“They determined on walking round Beechen Cliff,” says Austen, “that noble hill whose beautiful verdure and hanging coppice render it so striking an object from almost every opening in Bath.” Here we see the view not towards but away from the hill, looking down across to Bath Abbey.
Part 1 of 2
“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)
Part Two
Mottisfort Abbey in Hampshire. Although the Augustinian foundation goes back to 1201, the present building is mostly from the 18th century. The history of Northanger Abbey in Austen’s novel was similar: an older foundation so much modernised and approached with such a smooth gravel drive, that it did not really accord with Catherine’s slightly feverish idea of an abbey.
“VERY true,” said Henry, “and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a very nice word indeed! It does for everything. Originally perhaps it was applied only to express neatness, propriety, delicacy, or refinement — people were nice in their dress, in their sentiments, or their choice. But now every commendation on every subject is comprised in that one word.”
“While, in fact,” cried his sister, “it ought only to be applied to you, without any commendation at all. You are more nice than wise. Come, Miss Morland, let us leave him to meditate over our faults in the utmost propriety of diction, while we praise Udolpho in whatever terms we like best.*
See our exercises for practising adjectives more colourful than ‘nice’, and .
Précis
Henry Tilney explains that ‘nice’ has become such an all-purpose adjective that it has lost almost all meaning. Eleanor, however, hints that he should dismount his hobbyhorse, as he is in danger of upsetting Catherine, and makes a play of allying with Catherine against Henry, as against a common enemy. (50 / 60 words)
