Northanger Abbey

Setting

Bath, 1798

Main Characters

Catherine Morland: The protagonist, 17 years old and obsessed with Gothic novels.
Henry Tilney: Intelligent and good-natured parson in a small village.
Eleanor Tilney: Henry’s younger sister, she likes reading but has few friends.
General Tilney: Henry and Eleanor’s father, a widower concerned with material things.
Isabella Thorpe: Catherine’s best friend – spirited and enjoys flirting.
John Thorpe: Isabella’s brother – conceited, arrogant, talks endlessly and rarely listens.
James Morland: Catherine’s brother and fellow student of John Thorpe at Oxford.

Summary

Catherine’s wealthy neighbours invite her to go to Bath with them for the winter, where she is introduced to Henry Tilney and befriends Isabella Thorpe. When Catherine’s brother James and Isabella’s brother John arrive, Isabella immediately takes a liking to James. John tries to woo Catherine, but she is more interested in Henry. Soon Catherine befriends Eleanor Tilney, Henry’s sister.

Isabella, James and John try to stop Catherine spending time with the Tilneys, but she continues to do so. Isabella and James get engaged, and John leaves Bath with the false impression that Catherine is in love with him, though she does not realise this.

Henry’s brother, Frederick Tilney, arrives in Bath and Isabella catches his eye. Eleanor invites Catherine to visit the Tilney home, Northanger Abbey, and Catherine eagerly accepts. Before she leaves, Isabella tells her that John plans to propose but Catherine refuses. Frederick and Isabella flirt, to Catherine’s dismay. She asks Henry to convince Frederick to leave Isabella alone.

Catherine goes to stay with the Tilneys, imagining their home to be like the Gothic castles she has read about. Northanger Abbey turns out to be quite dull, but Catherine finds intrigue in the death of Henry and Eleanor’s mother years earlier, suspecting that General Tilney murdered his wife. Catherine sneaks into the mother’s old chamber and discovers nothing, but is caught by Henry who scolds her. Mortified and ashamed, Catherine stops snooping.

Catherine’s brother writes to her that his engagement has been called off, Isabella having run off with Frederick, who subsequently leaves her. Catherine visits Henry’s house at Woodston and the General hints at their marriage, then leaves on a business trip. The General then returns unexpectedly and tells Eleanor to send Catherine away.

Catherine returns to her family, where Henry later arrives and proposes to her. Henry explains that his father’s behaviour was because Isabella’s brother John Thorpe, stung at Catherine’s rejection and jealous of Henry, told the General that Catherine’s family was poor. Mortified, the General sent Catherine away. Henry and Catherine decide to wait until the General gives his consent to their marriage. Within a few months Eleanor makes a wealthy match, which makes the General happy. Once he learns that Catherine’s family is moderately wealthy, he gives his consent and the two are married.