The plot of "
Northanger Abbey is about the coming of age of a young woman, Catherine Morland. It is divided into two sections.
In Book 1, the Allens are family friends of the Morlands. They invite
Catherine Morland to Bath, a resort for the wealthy British society. Book 2 begins with the arrival of Henry's older brother, Captain Frederick Tilney.
Young Catherine, aged 17, is somewhat naïve. Having lived a sheltered life, she looks forward to being in Bath. There, she is introduced to a young clergyman, Henry Tilney. She likes him first instance but does not see him again. Mrs Allen meets an old friend, Mrs Thorpe. She has three daughters, including Isabella, chatty and fond of gossip. Soon Catherine and Isabella become best friends.
Catherine's brother, James, arrives with John, Isabella's brother. The two are friends at Oxford University. Isabella flirts with James and soon enough, are in love. John tries to woo Catherine, asking her to be his dance partner at a ball. Catherine sees Henry again at the ball, and is more interested with him that with John, whose boasting and arrogance put off Catherine.
Catherine becomes friends with Henry's sister, Eleanor, who detects that Catherine has feelings for Henry. Soon enough, James and Isabella are engaged. John, who is soon to leave Bath for several weeks does so with a false impression that Catherine is in love with him.
Books 2 begins with the arrival of Captain Frederick Tilney, Henry's older brother. Discovering that Frederick has more money than James, Isabella starts flirting with Frederick, who also flirts with her. Eleanor invites Catherine to visit their Tilney home in
Northanger Abbey. She is delighted to know that she'll be seeing more of Henry and to visit a real Abbey. But before she leaves, Isabella tells Catherine that John is planning to propose to her. Catherine tells Isabella to apologize to John because she's not in love with him.
On the way to Northanger Abbey, Catherine tells Henry how she imagines the Abbey to be like and compares it to the Gothic novels' haunted ruins that she loves to read. The Abbey turns out to be dull, but because of Catherine's extended imagination. She starts entertaining all kinds of frightening scenarios about the place. Henry guesses her thoughts and scolds her about her wild imaginations. She is embarrassed and resumes her good behaviour.
Catherine gets a letter from her brother James that his engagement to Isabella has been called off. Later, she receives another letter, this time from Isabella, saying that Frederick has left her too. General Tilney, father of Henry, Eleanor and Frederick, leaves on a business trip. Unexpectedly, he returns only to tell Eleanor to send Catherine away in Fullerton the following day. Although her family is irritated by the rudeness of the General, they are glad to have Catherine back home.
One day soon, Catherine is surprised with the arrival of Henry in Fullerton. He also proposes to Catherine and explains that his father's behaviour was due to John Thorpe, who told the General that Catherine comes from a wealthy family, but when he was jilted by Catherine, he reversed his statement to the General saying that the Morland family was poor. This mistaken information worried the General that is why he asked Catherine to be sent away. Henry and Catherine decide to wait until the General gives his consent to their marriage. Within a few months, Eleanor marries a wealthy and prominent man. Finding out the sensible truth, the General gives his blessings for Henry and Catherine to marry.