Our next meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2009 at 6 p.m. at Title Wave Books in Anchorage. This month's book, in celebration of Halloween and all things dark and spooky, is "Northanger Abbey."The book follows seventeen year old Gothic novel aficionado Catherine Morland and family friends Mr. and Mrs. Allen as they visit Bath, England. Catherine is in Bath for the first time, and is excited to spend her time visiting newly-made friends, such as Isabella Thorpe, and going to balls.
Catherine finds herself pursued by Isabella's brother, the rather rough-mannered dandy John Thorpe, and by her real love interest, Henry Tilney. She also becomes friends with Eleanor Tilney, Henry's younger sister. Henry captivates her with his view on novels and his knowledge of history and the world. General Tilney (Henry and Eleanor's father) invites Catherine to visit their estate, Northanger Abbey, which, from her reading of Ann Radcliffe's gothic novel The Mysteries of Udolpho, she expects to be dark, ancient and full of Gothic horrors and fantastical mystery.
You can find a free online version here.
Hope to see you at the next meeting...we're going to feature special era-appropriate door prizes and holiday (Halloween?) discussions as it relates to Jane Austen.
