Jane Austen Book Club: Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid

Welcome to our Truth Universally Acknowledged Book Club: here's your chance to reread your favourite Jane Austen books in the company of like-minded readers. Even better, you can explore the perceptiveness and skill of her writing for the first time.

Why not join Ros and Sue as we immerse ourselves month by month in the delights of Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Sanditon and Lady Susan. We'll also read other authors who have been inspired by Jane's work to create their own versions of her stories: Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo, The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner and Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley.

And if you have any further suggestions for Austen-themed books, do share them with us.

Please bring along £1 (or £12 for the year) as a contribution to Meetup fees - this £1 is only payable by non-IVC fully-paid members (and can be reclaimed if you decide to join the CambsIVC membership group).

Reading choice for Tuesday 14th July:
Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey For Cat Morland, life being home-schooled in Dorset is unendurably ordinary. To cope, she devours as many novels as possible, especially anything supernatural. At last, she's given the chance of reprieve: an invite to the Edinburgh Festival from some wealthy neighbours. Little does she know that it will throw her in the way of a mysterious young man, Henry Tilney; a like-minded friend, Isabella Thorpe; and her odious brother, who threatens to ruin Cat’s chances of adventure.

Read so far:
Sense and Sensibility (published 1811)
Sense & Sensibility - Joanna Trollope (published 2013)
Miss Austen - Gill Hornby (published 2020)
Pride and Prejudice (published 1813)
The Other Bennet Sister - Janice Hadlow (published 2018)
Longbourn - Jo Baker (published 2013)
Death Comes to Pemberley - P D James (published 2011)
Mansfield Park (published 1814)
Godmersham Park - Gill Hornby (published 2022)
Emma (published 1815)
Emma - Alexander McCall Smith (published 2014)
Miss Austen Investigates - Jessica Bull (published 2024)
Northanger Abbey (published 1817)