Northanger Abbey and Persuasion

by Jane Austen

Two classic novels by Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which were first published together in 1818, after the death of the author.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Romance, Literature, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Historical

479 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1818

About the author

Jane Austen was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

The anonymously published Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1816), were a modest success but brought her little fame in her lifetime. She wrote two other novels—Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1817—and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, the short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and the unfinished novel The Watsons.
Since her death Austen's novels have rarely been out of print. A significant transition in her reputation occurred in 1833, when they were republished in Richard Bentley's Standard Novels series (illustrated by Ferdinand Pickering and sold as a set). They gradually gained wide acclaim and popular readership. In 1869, fifty-two years after her death, her nephew's publication of A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced a compelling version of her writing career and supposedly uneventful life to an eager audience. Her work has inspired a large number of critical essays and has been included in many literary anthologies. Her novels have also inspired many films, including 1940's Pride and Prejudice, 1995's Sense and Sensibility and 2016's Love & Friendship.

Reviews

[Cristina Pascari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Northanger Abbey novel pretty fast. I wish I had read this book when I was a young girl so that I could understand better that there are fake people all around. The book was very easy and fun to read, typical romantic fiction. There is not too much action but more about the process of taking decisions, analyzing and understanding the world. I enjoyed the book, mainly because of the happy ending and the weeding at the end :)

[Sarah Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Austen is da best.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I really like Austen's humor in this book. I love how she pokes fun at romance novels and how she purposefully does the unexpected with her characters and her plot. I love her use of metafiction. Her writing is very clever in this novel and made me smile frequently as I read. The characters are great, and the concept is strong. I wish she did more with it, though. I expected more of a commentary on her variation from the romance novel, and the ending sort of fell off for me. I wanted her to keep going with the usual tropes of romance and keep turning them on their heads. It felt anticlimactic after I expected so much.
That all being said, it's my third favorite Austen novel now, after P&P and Emma (whichever order those two go in, and excluding Persuasion and her "Minor Works," which I haven't read yet), and I highly recommend it.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book of Jane's. Persuasion is my second favorite. On further contemplation, I believe Anne Elliot to be a finer lady and character than Dearest, Loveliest Elizabeth Bennett. Anne was persuaded as a young lady, but she would NOT be persuaded in many ways and many situations in her later years. Her love was constant and strong and enduring. Perhaps I will a full day to contemplate this further...

I included this version as I am taking the reading challenge and didn't find another Persuasion to use. I did not read Northanger Abbey this year, but last.

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

It wasn't my favorite Austen book I have read so far but it did have its moments. Also... I am sensing a Jane Austen universe where all her characters and places are linked together somehow.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The four stars is as close an average for both books as I can get, with "Northanger Abbey" being closer to a three and "Persuasion" being a solid four. I didn't find any of the characters as vivid as the protagonists of "Pride and Prejudice," but Austen's social commentary and wit is as enjoyable as ever. "Persuasion" particularly had the benefit of a stronger core conflict - the romantic leads already had one failed romance, so it was engaging to watch them navigate their old history.

[Rodica Gavril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un roman scris de Jane Austen este, pentru mine, un prilej de bucurie. Nici "Mânăstirea Northanger" (căci doar pe acesta l-am citit acum, intr-o altă versiune) nu face excepție.
Totuși, rămân la impresia că este o scriere de început (terminată, in varianta inițială, tot în 1797, în anul în care i-a fost refuzat și "Mândrie și prejudecată", în prima lui versiune), deși a văzut lumina tiparului abia în 1818, la un an de la decesul scriitoarei. Nu are forța și subtilitatea romanului amintit in paranteză. Ironia cu care sunt tratate personajele nu este la fel de fină, educația și bunul-simț al eroinelor, precum și rafinamentul povestirii încă lasă de dorit.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

so up till now i have not read this book. always read NorthPointe Chalet (which i have already reviewed.) loved that - and what is sad is i like it better than the Jane Austen book. i will say this...if you want to see the movie DON'T SEE the BBC version from 10 years ago. OMG it was terrible. made me hate the story even more. sad but true....

[Paul Terry Walhus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine set of books by Jane Austen, authentic to the original typesetting and illustrations. They are also very small? Wonder if this is the actual size they came when originally issued in Jane's day?

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both Northhanger Abbey and Persuasion were a bit disappointing to me. Austen didn't seem as invested in these characters. I know that I am probably outnumbered on this opinion though...

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up liking Persuasion more, but Northanger Abbey was still enjoyable. It was very dryly amusing, with a very silly protagonist. I had to read more slowly here, but it became more interesting to me after the characters left for the abbey. I also enjoyed seeing how the kinds of characters fit well into more modern archetypes (with detail differences, of course). Maybe by reading that story first, I had an easier time with the next. I did think it was funny to read about the financial priorities for the Elliots, and I again noticed similarities to modern romance setups and convenience in getting people together. Other than a few period-typical things, it was nice enough. The letter was definitely satisfying to finally read. One thing that wasn’t that important to the plots was the ability to deliver devastating insults like it was nothing. Overall, they were quiet and fun books with interesting characters.

[Marina Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found a little old classic edition of this at a used book store. Pocket sized and soft yellow pages. I'd never read any Jane Austen before and here were her first and last books paired together. Both were enjoyable and there was a notable change in the complexity of the characters I think between the two, as well as what constitutes a heroine. The first is young, the last older (late twenties and an old maid lol), the first is not very useful, the last indispensable, the first is naive, the last all-knowing, the first gives everyone a chance, the last expects no surprises from the world. A lot of fun with the tension created by the story being set in an era where it seems you can never say what you mean or always mean what you say, and meanwhile the reader hears the inner dialogue. Also a nice easy world to escape into with no real problems. I'll add Pride and Prejudice to my list next!

[Caomhghain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel that gets richer with each rereading. Anne Elliott has to change but it is a subtle change and Austen reveals it little by little. Given that as usual it is centred on characters' thought and words it was fascinating seeing signs of change in Wentworth or rather signs of his recognition of his own feelings.
The role of rank is very nuanced. There are awful snobs who have nothing to commend them but their rank and Austen keeps on surprising us by showing how much she an value rank - so much but no further. There are many, many other goods and as evern we have a virtue ethics approach stressing actions rather than words despite the great value of words in revealing character.

[Madeline Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished Northanger Abbey: June, 6, 2019
Finished Persuasion: Aug. 5, 2019



This was my first time reading both books. And boy were they good. NA felt more modern, I loved how the author spoke to the reader. It was fun, they had modern conversations (i thought so), and it was an easy read. Persuasion took a little longer for me to get into, I had to keep track of the family trees and relations (so many Charles!!!) but once I realized who was who and how they were related, it breezed by. All that tension that Wentworth had inside of him....

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always Austen delivers and writes of that which she knows...a woman's place in her time was one spent in "waiting for her life to begin" through marriage. Coming out, the pressure of marrying an equal or higher in status, the fact that marriage was "a transactional formality" by and large. Yes, as always people stray and try to find a bit of meaning and pleasure in their confined lives. However one thing is always clear, an independent woman never wins, or if she does it is after humiliation and suffering at the hands of the man she loves.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very short book compared with Pride and Prejudice, which I just finished reading.
I liked how Jane referred to Catherine as the "heroine". All through my reading I looked for different ways that she was a "heroine".
It was interesting to see how she grew intellectually by being exposed to such different characters from those at her home. I was glad she took the trip to Bath, for what an education she received there about people.

The book I read did NOT have Persuasion included in it.

[Kelley Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I put off reading this?!
I was so involved in the story from the beginning and finished in one day. Jane Austen remains relevant and always entertaining. Henry Tilney is giving Darcy and Captain Wentworth serious competition for best leading man. My new favorite quote:
Now I must give one smirk, and then we will be rational again.

Catherine does not quite stand up against Miss Elizabeth Bennett or Ann Elliott, but she is young and naive so perhaps we can forgive.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Austen writes a spoof on the Gothic novels of her time. She has an amazing yet subtle style and great sense of humor. I read this as part of a class on Austen’s writing. Learning about life in the regency period made the book even more enjoyable.

[Hiba Akhlaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since a lot has been said about Jane Austen and then some more, I'll just say this: there's a reason her stories have stood the test of time. There's a reason why she's amongst the most talked about authors some 200 years after her death.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could have been the reader's take on this audiobook, but it seems a rather sappy take on the novel. In full disclosure I could not find the correct edition here. It is Northanger Abbey as read by Sara Nichols for Fort Raphael Publishing.

[Ira Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts slow, but a very comic and accurate depiction of human emotions and society. Revelant and so many years later!

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were written by Jane Austen, what more do you need to know?

[Katie Reginaldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite from Jane Austin. A more interesting storyline than Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, with a more intriguing set of characters.

[Cathy Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Very much the same as other Austen books with names changed, but I suppose when written the world was a smaller place.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the old style of writing by Jane Austen. It was a refreshing change.

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so refreshing and hilarious. I really enjoyed this one. I’ve known people who were just like the characters in this story. So true to life.

[Rebecca Davis]

I don't feel as if I can give a star rating to Jane Austen. She's out of all of our leagues, and what on earth makes us think we can assign a rating? I can't! I did love this book, though.

[Elise Prodanov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to p&p but still so good

[Sidney Delepine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, not great. Honestly kinda forgettable 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I refuse to see how Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s most popular, it pales in comparison to both Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. I’ll take Captain Freddie Wentworth over Mr. Darcy anytime.