Northanger Abbey and Jane Austen

The edition of Northanger Abbey that I am reading from gives about three different "About the Author"s along with the novel. The one from the publisher I found to be the most helpful in my research of Austen's life. Not all of her novels were published during her life; Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published posthumously with help from her brother, Henry.

Though Northanger Abbey was one of the last published works from Austen, it was actually the first completed story she sent to be published. She sold the manuscript to a firm in London, Benjamin Crosby and Co., for ten pounds; the company advertised for the publication of the novel, but never published it. Austen wrote a "tough" letter to the firm six years later, under a psuedonym, inquiring why the novel 'Susan' had not been published and offering another copy, if the original had been lost. She also threatened to publish the story with another firm. To that the firm responded by stating they would take legal action against her; then offering to sell the novel back for the same price it was bought.

What caught my attention is that the titles we know and love were not the original ones sent to publishers. Pride and Prejudice was originally entitled 'First Impressions,' Sense and Sensibility was 'Elinor and Marianne,' 'Susan' became the novel we are reading, Northanger Abbey. Austen also had a few unfinished pieces of work that she dappled with while publishing all her classics, one of which being The Waltons.

Northanger Abbey was published as four different volumes including Persuasion, thus the two volumes of Northanger Abbey and two volumes of Persuasion. There is a lovely "Biographical Notice of the Author" at the begining of our novel, it gives her life story based on those who actually know her.