Northanger Abbey is Austen's first-written novel. Before final publication, it underwent several major revisions. What aspects of the novel do you imagine Austen would have altered given the fact that she had become a significant literary figure between the original writing and the original publication?

Catherine Morland is presented as a naïve girl of seventeen. Is her character believable? What aspects of her behavior are particularly convincing? Do you find her typical lack of insight into others' motivation to be humorous or frustrating? If the novel did not state her age as seventeen, what age would you guess her to be?

Isabella Thorpe first befriends Catherine and expands Catherine's social sphere. Later, Isabella ignores Catherine and, finally, attempts to manipulate her for her own reasons. Henry remarks at one point that Catherine should be glad to be rid of such a friend as...