As has happened with many of history’s greatest writers, Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) did not earn the credit she was due until well after her death. Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, has earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature over the last 150 years.

Austen’s romantic fiction was an interesting genre that belied the fact her writing was laden with realism and a scathing critique on society and the role women played in it during her life. Northanger Abbey was the first of Austen's novels to be completed for publication, originally titled Susan. Northanger Abbey is the first two volumes of a four-volume set with Persuasion.

Northanger Abbey is the story of 17 year old Gothic novel aficionado Catherine Morland and family friends Mr. and Mrs. Allen, and their trip to Bath, England. Catherine meets her friends such as Isabella Thorpe, and goes to balls, eventually being pursued by John Thorpe while hse’s interested in Henry Tilney.

This edition of Northanger Abbey is specially formatted with a Table of Contents, an original introduction, and dozens of images of Austen and the novel’s characters.