Catherine Morland has, being one of ten children to a modest country clergyman, never had much to do with finer society and entertains herself mostly with reading Gothic novels. When she is invited by friends of the family to experience a season in Bath, she is quickly in over her head, entangled in a web of friendship and romance. She can't help but see her surroundings through the lens of her beloved novels, which doesn't prove to be the most reliable of world views. In Northanger Abbey, Austen's satire shines as she playfully explores the conventions of the Gothic genre and the foibles of her characters. It is a delightful blend of romance, wit, and social commentary. JANE AUSTEN [1775–1817] was an English author. Her novels are set in the English nobility, often portrayed with sharp irony. Social rules and codes are often barriers to finding happiness, especially for the women her novels center around. Austen is one of the most beloved authors of all time and her works are constantly being adapted for film, television and the stage.