Introduction
Catherine Morland has been invited for a walk near Bath by Eleanor Tilney and her brother, the Revd Henry Tilney. Henry finds Catherine’s artless simplicity irresistible, but cannot help teasing her; and after she praises her favourite novel, ‘The Mysteries of Udolpho’, with a tame adjective, Henry is merciless.
“BUT now really, do not you think Udolpho the nicest book in the world?”*
“The nicest — by which I suppose you mean the neatest. That must depend upon the binding.”
“Henry,” said Miss Tilney, “you are very impertinent. Miss Morland, he is treating you exactly as he does his sister. He is forever finding fault with me, for some incorrectness of language, and now he is taking the same liberty with you. The word ‘nicest,’ as you used it, did not suit him; and you had better change it as soon as you can, or we shall be overpowered with Johnson and Blair all the rest of the way.”*
“I am sure,” cried Catherine, “I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?”
‘The Mysteries of Udolpho’ by Ann Radcliffe, published in 1794. The novel is parodied throughout Austen’s story, though the target of Austen’s gentle wit is not Radcliffe’s Gothic thriller itself, but its army of breathless fans. As it happened, Austen and Radcliffe shared the same publisher, Crosby & Co., which may or may not explain why they bought her manuscript in 1803 but never released it. Crosby sold it back to the Austens in 1816, and ‘Northanger Abbey’ was published by John Murray, with revisions made by Jane, in 1818. For a brief scene from ‘Udolpho’, see our post A Solemn Duty.
The Revd Hugh Blair (1710-1800), a Scottish clergyman widely regarded as Georgian Britain’s most accomplished speaker; and Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), compiler of a landmark English dictionary, whose ideas and bons mots were saved for posterity by his friend, James Boswell, in what is arguably the most famous biography in the English language.
Précis
While chatting on a country walk near Bath, Catherine makes the mistake of describing a favourite novel as ‘nice’. Henry Tilney leaps on the colourless epithet, though his sister Eleanor is quick to defend Catherine, knowing that given a chance Henry will turn the matter into discourse on English style. (50 / 60 words)
While chatting on a country walk near Bath, Catherine makes the mistake of describing a favourite novel as ‘nice’. Henry Tilney leaps on the colourless epithet, though his sister Eleanor is quick to defend Catherine, knowing that given a chance Henry will turn the matter into discourse on English style.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, if, just, may, must, until, whether, who.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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