Northanger Abbey

Austen’s satire of gothic novels was the first to be completed for publication, but wasn’t published until after her death in 1817.  It is the coming of age story of tomboy and “heroine in training” Catherine Morland, lover of gothic novels.  Northanger Abbey is notable in that it treats its characters as flawed, well-rounded individuals, not as perfect heroes, heroines and villains as was the prevailing style of the era.