Northanger Abbey was the first of Jane Austen's novels to be completed for publication, in 1803.

However, it was not until after her death in 1817 that it was published, along with her other novel, Persuasion.

The novel is a satire of Gothic novels, which were quite popular at the time in 1798-99.

This "coming of age," story revolves around the main character, Catherine, a young and naive "heroine," who entertains her reader on her journey of self-knowledge, as she gains a better understanding of the world and those around her. Because of her experiences, reality sets in and she discovers that she is not like other women who crave for wealth or social acceptance, but instead she is a true heroine in that she is an ordinary young woman who wishes to have nothing but happiness and a genuine sense of