Your videos are so incredibly comforting - its my birthday today and I just received the box set of Jane Austen books and these summaries are really helpful for me to understand the plot! :)
I love your detailed synopsis . I’m reading this book more than halfway but I find it difficult to finish. Your summary makes it easier to understand the plot. I’m going to try to reread this book later. Also, you remind me so much of Spencer Hastings from Pretty Little Liars. You look just like her
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I do get it though - I didn't finish it the first time around as well. Never heard that one before but I take it as a compliment, she's so pretty! ☺
If I hadn't read the novel,when you got to the moment when Catherine and Eleanor stayed up till eleven and heard the knock on the door,I would have bet you'd have said John Thorpe!Instead it was the real gold-digger of the piece General Tilney.Remember when Catherine felt mortified in thinking he had killed his wife,but then didn't feel so bad about it when she discovered his true nature.😂❤️
I never considered Isabella a friend of Catherine. It was obvious she only uses her from the beginning. Catherine THOUGHT of them as friends, but she's young and terrible naive, and Isabella is abysmally manipulative. She's one of my most hated Austen's characters.
She's definitely very manipulative, but I have to say I hate her brother more! 😅 I like having her in the story though because it feels very realistic for a young and sheltered woman like Catherine to be charmed by someone like that, until she realises that not everyone has good intentions.
I think that Isabella considered Catherine her friend...as much as Isabella _could_ feel friendship (which isn't very much at all). I'm sure she enjoyed talking about horrid novels with Catherine, but Catherine was essentially too innocent to engage in the activity Isabella liked best - getting all the attention she could get, especially male attention.
Finally, I am almost at the end on NA and I hate that I have watched the movie first - or at all, because I love the book. Because of the movie I already knew exactly what would happen, so that spoiled the experience, but alas. I will survive😅. I love how it was so light and easy to read. So many conversations! I even like how there is the use of "my heroine", it makes it so playful. The movie made me feel so much second hand embarrassment, that I could not come to like Catherine, but in the book almost all the episodes feel natural. About Catherine, I nicknamed her for myself tabula Rasa. She has just outgrown childhood games and got no preparation for adulthood. She goes from expecting the best, most proper from everyone, taking everything people say literally, and at face value as if she got no capacity to read the room; to placing everyone and everything she sees for this colorful imaginary situation (the gothic colorful style, mind you😊 - the more horrid the better). There is this zero experience, as if she lived in a convent untill going to Bath.Her love for Henry is so sweet and I suspect it to be the epitome of a puppy love. And as for James, he is just the male version of Catherine I think - maybe a bit more gullible. Remember the moment C refused to go with them on a ride - the most proper behaviour even nowadays - I know I would hate it if my friend canceled an appointment with me in order to go fool around with other "friends". So this would be downright rude throughout the centuries. However James sides with Isabella the moment she whines a little. 'Boy, you dodged a bullet right there'. So Henry... I believe this is probably my favourite male lead. He is levelheaded, but not dull, in the picture and experienced but not condescending ( although I think he likes to use condescension to make fun of those dear to him -E and C- so he teases, not bullies). He also knows his place- when to caution, but is not nosy - since he knows in the end everyone is responsible for his own actions. I love especially his conversation with C about captain Tilney's and Isabella's behaviour. He nudges and directs Catherine to realize it takes 2 to create romantic tension and that the one truly responsible to James for her actions is Isabella and not his brother - so it seems to me he is well aware of the characters of both and can easily predict what happens, and at the same time let's the events take their course. So basically, I do not feel much passionate love between Henry and Catherine, but unless there is a major disturbance in their relationship down the road, the two together would make a wonderful couple and a steady one I think. He does have good influence on her. Now the two who made the story fenomenal - Thorp's. I think people call men like him a 'prick' and it fits. The duo make it look like a teen movie from highschool environment - he a muscle head team captain, Isabell the main cheerleader....😂 They just fit there. And Isabell herself would make it a field day for Mr. Bennett. He - would - love her! She's probably the only character in Austen novels, who could match up to Mr. Collins in ridiculousness. Maybe also the woman from Emma... Mrs. Elton. I think... I mean, imagine these three meeting and conversing together.... THAT would be epic. Anyway, thanks for the video. This was a bit long comment, but since I am reading and finishing the novel almost as we speak, it's all so fresh in my memory.😅
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it! And I agree, it's definitely a light read, probably the easiest of all Jane Austen's books in my opinion. Doesn't make it any less good enjoyable though! And oh yes - the Thorpes! 😅 You're spot on with the team captain and cheerleader, they really are cut from the same cloth! It makes sense though as they're siblings. About Mr Bennett... I'm sure he would be astonished to find a sillier girl than Lydia. 😄 Even though she is quite manipulative, he would surely see right through her. It's funny to think of characters from different books meeting and what they would think of each other. And Mrs Elton, haha - I'd like to think Mr Bennett would retreat to his library rather than talking to her!
@@ArnellaHobler just finished the last page and it makes me ponder about this gothic novel theme there. The reason the novel is called Northanger Abbey, of course, is to highlight Catherine's hyperactive imagination and her fancy in horrid stories, so much that once she gets to dwell in such a historical house, she pursues every little possibility of mystery and once she fails to find out proof of general's criminal actions or a damsel in distress lock away in a dungeon somewhere, she drops it off as follies and matures quite a bit. This seems to be the end of this heroine route. At first sight. However, I believe that the true heroine of gothic novel(girl actually suffering due to cruel conditions and circumstances) is there, overlooked by everyone. Pretty much the whole time. And Catherine exploring the abbey, speculating and even going as far as venturing to "forbidden chambers" seems to take on the role of a hero - more masculine role, the knight I shining armor so to speak - though she fails, of course. Heroine in these times would usually withstand the situation and escape at the first opportunity, I do not see them purposefully looking for the danger for the hell of it (like Catherine does), although I did not read tha many of them, so who knows, right. So, the real heroine almost worthy of her own gothic novel, looses her mother in childhood and is left with two older brothers and ex-trem-ly strict father. One brother is always gone, and presumably not a worthy company for a lonely younger sister, while the dear brother does dote on her as much as he can, while managing to have his own life away from the abbey( here I believe is the reason Henry is good with female fashion - neither general, nor captain Tilney would bother with something like for for Eleanor). She is stuck in a gothic mansion (the one in the title!) and although she does have a secret "lover"(more like love interest - and isn't it awesome that at the very end, Austen made sure to point out the papers C found in the cabinet and which once confirmed held no meaning for Catherine and her fantasies of secrets were actually traces of this pretty important character never mentioned until he indirectly secures C&H marriage?) She is prevented from marrying him due to her father's cruelty and greed. So, unless she abandons her feelings for him and finds a man her father would like right now ( not something heroine of g.n. would do, I think) she has to wait and wait and wait, until he heroically inherits his money and title and saves the day (and here is title,.... An actual nobleman of a hero.....?) - this guy is a total Deus ex Machina. I find it intriguing, that Austen naturally did something people are relearning now in literature. She has all the archetypes there, but for each novel, she makes a different archetype the protagonist. For example, here Catherine is more like the foolish friend of the main female lead (Eleanor), in Emma - Jane there is the Mary sue type, though subdued by poverty, and if it were written from her point of view, I think Emma would stand for quite a villainess most of the time. Anyway, just having fun twisting and turning the story for the last time before moving onto the next book🤗 no need to mind me😚
Excellent summary! I think it could be improved if you made it clear that Catherine had not read any Gothic novels before she was introduced to them by Isabella. Too many people think she has been reading them at home and arrives in Bath ready for Gothic situations. Also, if I had been doing a summary I would have pointed out how many of the situations in the story really are the same as in the Gothic novels Catherine has been reading. They are just translated into real life. John Thorpe really does kidnap Catherine when he "laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd noises, and drove on," just like in the novels. (BTW John Thorpe has always struck me as the Regency equivalent of a used car salesman. “Curricle-hung, you see; seat, trunk, sword-case, splashing-board, lamps, silver moulding, all you see complete; the iron-work as good as new, or better.") And when Catherine interprets General Tilney's behavior as "slowly pacing the drawing-room for an hour together in silent thoughtfulness, with downcast eyes and contracted brow, she felt secure from all possibility of wronging him. It was the air and attitude of a Montoni!" She is right!
I don't knoow I think Thorpe might be worse than Wickham. At least Wickham had some charm and could have lively conversation. Thorpe can only talk about horses and carriages. He's more like a young Mr. Hurst.
Thanks for this lovely video, I think this is an Austen book I'll see myself re-visiting once in a while. The relationships between different characters is pretty accurate to nowadays, shows how much human behaviour has remained the same throughout time. also the thorpe siblings are insufferable but entertaining nonetheless 😅
This book is fine. Not the most engaging one, despite the Thorpes. Entertaining. Somebody just suggested it would be great to play around with for a young audience, make "modern" dramatisation, probably true.
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I loved the long rant Jane goes on in the middle of the novel defending novels and those who enjoy them. ❤
Oh yes! I'm sure she experienced a good deal of judgement for her love of reading!
I really enjoyed sharing a cup of tea with Arnella, and hearing her thoughts on Northanger Abbey.
Thank you! Happy to hear you enjoyed it :)
Your videos are so incredibly comforting - its my birthday today and I just received the box set of Jane Austen books and these summaries are really helpful for me to understand the plot! :)
Thank you so much, and Happy Birthday! 🌻 I hope you'll enjoy reading them!
I love your detailed synopsis . I’m reading this book more than halfway but I find it difficult to finish. Your summary makes it easier to understand the plot. I’m going to try to reread this book later.
Also, you remind me so much of Spencer Hastings from Pretty Little Liars. You look just like her
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I do get it though - I didn't finish it the first time around as well.
Never heard that one before but I take it as a compliment, she's so pretty! ☺
If I hadn't read the novel,when you got to the moment when Catherine and Eleanor stayed up till eleven and heard the knock on the door,I would have bet you'd have said John Thorpe!Instead it was the real gold-digger of the piece General Tilney.Remember when Catherine felt mortified in thinking he had killed his wife,but then didn't feel so bad about it when she discovered his true nature.😂❤️
Goodness! It would have been typical for John Thorpe to show up like that! 😆
And yes, the General deserved all of those suspicions for sure!
I never considered Isabella a friend of Catherine. It was obvious she only uses her from the beginning. Catherine THOUGHT of them as friends, but she's young and terrible naive, and Isabella is abysmally manipulative. She's one of my most hated Austen's characters.
She's definitely very manipulative, but I have to say I hate her brother more! 😅 I like having her in the story though because it feels very realistic for a young and sheltered woman like Catherine to be charmed by someone like that, until she realises that not everyone has good intentions.
I think that Isabella considered Catherine her friend...as much as Isabella _could_ feel friendship (which isn't very much at all). I'm sure she enjoyed talking about horrid novels with Catherine, but Catherine was essentially too innocent to engage in the activity Isabella liked best - getting all the attention she could get, especially male attention.
Loved the video! I really got a good overview of Northanger Abbey
Finally, I am almost at the end on NA and I hate that I have watched the movie first - or at all, because I love the book. Because of the movie I already knew exactly what would happen, so that spoiled the experience, but alas. I will survive😅.
I love how it was so light and easy to read. So many conversations! I even like how there is the use of "my heroine", it makes it so playful. The movie made me feel so much second hand embarrassment, that I could not come to like Catherine, but in the book almost all the episodes feel natural.
About Catherine, I nicknamed her for myself tabula Rasa. She has just outgrown childhood games and got no preparation for adulthood. She goes from expecting the best, most proper from everyone, taking everything people say literally, and at face value as if she got no capacity to read the room; to placing everyone and everything she sees for this colorful imaginary situation (the gothic colorful style, mind you😊 - the more horrid the better). There is this zero experience, as if she lived in a convent untill going to Bath.Her love for Henry is so sweet and I suspect it to be the epitome of a puppy love. And as for James, he is just the male version of Catherine I think - maybe a bit more gullible.
Remember the moment C refused to go with them on a ride - the most proper behaviour even nowadays - I know I would hate it if my friend canceled an appointment with me in order to go fool around with other "friends". So this would be downright rude throughout the centuries. However James sides with Isabella the moment she whines a little. 'Boy, you dodged a bullet right there'.
So Henry... I believe this is probably my favourite male lead. He is levelheaded, but not dull, in the picture and experienced but not condescending ( although I think he likes to use condescension to make fun of those dear to him -E and C- so he teases, not bullies). He also knows his place- when to caution, but is not nosy - since he knows in the end everyone is responsible for his own actions. I love especially his conversation with C about captain Tilney's and Isabella's behaviour. He nudges and directs Catherine to realize it takes 2 to create romantic tension and that the one truly responsible to James for her actions is Isabella and not his brother - so it seems to me he is well aware of the characters of both and can easily predict what happens, and at the same time let's the events take their course. So basically, I do not feel much passionate love between Henry and Catherine, but unless there is a major disturbance in their relationship down the road, the two together would make a wonderful couple and a steady one I think. He does have good influence on her.
Now the two who made the story fenomenal - Thorp's. I think people call men like him a 'prick' and it fits. The duo make it look like a teen movie from highschool environment - he a muscle head team captain, Isabell the main cheerleader....😂 They just fit there. And Isabell herself would make it a field day for Mr. Bennett. He - would - love her! She's probably the only character in Austen novels, who could match up to Mr. Collins in ridiculousness. Maybe also the woman from Emma... Mrs. Elton. I think...
I mean, imagine these three meeting and conversing together.... THAT would be epic.
Anyway, thanks for the video. This was a bit long comment, but since I am reading and finishing the novel almost as we speak, it's all so fresh in my memory.😅
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it! And I agree, it's definitely a light read, probably the easiest of all Jane Austen's books in my opinion. Doesn't make it any less good enjoyable though!
And oh yes - the Thorpes! 😅 You're spot on with the team captain and cheerleader, they really are cut from the same cloth! It makes sense though as they're siblings. About Mr Bennett... I'm sure he would be astonished to find a sillier girl than Lydia. 😄 Even though she is quite manipulative, he would surely see right through her. It's funny to think of characters from different books meeting and what they would think of each other. And Mrs Elton, haha - I'd like to think Mr Bennett would retreat to his library rather than talking to her!
@@ArnellaHobler just finished the last page and it makes me ponder about this gothic novel theme there. The reason the novel is called Northanger Abbey, of course, is to highlight Catherine's hyperactive imagination and her fancy in horrid stories, so much that once she gets to dwell in such a historical house, she pursues every little possibility of mystery and once she fails to find out proof of general's criminal actions or a damsel in distress lock away in a dungeon somewhere, she drops it off as follies and matures quite a bit. This seems to be the end of this heroine route.
At first sight.
However, I believe that the true heroine of gothic novel(girl actually suffering due to cruel conditions and circumstances) is there, overlooked by everyone. Pretty much the whole time. And Catherine exploring the abbey, speculating and even going as far as venturing to "forbidden chambers" seems to take on the role of a hero - more masculine role, the knight I shining armor so to speak - though she fails, of course. Heroine in these times would usually withstand the situation and escape at the first opportunity, I do not see them purposefully looking for the danger for the hell of it (like Catherine does), although I did not read tha many of them, so who knows, right.
So, the real heroine almost worthy of her own gothic novel, looses her mother in childhood and is left with two older brothers and ex-trem-ly strict father. One brother is always gone, and presumably not a worthy company for a lonely younger sister, while the dear brother does dote on her as much as he can, while managing to have his own life away from the abbey( here I believe is the reason Henry is good with female fashion - neither general, nor captain Tilney would bother with something like for for Eleanor).
She is stuck in a gothic mansion (the one in the title!) and although she does have a secret "lover"(more like love interest - and isn't it awesome that at the very end, Austen made sure to point out the papers C found in the cabinet and which once confirmed held no meaning for Catherine and her fantasies of secrets were actually traces of this pretty important character never mentioned until he indirectly secures C&H marriage?)
She is prevented from marrying him due to her father's cruelty and greed. So, unless she abandons her feelings for him and finds a man her father would like right now ( not something heroine of g.n. would do, I think) she has to wait and wait and wait, until he heroically inherits his money and title and saves the day (and here is title,.... An actual nobleman of a hero.....?) - this guy is a total Deus ex Machina.
I find it intriguing, that Austen naturally did something people are relearning now in literature. She has all the archetypes there, but for each novel, she makes a different archetype the protagonist. For example, here Catherine is more like the foolish friend of the main female lead (Eleanor), in Emma - Jane there is the Mary sue type, though subdued by poverty, and if it were written from her point of view, I think Emma would stand for quite a villainess most of the time.
Anyway, just having fun twisting and turning the story for the last time before moving onto the next book🤗 no need to mind me😚
Excellent summary! I think it could be improved if you made it clear that Catherine had not read any Gothic novels before she was introduced to them by Isabella. Too many people think she has been reading them at home and arrives in Bath ready for Gothic situations.
Also, if I had been doing a summary I would have pointed out how many of the situations in the story really are the same as in the Gothic novels Catherine has been reading. They are just translated into real life.
John Thorpe really does kidnap Catherine when he "laughed, smacked his whip, encouraged his horse, made odd noises, and drove on," just like in the novels. (BTW John Thorpe has always struck me as the Regency equivalent of a used car salesman. “Curricle-hung, you see; seat, trunk, sword-case, splashing-board, lamps, silver moulding, all you see complete; the iron-work as good as new, or better.") And when Catherine interprets General Tilney's behavior as "slowly pacing the drawing-room for an hour together in silent thoughtfulness, with downcast eyes and contracted brow, she felt secure from all possibility of wronging him. It was the air and attitude of a Montoni!" She is right!
I don't knoow I think Thorpe might be worse than Wickham. At least Wickham had some charm and could have lively conversation. Thorpe can only talk about horses and carriages. He's more like a young Mr. Hurst.
Thanks for this lovely video, I think this is an Austen book I'll see myself re-visiting once in a while. The relationships between different characters is pretty accurate to nowadays, shows how much human behaviour has remained the same throughout time. also the thorpe siblings are insufferable but entertaining nonetheless 😅
So true, I've always found that fascinating about Jane Austen. Her depictions of human psychology are really spot on! Glad you enjoyed the video! ☺
This book is fine. Not the most engaging one, despite the Thorpes. Entertaining. Somebody just suggested it would be great to play around with for a young audience, make "modern" dramatisation, probably true.
A modern adaptation would be interesting to see for sure!
❤oh , my cups!