Catherine Moorlandn is a tomboy who yearns for dark and dangerous adventure. Her first outing in society does not quite fit this specification, although she does fall decidedly in love, which is an adventure in itself.

Young and susceptible, Catherine Morland expects dark secrets and many dangers to be lurking in the hidden recesses of Northanger Abbey. In fact, the real obstacles lying in her path are more mundane, but just as serious as her imagined horrors. Thought to be Austen's earliest novel, this audio version is read tremendously by Anna Massey, a much respected and prolific theatre, television and film actress.