Northanger Abbey Review

Northanger Abbey

Published: December 1817

Author: Jane Austen

Genres: Classic, Drama, Fiction, Historical, Literature, Regency, Romance, Victorian

Check the summary of this book here:

Northanger Abbey Summary

The Review:

The values required for marriage, the importance of fiction in a well-made life, the narrative's consistency despite the shift in a scene from Bath to the Abbey, and much more can all be found in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. On these and other themes, many volumes of commentary have already been published. I just realized that Austen is such a superb artist that the reader of Northanger Abbey misses the intricate framework that underpins the story.

I think it's just as wonderful, if not slightly better, than Jane Austen's other novel, Emma. I almost laughed out loud numerous times while reading this book. The dialogue and internal monologue are both hilarious. I really liked the tension between the protagonist and some of the Bath buddies she meets. Not everyone is good, and I enjoy having mixed and flawed characters in a story while reading. There's also a mystery that begins around halfway through the book and is entertaining to read about. The narrative is a touch sluggish and heavily focused on the characters, but that is true of any Austen work.

The title of this work, Northanger Abbey, is actually the address of a character in this novel who adores reading gothic romances. Even if I am not a fan of this genre, I can read these novels without growing bored since I feel that each form of writing may teach me something new. It is a must if you are a student learning English. I'm curious how many current novels will still be in print in over a century.

It is her first work, although it was released after all of her other novels had been published due to a publisher who had already paid her but never published this novel and had to be sued. That is why this novel is apart from her other works.

And that is why for many readers, including Jane Austen devotees, Northanger Abbey appears to be a sloppy attempt to emulate Jane Austen's writing style at times. The book develops the funny eccentric characters that Austen is renowned for in the first half of the work, but the main character's naiveté and the author's excessive reliance on sudden fortunes earned, as well as the significance given to wealth, make the plot less than credible. Nonetheless, it is a tale that will ignite the hopes of young women who aspire to find happiness in marriage.

In this novel, you are going to find some things a lot like there will be a lot of discussion among ladies about which male they want. Alternatively, the guys flirted with the ladies. A number of dances were performed. And essentially what it was like in that era, as well as every other era.

Final Thoughts:

The characters are well depicted, instantly recognizable as individuals you undoubtedly know, and you are sucked in, as with all of her stories. It's not merely a period romance; for one thing, Austen's time was not "period," but "current." Austen was such a wonderful observer and narrator of human behavior that this book is as important today as it was back then. 

Just imagine in the 1800s, a young man bragging about his horse's improbable speed would be bragging about his car's 0-60 acceleration in these days. Alternatively, a young lady who reads books and then assumes that is how reality is, can become a woman who now holds her phone and believes what she sees "on Google" is accurate, making similar mistakes of judgment.

Except for a few character faults and some minor flaws that can be made by a new author, it was an enjoyable read, and there are times when the writing style is excellent. So, if you enjoy classics, I suggest this book, but it is no match for Pride and Prejudice.

Synopsis:

“Unabridged value reproduction of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen is a must-have collectable for every bookshelf. This short romance takes the reader on a lovely escape to middle-class life in nineteenth-century Bath, England.

This book is the first Jane Austen sold to a publisher, but it was published after her death. It’s the most comic, with reference to many books of her time, written in a style that would entertain her own family if read by the fireside.

Will Catherine Morland fall head over heels for Henry Tilney? Will Henry’s father get in the way or Catherine be scared of Abbey?

Find out in this affordably printed volume, written by one of the top selling authors of all time.”

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Rating: 85/100

Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

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The Mysteries of Udolpho Review

The Mysteries of Udolpho

Published: 8, May 1794

Author: Ann Ward Radcliffe

Genres: Adventure, Classic, Education, Fiction, Gothic, History, Horror, Literary, Literature, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural

Check the summary of this book here:

The Mysteries of Udolpho Summary

The Review:

Ann Ward Radcliffe's novel The Mysteries of Udolpho is admired for its simple yet universal ideas of true love, commitment, and personal integrity. It's a gothic romance at its core, with adventure and mystery thrown in for good measure. I also liked how the novel stayed grounded in reality by revealing that the ostensibly supernatural events were actually caused by normal causes.

Ann Ward Radcliffe, in my opinion, spent much too much time describing the landscape of a country she had never been to. Reading endless descriptions of plants and mountain ranges grew tedious shortly. It was as if I were reading a tour book written in both French and Italian. However, some authors do so as if they were painting with words, and not everyone can comprehend or appreciate a painting.

So, in the end, it all depends on the reader, since I appreciate it sometimes and become bored or angry at the author other times, because not all authors can do it well, and not all tales require a painted environment.

After swimming through a sea of tears shed by theatrical characters and a narrative saturated in excessive eloquence, the reader will discover a delightful story beneath.

The characters were getting on my nerves. The characters' pathetic, emotional neediness got on my nerves a lot. The villain was the only one who seemed to have any sense. He may have been a despicable human being, but at least he wasn't breaking into tears or swooning over a chair every five minutes. However, I feel that we can only move on with the story if all or at least some of the characters are defective.

Some things were not as great as they may have seemed when it was first published, and it may not be as amazing for many readers who are used to modernized fast-paced versions of this and other classics today but believe me when I say that all modern "Goth" novels are based on this and other classics like this one.

The Gothic portion of the novel makes up roughly above a quarter of the book, with the rest consisting of descriptions of the places and structures where the action takes place, as well as inane interior monologues. The protagonist is constantly fainting out and losing her courage. I realize that was a different era, but it irritated me much. Worst of all, the author constantly pauses the action to recite poetry written by the heroine. It may bore some readers as I mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Starting in Gascony and traveling to Languedoc before crossing the Alps from France to Italy and spending time in Venice, the narrative is exceedingly convoluted. The Gothic horror section begins at the Apennine castle of Udolpho and continues in a Languedoc château and monastery.

Prepare yourself for tales of inexplicable deaths, eerie music, phantom figures at midnight, and the enigma behind the black veil! The explanations take place in France, after a Shakespearean number of blunders when the heroine and hero are together. The plot is unbelievable, yet it is thrilling for its time.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen has made this novel quite widely known, despite the fact that many people haven't read it. Jane Austen was influenced by Ann Ward Radcliffe, thus if you appreciate Jane Austen, you must read this novella. If you're reading this for the first time, be warned that it's a messy affair that, in today's world, would very surely be chopped down to approximately half of what it is, albeit taking something away from it, maybe part of the charm.

Final Thoughts:

I've always wanted to read this book since it's a classic and I believed it could be related to Mathew Lewis' The Monk and Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. It is unrelated to these novels, yet it may be included in the same category as one of the major classics that affected a large number of books and helped a genre develop into what it is today. It had some poetry and a lot of details that, as I previously stated, were sometimes too long. However, I absolutely loved reading this book! There's a lot of suspense and mystery in this book.

If you ignore the lengthy word paints and characters sobbing, Ann Ward Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho is a fantastic engaging mystery. For me, it was a lot of joy. The story was great, and I was able to finish the book in seven days, despite the fact that many readers believe it is a difficult book to read. I really liked the poetry interspersed throughout the chapters since it is quite good. I would suggest this book to people who appreciate reading.

I couldn't give it more points since I know it would be cheating with those who trust my ratings and follow my recommendations. However, for those who enjoy reading classics, it is still a worthwhile read.

Synopsis:

“This was the most popular novel of Radcliffe's time; Radcliffe's portrayal of her heroine's inner life raised the Gothic romance to a new level. The atmosphere of fear and the gripping plot continue to thrill today.

This is the story of the orphaned Emily St Aubert, who finds herself separated from the man she loves and confined within the Castle of Udolpho by her aunt's new husband Montoni. Here she must cope with an unwanted suitor, Montoni's threats, and the wild imaginings and terrors which threaten to overwhelm her.”

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Rating: 80/100

Recommended: 90/100 Yes.

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The Castle of Otranto Review

The Castle of Otranto

Published: 1764

Author: Horace Walpole

Genres: Classic, Fiction, Fiction, Gothic, History, Horror, Literary, Literature, Occult, Supernatural

Check the summary of this book here:

The Castle of Otranto Summary

The Review:

Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto is said to be the original horror story that inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. It terrified the poor British guys so much that they couldn't sleep. I'm not sure about that, but I am certain that Horace Walpole understood the power of a good scary narrative to affect young Men. Thomas Grey, a friend of Walpole's, wrote to him, saying that his gothic horror novel had terrified the Cambridge students so terribly that "some of them cried a little, and all in general afraid to go to bed at nights." It was the year 1765.

The author claims to have seen a gigantic armored glove, a stairway, a gallery, and a castle in a dream. As a result, he was inspired to write this narrative, which he claims he discovered and translated from the original Italian, and which is attributed to a fictional character named "William Marshal" The narrative takes place between 1095 AD and 1243 AD, during the first and second Crusades, while the novel takes place in the 1500s. The first book was published in 1764 and was written in English.

This is a tale featuring a feisty priest, a fleeing Princess, a dying hermit with God on his side, chases in burial vaults, Crusaders, huge men with swords, hidden tunnels, liberated slaves, long-lost parents, lost heirs, misidentification, murder, prophecies, saints, and the colossal killing armor It reminds me a touch of Mathew Lewis's The Monk, but that one came out a long time after this one.

A fascinating book, especially if you're interested in gothic novels, which were the first of the literary genre's prominence, with authors like Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Frankenstein), Bram Stoker (Dracula), and Edgar Allan Poe (The Masque of the Red Death) to mention a few.

By today's standards, this is mild, but I can imagine what it was like hundreds of years ago. It was a tremendous hit in its day, despite the fact that it was written more satirically than seriously. Some of us may no longer be frightened by the substance of this book in these times, but it may still be terrifying to someone who has never read or seen horror before.

It is neither epic fantasy nor great literature, but it is a work of its time and in some ways before its time, fundamental in certain respects. The narrative is set in a fictional Italy - admittedly an early "alternative reality" - and is a morality drama with strange - dreamy - components. Recommended not so much for pure amusement as for providing the reader with a broader grasp of western fantasy, particularly as it has evolved in the English language over the previous two centuries. Some might give it a four or five-star rating, while others who aren't ready for it will only give it a one or two. As a result, it will be a worthwhile read for fans of the period, the genre, or both.

It's an enjoyable read, but you might need to get used to the writing style. The story's language, tempo, and structure will tire many modern readers because it was first published in 1764. The plot, whatever it is, is extremely contrived and should be read with a sense of amusement. The characters frequently come out as exaggerated. But that's part of the allure, and as I read, I imagined a film with rich costumes, long dark hallways, and mist-shrouded courtyards. It has all of the gothic narrative motifs long before they became clichéd. This is compulsory reading for anybody interested in the history of the Gothic style. The book is rather brief and easy to read.

Final Thoughts:

This book changed the course of history. Medieval fantasy, gothic horror, and a variety of other subjects were largely influenced by this work, and we continue to see and read material that is, in some way, a descendant of this masterpiece.

Once more I must talk about the things a reader is going to read about in this novel. The prophesy, knights and castles, the Crusades, the ardent tyrant, the lost heir, the swooning damsels in distress, the dying hermit, the dead knight coming to rescue his daughter, AND massive armor that kills people and much more that may drive a reader insane but still make them want to keep reading is all here to be read again and again.

Many readers may notice the author's writing style is basic, although this isn't always a bad thing. At the very least, it indicates how he was aiming to make his work more accessible by making it available to others who were less educated. I strongly advise all Goth aficionados to read it so they may experience the granddaddy of gothic books.

Synopsis:

“The Castle of Otranto (1764) is the first supernatural & one of the most influential works of Gothic fiction, first published in 1764.

On the day of his wedding, Conrad, heir to the house of Otranto, is killed in mysterious circumstances. His calculating father Manfred fears that his dynasty will now come to an end and determines to marry his son's bride himself - despite the fact he is already married. But a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor, who usurped the lawful Prince of Otranto, begins to unfold.”

Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

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Rating: 90/100

Recommended: 95/100 Yes.

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