Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey

 

As this is my favorite quote from Northanger Abbey, I really feel like Austen believed this herself. With all the books I've read from her so far, friendships and connections were very important if not vital for her. It keeps me in amazement about life for women back in the 19th century before 'Women's Rights', the idea of a women not being allowed to own property, or to work outside of the home; not being able to choose which path of life to follow, her career path, being a homemaker (wife and/or mother) or even to attempt the fragile balance of both. For women, having the right friendship and/ or connection, was the only choice in Austen's time. 

Could a man be content with a woman who was penniless, with hardly any dowry, a woman who could hardly afford to buy sugar, or is it more sensible to find a woman with the right connections and family legacy?

What I loved most about Northanger Abbey was Austen's taking the opportunity to inject some 'Gothic Romance' into her writing, as the heroine in this story has an obsession with Radcliffe's, 'Mysteries of Udolpho', which I am planning on reading for my 'Classics written by a woman', and how this obession leads our heroine on a precarious and uncertain path. 

One part I enjoyed most is how the hero, Mr. Tilney compares a Country-dance to 'an emblem of marriage', That, 'fidelity and complaisance are the pricipal duties of both'. And our dear heroine, Miss Morland, fails to see the connection, stating 'that when people marry, they can never part. People that dance, only stand opposite each other in a long room for half an hour'. (Austen 67) To this, Mr. Tilney points out that MEN have the advantage of choice, and WOMEN the power of refusal. This part of the story is a wonderful exchange of points of view on the duties of both, and how our hero Mr. Tilney shows courage and further endures Miss Morland to him. This connection and actual attachment are the beginnings of the beautiful and heart wrenching romance of this novel. 

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Northanger Abbey' as much as her other novels, 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Emma' and 'Pride and Prejudice', in the way she connects friendships and relationships, the life of romance at the time, and the importance of dancing.

 This novel satisfies A 19^thCentury classic for the Back to the Classics 2021 Challenge.

Back to the Classics 2021

 

My first time doing this! Love this time of year to get cozy with a good book and a cuppa hot tea!

It's hard for me to believe that 2021 is here. I know I'm not the only one ready for a fresh start. Even, though 2020 was maddening, chaotic and stressful; not to mention over whelming, I definitely learned a lot of things. A lot of things got canceled, but with all the new time I had, what did I do, I picked up a book, and managed to finish two! Hoping this year will be full of wonder and adventures in reading! The first book, I decided on Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey'. I hadn't heard of this classic. I've read 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility', and 'Emma', so I am looking forward to stepping into another romantic Victorian novel. 

1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899- Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey'

2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1971 and posthumously published.

3. A classic by a woman author.

4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer. 

5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author.

6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read.

7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author -- a new book by an author whose works you have already read. 

8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. The animal can be real or metaphorical. (i.e., To Kill a Mockingbird).

9. A children's classic. 

10. A humorous or satirical classic.

11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction). It can be a travelogue or a classic in which the main character travels or has an adventure. 

12. A classic play. Plays will only count in this category.

 Back to the Classics 2021 Challenge.