Northanger Abbey - chapter 01

Written when Jane Austen was still young and published posthumously in 1818, "Northanger Abbey" is undoubtedly one of the most elaborate novels of the time – a satirical comedy that addresses human issues in a subtle way, set against the backdrop of the city of Bath. The plot revolves around Catherine Morland, who leaves her quiet and sometimes boring life in rural England to spend a season in the bustling and sophisticated Bath of the late 18th century. Catherine is a naive young woman, full of energy and a voracious reader of gothic novels. The book is a kind of parody of these novels, especially those written by Ann Radcliffe. Jane Austen creates an eloquent contrast between reality and imagination, between a quiet life and the sinister and exciting situations that characters in a novel can experience.