--- title: Northanger Abbey Metadescription: Chapter by chapter summaries of what happens in all thirty-one, each one linking straight to the full text. author: Jane Austen chapters: 31 canonical: https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey --- Token estimate: ~2,800 # Northanger Abbey Jane Austen - [Chapter One](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-01) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-01.md)) - Catherine Morland grows up plain and unheroic in Fullerton, and Mrs. Allen invites her to Bath while Mr. Allen treats his gout. - [Chapter Two](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-02) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-02.md)) - Catherine Morland travels to Bath with the Allens and knows nobody at the Upper Rooms ball, so she gets no partner, but two young men call her pretty. - [Chapter Three](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-03) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-03.md)) - Catherine Morland dances with Mr. Tilney at the Lower Rooms in Bath, where he teases her about her journal and charms Mrs. Allen with talk of muslin. - [Chapter Four](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-04) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-04.md)) - Mr. Tilney fails to appear at the Bath pump room, and Mrs. Allen meets her old schoolfellow Mrs. Thorpe, whose daughter Isabella befriends Catherine. - [Chapter Five](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-05) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-05.md)) - Catherine looks for Mr. Tilney all over Bath and concludes he has left, while she and Isabella Thorpe become inseparable and read novels together. - [Chapter Six](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-06) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-06.md)) - Isabella Thorpe lists horrid novels for Catherine Morland in the Bath pump room, teases her about Mr. Tilney, then leads her after two young men. - [Chapter Seven](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-07) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-07.md)) - Catherine and Isabella meet James Morland and John Thorpe in Bath, and John boasts of his gig, scorns novels, and engages Catherine for a dance. - [Chapter Eight](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-08) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-08.md)) - At the Upper Rooms, Catherine refuses Mr. Tilney a dance because she is engaged to John Thorpe, and Mrs. Hughes introduces her to Miss Tilney. - [Chapter Nine](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-09) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-09.md)) - Catherine Morland drives to Claverton Down with John Thorpe, decides he is disagreeable, and learns from Mrs. Allen that she missed the Tilneys. - [Chapter Ten](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-10) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-10.md)) - Catherine Morland befriends Miss Tilney in the pump room, dodges John Thorpe at the ball to dance with Mr. Tilney, and arranges a country walk. - [Chapter Eleven](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-11) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-11.md)) - John Thorpe lies that he saw the Tilneys driving out, so Catherine misses their walk for Blaize Castle, and Morland turns the party back at Keynsham. - [Chapter Twelve](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-12) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-12.md)) - Catherine is turned away from Miss Tilney's door in Milsom Street, and at the theatre Henry Tilney explains that General Tilney ordered the refusal. - [Chapter Thirteen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-13) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-13.md)) - Catherine refuses the Clifton scheme, and after John Thorpe falsely cancels her walk with Miss Tilney, she runs to Milsom Street and sets it right. - [Chapter Fourteen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-14) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-14.md)) - Catherine walks round Beechen Cliff with Henry and Eleanor Tilney, who teach her the picturesque, and Anne Thorpe says the Clifton party went ahead. - [Chapter Fifteen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-15) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-15.md)) - Isabella Thorpe tells Catherine she is engaged to James Morland, the Morlands consent by letter, and John Thorpe hints at marrying Catherine. - [Chapter Sixteen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-16) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-16.md)) - Catherine's visit to Milsom Street disappoints her, Captain Tilney coaxes Isabella into dancing, and James Morland is promised a living. - [Chapter Seventeen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-17) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-17.md)) - General Tilney invites Catherine Morland to visit Eleanor at Northanger Abbey, and her parents send their consent by return of post. - [Chapter Eighteen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-18) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-18.md)) - Isabella tells Catherine that John Thorpe loves her, Catherine refuses him, and Captain Tilney arrives to flirt with Isabella in Bath. - [Chapter Nineteen](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-19) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-19.md)) - Catherine Morland sees Isabella encourage Captain Tilney and asks Henry Tilney to send him from Bath, but Henry refuses and calms her fears for James. - [Chapter Twenty](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-20) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-20.md)) - Catherine Morland leaves the Allens for Northanger Abbey, where Henry Tilney teases her with a Gothic tale on the drive and the abbey proves modern. - [Chapter Twenty-One](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-21) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-21.md)) - Catherine finds only a counterpane in the old chest at Northanger Abbey, then discovers a manuscript in a cabinet as her candle goes out. - [Chapter Twenty-Two](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-22) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-22.md)) - Catherine finds the manuscript is only laundry bills, and after Eleanor recalls her late mother, she concludes General Tilney was cruel to his wife. - [Chapter Twenty-Three](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-23) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-23.md)) - General Tilney shows Catherine over Northanger Abbey but bars his late wife's room, and Catherine concludes he has imprisoned Mrs. Tilney alive. - [Chapter Twenty-Four](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-24) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-24.md)) - Catherine searches Mrs. Tilney's room at Northanger alone and finds it ordinary, and Henry Tilney tells her his mother died of a bilious fever. - [Chapter Twenty-Five](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-25) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-25.md)) - Catherine abandons her Gothic fancies at Northanger, and a letter from James reveals that Isabella has broken their engagement for Captain Tilney. - [Chapter Twenty-Six](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-26) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-26.md)) - General Tilney takes Catherine and Eleanor to Henry's parsonage at Woodston, and hints that the unfurnished drawing room awaits a lady's taste. - [Chapter Twenty-Seven](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-27) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-27.md)) - Isabella Thorpe writes asking Catherine to win James back, and Catherine refuses after Henry confirms Frederick never cared for Isabella. - [Chapter Twenty-Eight](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-28) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-28.md)) - General Tilney returns to Northanger and orders Catherine out, and Eleanor breaks the news and lends her money for the journey home to Fullerton. - [Chapter Twenty-Nine](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-29) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-29.md)) - Catherine travels eleven hours alone to Fullerton, where the Morlands condemn General Tilney, and she writes to Eleanor enclosing the borrowed money. - [Chapter Thirty](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-30) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-30.md)) - Henry Tilney comes to Fullerton and proposes to Catherine, explaining that John Thorpe's lies about her fortune turned General Tilney against her. - [Chapter Thirty-One](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-31) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/northanger-abbey/chapter-31.md)) - Eleanor Tilney marries a viscount, which softens General Tilney into consenting, and Henry and Catherine marry within a year of meeting. --- ## Forthcoming **The Rise of Lucia** by Dan Edwards The nineteen-year-old Emmeline Smith, before she became the formidable Lucia. A prequel to E.F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia series. [Read an extract](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/mapp-and-lucia-prequel/chapter-01) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/books/mapp-and-lucia-prequel/chapter-01.md)) ## Articles - [Writing advice from Jane Austen's teacher](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/articles/writing-advice-from-jane-austens-teacher) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/articles/writing-advice-from-jane-austens-teacher.md)) - Hugh Blair wrote the composition textbook Jane Austen's generation learned from. His rules for clear, unaffected prose read like a modern style guide. - [The sex scenes from Fanny Hill](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/articles/fanny-hill-sex-scenes) ([Markdown](https://fourhandspress.co.uk/articles/fanny-hill-sex-scenes.md)) - The eleven substantial sex scenes from Fanny Hill (1748), verbatim and in order. Explicit throughout, but Cleland never uses a coarse word. 14,000 words.