THE NOVEL
THE ADAPTATION(S)
NORTHANGER ABBEY PRODUCTS
THE NORTHANGER ABBEY BOARD AT PEMBERLEY
THE NOVEL
Maybe the first thing to remember is which characters use this word--in the entire Austen canon, it is used by Isabella Thorpe, John Thorpe, and Tom Bertram. These are characters who believe themselves to be at the height of "cooldom"--and it’s also clear that Austen believes them to be less than reasonable people. The term was very much slang. When the Thorpes use it, they are often inflating their own discernment or judgment
"Quiz" can be a verb or a noun.
Isabella's, "Where did you get that quiz of a hat?" implies that the hat is an oddity.
A person can be a quiz--as in someone whom you might tease. When you call someone a quiz, you're saying that you see him or her as being somewhat strange. Isabella uses it to describe men she believes are ridiculous in some way or other.
The act of quizzing is the act of teasing.
John Thorpe uses it in both senses when he says to Catherine, "…let us walk about and quiz people. Come along with me, and I will show you the four greatest quizzers in the room; my two younger sisters and their partners. … at last he walked off to quiz his sisters by himself." He is teasing people,and he says his sisters and their partners are odd.
Built in 1704 over the ancient Roman baths, the Pump Room was originally a place for invalids to come and drink the waters from a covered pump. During Jane Austen's time, it had become a place to socialize. This link to Bath 360 gives you some details about Bath and it's history.
IS THE MORLAND FAMILY REALLY POOR?
Not poor. They have 10 children, and they are not nearly as rich as the Tilneys or the Allens. Each child will inherit comparitively little, but each will get something. Catherine’s dowry is £3,000, which would bring in about £150 each year. That seems like very little, but consider that Isabella Thorpe has no dowry at all, that the Bennet daughters have only £1,000 each, and that "Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only £7,000" was able to marry a Baronet.
WHAT'S WITH THE TILNEY WORSHIP?
We aren’t the only ones. Nor are we the most vehement. Visit Mags’ Cult of Da Man site.
What many of us feel distinguishes Henry is that he appreciates Catherine's best qualities, which he describes as being "Open, candid, artless, guileless, with affections strong but simple, forming no pretensions, and knowing no disguise." Is not it admirable to see the worth of such a person?
While Austen's other heros are admirable people in their own ways, and they'd be able to appreciate Catherine for these qualities, none of them would be terribly likely to fall in love with her. Henry gives his heart to Catherine without having to know her for years, without having to hesitate over how he feels. He just does it. He is willing to risk his future happiness on those traits being the most important in a loved one.
Henry sometimes appears rash in his proposal to Catherine, and sometimes he appears to have fallen in love with Catherine because he is flattered by her worship. But it’s just a plausible to believe that he’s more than half in love with her from the moment when he finds her in the hallway after she's sneaked into his mother's room--and it keeps growing. When he finds out that his father has treated her very, very badly, he's furious. If he didn't love her, he wouldn't be nearly so outraged. And his outrage makes him realize that he loves her, full stop.
The Northanger Canon is the list of "horrid books" which Catherine Morland and Isabella Thorpe plan to read. Check out the list and book synopses. They are indeed "horrid".
HAVE ANY SEQUELS TO NORTHANGER ABBEY BEEN PUBLISHED?
There have been a couple. You will find information and reviews at Linda's Sequels Page. There are a few Northanger Abbey stories written by Pemberley citizens which may be found at Bits of Ivory.
NORTHANGER ABBEY PRODUCTS
Northanger AbbeyTHE ADAPTATIONNorthanger Abbey Movies: NA1 | NA2
Dance music from NA2 (on Vol. 1 of The Pride & Prejudice Collection)
The Pemberley Shoppe: Northanger Abbey products at the Pemberley Shoppe
The film’s worth is a matter of opinion, but less controversial than you might guess in advance of seeing it.
Here is Laraine’s (somewhat) considered opinion:
The screechy Gothic music is appallingly unlistenable, and everything to do with the Marquessa (or whatever she's called) was just a HUGE mistake. Most of the people with whom I watch this film ask me, "Was that a man in drag?". My usual reply is that a drag queen would have made sure s/he looked better. The cartwheeling is also just, well, such a bad idea it plain scares me.
The sort-of-sexual fantasies that Catherine has are out of character. Fantasizing is not out of character, but Catherine is far too innocent a young soul for this interpretation.
The very best casting in the movie is Googie Withers as Mrs. Allen. I love this Isabella too--and this Eleanor. I think Catherine looks great for the part but spends too much time looking like a deer caught in the headlights--I'd bet she could have done better with better direction. Peter Firth is a very good actor, but the Henry who lives in my head is more young looking and adorable.
Still, it is the only one we have (so far!). We watch it for the good bits. For info on the much awaited Davies adaptation, visit Laura Diann's NA2 site.
THE BOARD
Your Northanger Board Host is: Carol
