest brother are too much for her. Her other brother Henry and his good friend Charles along with Alice help her to come alive away from her father's storms. In fact, Charles becomes something more, but he is a poor cousin to an earl and she knows what her social climbing parent would say to that courtship request. She is dutiful, but also quietly determined not to be matched with her father's choice while hoping to have her own happy choice. Meanwhile, she is an observer and private aid to Henry's own surprise romance. Cynical and satirical Henry never thought to find a young lady who could penetrate his emotional armor and Eleanor is there to see it happen.
I was in the mood for a gently-paced, thoughtful piece so this book hit me just right. I loved reading about a young Eleanor who seems doomed to be a tragic heroine and a fascinating perspective on Henry's character and side of the story. It was neat to see the author take all the background details that Austen gave about the Tilneys and the action happening off page or in the background of Catherine's narration and weave it into its own engaging romantic tale.
I can recommend this to those who like to get stories about Austen's secondary characters or have a different perspective retell the original story. I thought this was better enjoyed because I am already familiar with the Northanger Abbey novel, but I think a reader who has never read that can still appreciate this story.
Miss Eleanor Tilney opens when Eleanor is at her ladies' school and endures the death of her beloved mother. She encounters an older girl, Lady Alice Longtown, whose mother was Eleanor's mother's dearest school friend. Eleanor needs this lady's tender solicitude and Alice's friendship when her own blustering, temperamental father and oldest brother are too much for her. Her other brother Henry and his good friend Charles along with Alice help her to come alive away from her father's storms. In fact, Charles becomes something more, but he is a poor cousin to an earl and she knows what her social climbing parent would say to that courtship request. She is dutiful, but also quietly determined not to be matched with her father's choice while hoping to have her own happy choice. Meanwhile, she is an observer and private aid to Henry's own surprise romance. Cynical and satirical Henry never thought to find a young lady who could penetrate his emotional armor and Eleanor is there to see it happen.
I was in the mood for a gently-paced, thoughtful piece so this book hit me just right. I loved reading about a young Eleanor who seems doomed to be a tragic heroine and a fascinating perspective on Henry's character and side of the story. It was neat to see the author take all the background details that Austen gave about the Tilneys and the action happening off page or in the background of Catherine's narration and weave it into its own engaging romantic tale.
I can recommend this to those who like to get stories about Austen's secondary characters or have a different perspective retell the original story. I thought this was better enjoyed because I am already familiar with the Northanger Abbey novel, but I think a reader who has never read that can still appreciate this story.
October 25, 2019
This short novel fills in the backstory for Eleanor Tilney from Northanger Abbey. After the death of her mother, Eleanor was a shy thirteen-year-old in need of affection and guidance as well as time away from her rough military father. An older schoolmate, Lady Alice Longtown, provides a loving space and gentle guidance for young Eleanor. As Eleanor grows older and closer to her brother Henry, they discover a shared love of absurd gothic literature. Henry's sense of humor keeps them both going through tough times. Henry and Eleanor's passion for literature increases as they become acquainted with Mr. Charles Bantry, a poor relation of a man General Tilney has chosen for Eleanor. Shy, sweet Eleanor would rather die than be sold off like a horse. Only a clandestine friendship with Charles makes life bearable. Then when the General must needs go to Bath, his children go with him meeting some other new visitors to Bath, Mrs. Thorpe, her daughters and son and their friend Catherine Morland. How can the Tilney siblings shield young Catherine from the worst of their father's moods and their brother's crudeness?
This is a quiet, slow moving novel that doesn't quite sparkle the way Jane Austen's novels do. It's a fine addition to the Austen paraliterature list though and worth a read if you are intrigued by Eleanor Tilney who hardly gets any page time in NA. I think Eleanor is someone I could be friends with. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. I love her nerdiness and how her love for Charles grows over a shared love of novels and intelligent conversation. I feel for her being subjected to such a horrid father. General Tilney has a mercurial temper, doesn't understand women and is so eager to climb the social ladder he ignores everyone and anything he considers beneath him to curry favor with the elite. He does basically the same thing he accuses Catherine of doing! His eldest son is just as bad and will likely run Northanger into ruin sooner than later if he doesn't die first. Good thing Henry is sensible.
Henry and Catherine are not my favorite Austen couple. I like him a lot. I enjoy his sense of humor and his decency, but I do not like him with Catherine. She's too young and naive to understand when he's teasing and I don't think it's nice of him to tease her the way he does. In this novel when Henry realizes Catherine doesn't understand his teasing he backs off a bit. She gradually does begin to understand his sense of humor but I don't see them being a happy couple just yet. She needs to mature a lot more. Charles is a better hero. Like Henry, he has a job but is dependent on his family for support. He's a poor relation forced to dance to the tune of his improvident uncle. I admire the fact he has a job and he's doing his best to help run his uncle's estate even if his uncle won't listen. Charles is in a tough spot and there doesn't seem to be an easy way for he and Eleanor to get together. The solution is a bit ridiculous. I was waiting for him to confront Eleanor's father and declare himself openly and felt he was a bit cowardly not to do so, at least after his cousin wasn't interested in Eleanor anymore.
The secondary characters are flat and difficult to remember. Alice is a loyal friend to Eleanor but a dull woman. Her interests are domestic and she isn't much of a reader. I like her for her kindness and loyalty but don't have any interest in reading about her as a heroine. Charlotte Bantry is the complete opposite of Eleanor. She's spoiled, selfish and silly. Her brother is even worse. The young ladies' companion, Mrs. Hughes, a school friend of Lady Longdown and Mrs. Tilney, is kind but also dull. She's an adequate chaperone but sometimes she's strict and other times she's too easy going. She seems to be the type to accept her fate and carry on.
I really like the attention to detail Sherwood Smith put into the setting. The story reads like it's set in the Georgian era with Georgian characters and not modern people running around a pretty 18th century world. The manners, the attitudes, the culture all feels authentic. I especially enjoy when Henry and Eleanor read aloud for entertainment, something the Austens did and TV killed.
Eleanor's books:
The Sylph: 'A Young Lady'
The Man of Mode: Or, Sir Fopling Flutter. a Comedy. Acted at the Duke's Theatre
The Rivals
The Way of the World
First Love (by ?)
The Box-Lobby Challenge by Richard Cumberland
Der Bürgergeneral : Ein Lustspiel in einem Aufzuge
The Belle's Strategem
The Rambler (a Journal)
a silly book by the author of The Children of the Abbey probably Clermont, one of the horrid novels in NA
"The Eccentric Lover" by Richard Cumberland
This is a quiet, slow moving novel that doesn't quite sparkle the way Jane Austen's novels do. It's a fine addition to the Austen paraliterature list though and worth a read if you are intrigued by Eleanor Tilney who hardly gets any page time in NA. I think Eleanor is someone I could be friends with. She reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. I love her nerdiness and how her love for Charles grows over a shared love of novels and intelligent conversation. I feel for her being subjected to such a horrid father. General Tilney has a mercurial temper, doesn't understand women and is so eager to climb the social ladder he ignores everyone and anything he considers beneath him to curry favor with the elite. He does basically the same thing he accuses Catherine of doing! His eldest son is just as bad and will likely run Northanger into ruin sooner than later if he doesn't die first. Good thing Henry is sensible.
Henry and Catherine are not my favorite Austen couple. I like him a lot. I enjoy his sense of humor and his decency, but I do not like him with Catherine. She's too young and naive to understand when he's teasing and I don't think it's nice of him to tease her the way he does. In this novel when Henry realizes Catherine doesn't understand his teasing he backs off a bit. She gradually does begin to understand his sense of humor but I don't see them being a happy couple just yet. She needs to mature a lot more. Charles is a better hero. Like Henry, he has a job but is dependent on his family for support. He's a poor relation forced to dance to the tune of his improvident uncle. I admire the fact he has a job and he's doing his best to help run his uncle's estate even if his uncle won't listen. Charles is in a tough spot and there doesn't seem to be an easy way for he and Eleanor to get together. The solution is a bit ridiculous. I was waiting for him to confront Eleanor's father and declare himself openly and felt he was a bit cowardly not to do so, at least after his cousin wasn't interested in Eleanor anymore.
The secondary characters are flat and difficult to remember. Alice is a loyal friend to Eleanor but a dull woman. Her interests are domestic and she isn't much of a reader. I like her for her kindness and loyalty but don't have any interest in reading about her as a heroine. Charlotte Bantry is the complete opposite of Eleanor. She's spoiled, selfish and silly. Her brother is even worse. The young ladies' companion, Mrs. Hughes, a school friend of Lady Longdown and Mrs. Tilney, is kind but also dull. She's an adequate chaperone but sometimes she's strict and other times she's too easy going. She seems to be the type to accept her fate and carry on.
I really like the attention to detail Sherwood Smith put into the setting. The story reads like it's set in the Georgian era with Georgian characters and not modern people running around a pretty 18th century world. The manners, the attitudes, the culture all feels authentic. I especially enjoy when Henry and Eleanor read aloud for entertainment, something the Austens did and TV killed.
Eleanor's books:
The Sylph: 'A Young Lady'
The Man of Mode: Or, Sir Fopling Flutter. a Comedy. Acted at the Duke's Theatre
The Rivals
The Way of the World
First Love (by ?)
The Box-Lobby Challenge by Richard Cumberland
Der Bürgergeneral : Ein Lustspiel in einem Aufzuge
The Belle's Strategem
The Rambler (a Journal)
a silly book by the author of The Children of the Abbey probably Clermont, one of the horrid novels in NA
"The Eccentric Lover" by Richard Cumberland
April 14, 2017
This is an interesting idea for a novella and I loved learning more about Henry and Eleanor, but it felt very rushed.
April 21, 2017
I enjoyed this very much! Eleanor Tilney, whom I adore, gets to be a heroine herself in this literate and charming story. And being #TeamTilney I am pleased to report that Henry Tilney is as delightful as he ought to be (and so is his charming future wife). Recommended to all those who love Northanger Abbey.
August 7, 2019
I've had this one on my TBR ever since reading Ms. Smith's Henry and Fanny a couple years ago. Don't know why it took me so long to get to it, but what fun! I LOVED getting a peek into Eleanor and Henry's minds. To watch Catherine from their point of view and figure out what it was that endeared her to them so quickly. This is a short story, but it packs a wallop of joy and loveliness in a small amount of pages. I love Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and I'm so pleased that Ms. Smith took these beloved characters and treated them with love and kindness while staying true to Ms. Austen's writing. And seriously. There's a certain scene that only made me love Mr. Henry Tilney even more than I already do! The man is such a charmer and here we find him much the same only we get to understand him a bit better. Loved it! Will definitely be reading it again and highly recommend for Janeites who enjoy sequels! :)
July 15, 2020
Pleasant retelling/differing POV of Northanger Abby.
Not sure about the Heroine appellation. Not a lot actually happens, but her endurance of her overbearing Father & the Heir are herculean. :)
Really gently underscores the point -- that most of us are glad not to live under those old strictures.
Not sure about the Heroine appellation. Not a lot actually happens, but her endurance of her overbearing Father & the Heir are herculean. :)
Really gently underscores the point -- that most of us are glad not to live under those old strictures.
October 11, 2020
This was a clever Northanger Abbey backstory/behind the scenes story that I enjoyed. There was something missing that kept it from being great, though I'm not sure what that thing is. If you're a NA fan, you may like this look at Eleanor Tilney.
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March 21, 2017Such an interesting genre switch for this author, but she's fabulous at what she does, regardless.
September 23, 2016
This was absolutely what I needed during an extremely tiresome railway journey today!
January 29, 2024
Northanger Abbey from Eleanor AND Henry Tilney's perspective?? Yes, please.
September 14, 2020
I have always admired Eleanor Tilney. Though a minor character in Northanger Abbey, I believe she is one of the most intelligent women in 19th century literature, right up there with Marian Halcombe. In this short novel, Sherwood Smith recognises Eleanor's intelligence and good sense. She also develops some depth in her, showing her to be caring and sensitive, and deserving of a good, loving marriage.
While Eleanor demonstrates a strong, yet gentle, nature, she did strike me as being rather idle, unlike, say, Emma, who is always trying to do good, or the Bennetts who are always busy with needlework, helping each other or working in the family kitchen. Now, it would not be right for Eleanor to work in the kitchen, but she does not even pick up a pair of secateurs. She is not musical either, though she dances well enough.
Smith's depiction of Catherine Moreland is almost indistinguishable from Austen's and she fits into this pastiche with admirable ease. There is a clever device of having Henry Tilney teasing Catherine with stories and gothic attributes to be found within Northanger Abbey, which feed her imagination and give a stronger motivation and context to Catherine's subsequent imaginings and actions.
The descriptions of the Thorpes are perfectly in tune, as are those of the gentle, generous Allens. However, Smith shines with her development of General Tilney. Though not as potentially sinister as in the original, his mercurial behaviour and snobbery are well portrayed but do not go over the top. Indeed, the General in this book is wholly consistent with Robert Hardy's brilliant portrayal of him in the 1987 BBC/Screen Two production.
Sherwood Smith's plotting is clever, paralleling and supplementing Northanger Abbey admirably, but not duplicating the narrative. Seeing things from Eleanor's point of view also makes the familiar scenes fresh. Jane Austen is guilty of using Deus ex Machina endings, so Smith cannot be criticised for that, but the ending is rather abrupt.
On the other hand, the book maintains a modern pace and is highly entertaining. The language, apart from a few anachronisms (no Jane Austen character ever would have "gifted" anything to anyone), the language pays appropriate homage to Jane's 18th/19th century vocabulary, and may send the reader to the dictionary once or twice. (A further proof that the reader is not wasting his time!)
I would have liked to have seen more extended dialogue and perhaps some more physical descriptions of the surroundings - especially Northanger Abbey itself - but this is a personal preference and not a failing of the book.
Lovers of Northanger Abbey (the book has something of a cult following) will not be disappointed at revisiting the abbey and its inhabitants in this amusing novel.
While Eleanor demonstrates a strong, yet gentle, nature, she did strike me as being rather idle, unlike, say, Emma, who is always trying to do good, or the Bennetts who are always busy with needlework, helping each other or working in the family kitchen. Now, it would not be right for Eleanor to work in the kitchen, but she does not even pick up a pair of secateurs. She is not musical either, though she dances well enough.
Smith's depiction of Catherine Moreland is almost indistinguishable from Austen's and she fits into this pastiche with admirable ease. There is a clever device of having Henry Tilney teasing Catherine with stories and gothic attributes to be found within Northanger Abbey, which feed her imagination and give a stronger motivation and context to Catherine's subsequent imaginings and actions.
The descriptions of the Thorpes are perfectly in tune, as are those of the gentle, generous Allens. However, Smith shines with her development of General Tilney. Though not as potentially sinister as in the original, his mercurial behaviour and snobbery are well portrayed but do not go over the top. Indeed, the General in this book is wholly consistent with Robert Hardy's brilliant portrayal of him in the 1987 BBC/Screen Two production.
Sherwood Smith's plotting is clever, paralleling and supplementing Northanger Abbey admirably, but not duplicating the narrative. Seeing things from Eleanor's point of view also makes the familiar scenes fresh. Jane Austen is guilty of using Deus ex Machina endings, so Smith cannot be criticised for that, but the ending is rather abrupt.
On the other hand, the book maintains a modern pace and is highly entertaining. The language, apart from a few anachronisms (no Jane Austen character ever would have "gifted" anything to anyone), the language pays appropriate homage to Jane's 18th/19th century vocabulary, and may send the reader to the dictionary once or twice. (A further proof that the reader is not wasting his time!)
I would have liked to have seen more extended dialogue and perhaps some more physical descriptions of the surroundings - especially Northanger Abbey itself - but this is a personal preference and not a failing of the book.
Lovers of Northanger Abbey (the book has something of a cult following) will not be disappointed at revisiting the abbey and its inhabitants in this amusing novel.
April 18, 2018
I was thrilled when I found this novella because there’s so few Northanger Abbey fanfic being written (something that really needs to be remedied among Austen writers!) I loved reading about Eleanor’s background before the events of the novel. She goes to Bath around the halfway point, but the author retold the story without pulling from the text. We also get portions from Henry’s POV. Eleanor’s love story was subtle and charming. Jane Austen always ends her novels rather abruptly with a wedding, which the author replicates here. Overall, it felt very authentic in style and language. Don’t miss this one if you’re a fan of Northanger Abbey!
October 24, 2020
This is a retelling of Northanger Abbey from Eleanor's perspective. Ostensibly it is the tale of her story. But while it does tell her story, the plot revolves around the plot of Northanger Abbey. Remove Catharine's story, and there is very little plot. Yes, there is a thwarted romance that ends up successful, but there is not much creativity surrounding the change.
I did really like it though, even if it was just a retelling of Northanger Abbey. I love Northanger Abbey, and I think Smith's style of writing was very good (though more modern than Austen's, of course).
I did really like it though, even if it was just a retelling of Northanger Abbey. I love Northanger Abbey, and I think Smith's style of writing was very good (though more modern than Austen's, of course).
February 20, 2019
It is a sad fact that there are very few JAFFs written on Northanger Abbey. As it is my favorite of Austen's novels, I am always hungry and eager for more. I especially like this tale as we get to see some of Henry Tilney's thoughts on Catherine Morland. Henry is my favorite of Austen's heroes and Sherwood Smith's depiction of him did not disappoint.
March 31, 2020
A quick and easy read from Eleanor and Henry's perspective. It was very fast-paced and I felt the author just wanted us to get to the parts we know from Northanger Abbey. I like Sherwood Smith's writing style a lot and there were a lot of good lines.
Perfect little novella for fans of Jane Austen who want just a little more.
Perfect little novella for fans of Jane Austen who want just a little more.
March 1, 2019
Well done companion to Northanger Abbey from the perspective of Eleanor Tilney. The first part fleshes out the few hints on Eleanor's life before Northanger Abbey, while the rest covers the time period of Austen's novel, but from the viewpoint of the Tilneys.
February 6, 2026
I saw Sherwood Smith wrote JAFF and I of course had to read it. This is an enjoyable little story following Eleanor Tilney, starting before Northanger Abbey and then following through to Eleanor's happy ending. Nothing crazy special about it, but it was effortless and I had fun.
September 30, 2017
It was okay, but boorrringgg. Unlike Austen.
November 3, 2018
Fun and delightful
April 20, 2019
I loved it all! I loved the characters and the story and I just loved it! So much fun for a different perspective!
May 21, 2021
The writing was good, but it was pretty boring. I did not like it and I figured out what would happen in the end way before the end.
December 21, 2022
A pretty solid Austen retelling. Fluffy but fun.
January 31, 2025
Just fine. Weirdly, didn't follow Eleanor enough for my taste. Was expecting more from it.
March 24, 2025
A Northanger Abbey variation which tells the story of Eleanor Tilsey, up and including where she meets Catherine Morland in Bath,and beyond. Can she have her happy ending.
An enjoyable story
An enjoyable story
October 9, 2016
An enjoyable reworking of "Northanger Abbey" from the point of view of Eleanor Tilney. The expansion of the gentleman with the washing list into a real character is done well, and if the ending is a touch ex machina it's fine in the context of the story and the horrible General. It was fun to note where key passages of the novel take place, sometimes without this heroine having any idea.
There were a few typos and some US usage which jarred in a novel so closely linked to Austen, but it was an entertaining and relaxing read.
There were a few typos and some US usage which jarred in a novel so closely linked to Austen, but it was an entertaining and relaxing read.
September 16, 2016
Delightful read; Lovely characters, charm and wit aplenty. If you are a fan of The Great British Bake Off, then you will want to read this book for the same lively yet steady rain of pure English countryside satisfaction that will settle into your bones. Have a pot of tea and some cakes at the ready and settle in for a read that will leave you wanting more!
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October 4, 2016If you like Jane Austen, you will like this novel which is basically fanfic written by a successful commercial author around a side character in the novel Northanger Abbey.
If you *love* Northanger Abbey, then you will love this novel.
If you *love* Northanger Abbey, then you will love this novel.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews