Why is Northanger Abbey Always Ignored?

So this year marks the 200th anniversary of the dual publication of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. While Persuasion‘s popularity has increased in recent years, although no where near Pride and Prejudice or Emma; Northanger Abbey is always forgotten or shelved.

Why? Why do they treat you this way?

Even when it was first purchased they wouldn’t publish it, and unlike Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey took thirteen years to finally be published.

I know!!!!

Look this is how the book begins:

ADVERTISEMENT BY THE AUTHORESS, TO NORTHANGER ABBEY

THIS little work was finished in the year 1803, and intended for immediate publication. It was disposed of to a bookseller, it was even advertised, and why the business proceeded no farther, the author has never been able to learn. That any bookseller should think it worth-while to purchase when he did not think it worth-while to publish seems extraordinary. But with this, neither the author not the public have any other concern than as some observation is necessary upon those parts of the work which thirteen years have made comparatively obsolete. The public are entreated to bear in mind that thirteen years have passed since it was finished, many more since it was begun, and that during that period, places, manners, books, and opinions have undergone considerable changes.

How awful that must have been for Jane. So excited her book was published and waiting for it to come out…

Only for it to never do.

You know this is the first book she ever had ready for publication.

Like a twist of a knife

It was later bought back by her brother Henry, with Jane revising it and here is where we get the wit of Jane. Watch out for that pen of hers.

I love how she said she “disposed” of the book as that is how she felt what the bookseller did. And she just throws him under the bus-questioning his intelligence and business acumen. Woo-hoo, don’t mess with her.