Today is Northanger Abbey Day at AustenBlog!
Why? Because the Editrix says so. 
Besides, it’s about time that somebody pointed out that NA is a great book too and that Henry Tilney is way cooler than that moody Darcy fellow. The great coat! The curricle! The large and drooly Newfoundland puppy! And the snark, fellow Janeites, the delicious snark! Can anyone listen to Henry’s nonsense about muslin and not fall in love? Or to Jane Austen’s defense of the novel and not nod energetically? Or think about Henry riding ventre-a-terre to Fullerton so he could know that Catherine was safe and offer her his hand without going all wibbly?
Dorothy? Dorothy! Our vinaigrette and a strong pot of tea, directly!
We also declare it Northanger Abbey Day because Alert Janeites Heather L and Chris wrote to let us know that BBC radio is broadcasting a dramatization of NA today! In fact, it has already been broadcast; however, one can listen to the radio play on the BBC Web site. They usually leave them up for a week or so.
The broadcast has an all-star cast, including Amanda Root as Jane Austen (WOW!), John Shrapnel as General Tilney (the Hornblower fans who hang around here suddenly snort and mutter about bad wigs), Saskia Reeves as Eleanor Tilney, Claire Skinner as Isabella Thorpe, and Jenny Agutter as Mrs. Thorpe. Emily Wachter plays Catherine Morland and David Harewood is Henry Tilney (swoooon). More information, including photos of the leads, here (scroll down to Page 4). We like that Henry. He has the proper spark of mischief in his eye.
That is only part 1 of 3, so we suppose there will be two more parts broadcast. Now we have to figure out how to listen to the bally thing without downloading Real Media…
In addition, we have a further treat for Northanger Abbey fans. Joey McGarvey, an incoming junior at Stanford University, has engaged in a complex online project about Janeites and Northanger Abbey. We’ll let Ms. McGarvey tell you about it in her own words:
I’m an incoming junior at Stanford University and for the last few months I’ve been working on a research project– that’s a very liberally-defined name– on Jane Austen. It’s particularly focused on Janeites and the Austen tourist industry. My work was divided into three stages. First, I went to Bath and Chawton and a few other places of interest, did the typical Austen-related things there, and blogged my experiences. Then I did a tutorial on Austen at Oxford, and posted all of my papers online in a second blog. I’m trying to complete the third part of my project now. It’s a fictional blog where the blogger and heroine is a devoted Janeite who travels to England to worship Austen and surprises herself when her life assumes some rather Northanger Abbey-like qualities.
Basically, it’s an excuse for me to indulge my love of paraliterature and to write bad fanfic.
She says that like it’s a bad thing! 
But I’ve almost entirely finished the project now and very few people have looked at it. If anyone might enjoy it, I think it would be readers of your site.
We think so, too.
The main site is http://bloggingausten.blogspot.com. There’s more information posted there and links to the different parts of the project.
We loved the bit of modern-set NA fanfic, though as we are about to embark on our own Janeite tour of Bath and London (with a sidetrip to Portsmouth to satisfy our Royal Navy jones), we were a little taken aback by some of the heroine’s reactions to Bath and other Jane Austen-connected places in the U.K. However, these were needed to dampen down our excessive enthusiasm, which has affected our ability to concentrate on anything besides obsessively re-reading Rick Steves’ guidebook.
Enjoy Northanger Abbey day, AustenBloggers, and remember: The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. Henry Tilney said so, so it must be true.
September 18th, 2005 at 3:58 pm
I love it! Go NA! Seriously, I love Henry. He’s absoutely amazing…Northhanger Abbey is one of my favorite books and nearly ties with my number one choice of P&P.
September 18th, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Thanks a lot for the link to the radio broadcast!! It’s great!
September 18th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Oooo, I’m always ready to celebrate Northanger Abbey Day. I will bounce around in muslins and reread Udolpho!
Thanks for the link of the broadcast, I didn’t notice it on the radio schedule (typical, there should be balloons and bunting for Northanger Abbey broadcasts). But am listening to it right now.
I simple adore Henry Tilney, he is sheer perfection! Best Austen man, no question at all!
September 18th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
I Love NA, it is also one of my favorite Austen’s. Not that I do not love P&P But I think that a new NA adaptation should be made. I love Peter Firth as much as the next person, but I mean considering in the past decade we have had about 5 P&P adaptations I now think it is time for an Update on Northanger Abbey. After all who does not love the Gothic novel that is brought out in NA, I am sure I am not the only one. So I vote that Hollywood or Working Title or someone update NA we could use it. Two decades is far too long a time between Austen Adaptations. Here is for a new NA, with a new young cast and all of the suspense and intrigue of the original book. What is more surprising is that there has only been one NA adaptation. And today on Northanger Abbey Day I put out a call to all Austen fans to ask for another adaptation. It would be a great Masterpiece Theater adaptation. I for one would love to see MT return to television with an Austen. After all where better to Austen’s genius than on the definitive program for the Western Literatures masterpieces.
September 18th, 2005 at 5:12 pm
Only if I get to write the screenplay.
September 18th, 2005 at 7:19 pm
Mags, you get to write, direct, and produce!
September 18th, 2005 at 10:36 pm
Oh! Oh! Wow!!! I am like so in love with Henry Tilney! His very name is full of music and beauty! The wit, the humor, the greatcoats! The messy rooms! The muslin! The gothic story! Kiss me! Kiss me!!! :O
Oh! Sorry everyone! I could sing his praise all day long! I am truly in defence of this novel!!!
Please Mags!!! Let Henry live again! Blot out the memory of that awful music that BBC threw together! Let Catherine love on!
Oh, and if you find a way to listen to that broadcast without RealPlayer let me know! Please!
I’m glad some people out there love the Abbey as much as I do!
May Northanger Abbey live forever!! Druel on!!!!
September 18th, 2005 at 10:41 pm
Hooray for Northanger Abbey Day!
Mags, I wish you could write the screenplay (and direct, etc). As much as I long for a new NA movie, I’d rather not have one than have one done by a “Ooh-I-need-to-fix-this-book-even-though-it-has-never-been-out-of-print-for-200-years” screenwriter and director.
*Note to writers/directors: if you think the book needs to be fixed don’t make a movie out if it! Just leave it for someone else. Step back and walk away. Quickly. Go on now. Git!
September 18th, 2005 at 10:52 pm
Actually, I want M. Night Shyamalan to direct! Although some Janeites of my acquaintance think Amy Heckerling is the woman for the job.
September 19th, 2005 at 1:03 am
Mags, can we get HT to do something like saving someone from drowning / chasing after a pickpocket / counselling one troublesome kid … hey, they don’t sound too modern, right ? I somehow picture him as an ordinary boy-next-door guy but has done a great deed some time in the past - but it’s not widely known coz he’s such a modest, easy-going person who doesn’t go around blabbing his good deeds.
September 19th, 2005 at 9:28 am
If you could pick the cast for a new movie of Northanger Abbey who would you choose?
September 19th, 2005 at 10:01 am
Ioan Gruffud as Henry Tilney! I’m not sure who for Catherine yet but Ioan must be Henry. It’s not just his looks (though they do fit Jane’s decriptions of him) but I think he would be wonderful dancing round, teasing Catherine, great as an older brother to Eleanor.
As for Catherine? Anna Paquin, Kate Maberly, or what about one of these two newcommers in P&P3? Carey Mulligan (Kitty) or Tullulah Reily (Mary)?
I think Kate Beckinsdale has a nice look for Eleanor Tilney but she doesn’t seem to have the gentle spirit. I love Eleanor, propably more than Catherine!
September 19th, 2005 at 10:03 am
I love Ioan but frankly he’s a little long in the tooth to play Henry now. It would be creepy if they cast Catherine to age.
I think they would have to find some nice young unknowns.
September 19th, 2005 at 10:21 am
It is a truth universally acknowledged that keira knightly is as irritating as a nasty itch in the middle of your back that you can’t quite reach.
September 19th, 2005 at 10:28 am
Ladybug, I was also thinking of Ioan Gruffudd. But to make everyone more in tune with “age appropriate” casting, what about Hugh Dancy? I know he may not be everyones first choice but he is a younger guy, or at least he looks it. And he can act. And Mags I think you should write the screenplay then send it off to Working Title or the BBC. And while i love the idea of M. Night directing the film, he would certianly take the “gothic” approach, my only dilema is that he only works within driving distance of his house in Philladelphia. And what is Northanger Abbey without a delightful Gothic old abbey??
~R
September 19th, 2005 at 10:31 am
Say it isn’t so! Say it isn’t so!!! I suppose it is!! (sob):(
He’s only 32! I guess it’s something removed from 24-26!
I suppose we do need a whole cast of fairly unknown actors! Everyone is getting so old!!
One things for certain Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are not allowed to play the leads!!!
September 19th, 2005 at 10:38 am
Hugh Dancy has always been too…too as Admiral Croft says of Captain Benwick are “rather too piano for me”. He’s rather thin. Not a fine straping fellow. He has some talent to be sure. But he seems to whine a lot. I don’t know.
September 19th, 2005 at 10:50 am
Mags…I just had a bizzare idea, what about Geoffrey Rush as General Tilney? He’s in his 50’s, has rather an elegant air, and though not English I think he could pull it off.
Too weird?What do you think?
September 19th, 2005 at 11:34 am
If we are into the NA casting game (anything to blot out the vision of Peter Firth singing, aeiii!), I must propose my candidate for Henry Tilney: the English actor James D’Arcy.
He has extensive experience in running around in period dress (see his credits at IMDB) having done Master and Commander, TV Nicholas Nickleby,etc and his smile and smirk would make you weep. Oh, and being extremely easy on the eyes doesn’t harm either
September 19th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
You know I’m down with the D’Arcy (and imagine the fun around his name) but he’s only a couple of years younger than Ioan.
I remain convinced that an unknown is the way to go.
September 19th, 2005 at 3:22 pm
I don’t know… Hugh Dancy a and James D’Arcy would both be lovely, but my vote goes to Julian Ovendon. He’d be absolutely perfect
September 19th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
I agree with James D’Arcy I think that he would make a fine Mr. Tilney. But now I am going to throw another name out there Charlie Hunnam, the Nicholas Nickelby from the 2002 Feature film. Another good actor from that film is Romola Garai. She was fantastic in Vanity Fair and she is a fantastic young actress and the best part is both of these people are young. Charlie is only 25, and Romola is only 23. I don’t think you could ask for better casting and as we are looking for a younger cast at least they are not 100% uknowns so you will probably have more luck casting them in the roles of Catherine and Henry.
September 19th, 2005 at 11:09 pm
Never seen James D’Arcy before but what a name!
IMO Hugh Dancy is better than Ioan Gruffudd at least. Hugh Dancy was impressively beautiful to look at in Daniel Deronda and didn’t look like a bad actor. P&P3 seems to be doing fine at the box-office, so another Jane adaptation might not be a distant dream at all.
September 19th, 2005 at 11:43 pm
Julian Ovenden looks pretty good for Henry. He can play the piano, has a nice tenor voice and is already trained in riding horses, fencing and swimming! Can you include scenes using all of those talents in the script Mags?
I enjoyed Charlie Hunnam in Nicholas Nickleby but he’s too light for Henry, he’d be better as James Morland!
As for Ramola Garai, she was good in Daniel Deronda, but I’d perfer her as Isabella Thorpe rather than Catherine.
What do ya’ll think? 
September 20th, 2005 at 9:16 am
I think Romola Garai would be an excellent Isabella–she could certainly be the prettiest girl in Bath.
I am not familiar with Julian Ovenden–I’ll have to check him out. Hugh Dancy is a maybe but I agree with Ladybug, he’s a bit piano. Henry should be more…strapping. And Geoffrey Rush wouldn’t be a bad General Tilney, though I still like Anthony Hopkins (I didn’t get him as Mad-Eye Moody, but I’d love him as the General).
If anyone wants to see James D’Arcy (in gaping frilly shirtage and naval queue yet–swoooon) check out MASTER AND COMMANDER. He is the first lieutenant, Tom Pullings, and most fetching in the role. When I saw the movie, at the end I turned to my friend and said, “Have the first lieutenant washed, stripped and brought to my cabin!” Woo baby! And a blue-eyed Henry would shut up those who insist on subversiveness in their adaptations.
September 20th, 2005 at 9:28 am
Here’s a link to a gallery of Julian Ovenden.
http://www.curtaincall.co.uk/julianovenden/gallery.html
He certainly looks like Henry Tilney to me. I’ll shall see if I can find some audio or video clips of him. This is the first I’ve heard of him too.
September 20th, 2005 at 11:51 am
Oh, Julian Ovendon played Val Dartie from the Forsyte Saga series. Now I see! He’s a dashing young man alright, but not my image of Henry Tilney.
I’ll defintely check out Master and Commander.
September 20th, 2005 at 12:14 pm
Oh, Julian Ovendon played Val Dartie from the Forsyte Saga series.
Oh, him!
Now I’m thoroughly creeped out because he’s way too young for me. And yes, I know I said we need to cast young. Sigh.
September 20th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Well so far everyone has made wonderful suggestions. But I am wondering what about Catherine?
After all she is the herione. I Would love to find someone who is the character description of Catherine. But i cant think of anyone. Everyone today seems as though they are just pretty faces, whatever happened to actors and actresses who had faces with character?
~R
September 20th, 2005 at 4:34 pm
I thought Emily Wachter, who did the voice of Catherine on the BBC radio drama, had a wonderful voice for Catherine. I can’t decide if I think she looks like she would be a good Catherine or not.
http://cgi.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/pdfs/radio/week38/bbcradiowk38_sun.pdf
September 20th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
James D’Arcy in Master and Commander…was he the guy who killed himself(in the film)? Ohh, now I must go watch it again.
September 20th, 2005 at 5:01 pm
James D’Arcy in Master and Commander…was he the guy who killed himself(in the film)?
M&C spoiler below!
No, he was the one who got to take command of the Acheron at the end to take it into Valparaiso (where Kathleen was waiting for him, ha-ha). He was so cute when Jack called him “Captain Pullings.” *swoon*
September 20th, 2005 at 6:24 pm
Him! Now I remember.
Thank you very much. You gotta love his last name. hehe.
September 20th, 2005 at 8:57 pm
“But I am wondering what about Catherine?”
I always have a hard time thinking of who would be good for Catherine. I’ve always thought perhaps Anna Paquin or Kate Maberly but they’re both too old now!
Today I came accrossed Miss Anna Popplewell, who is 17 and about to appear as Susan Pevensie in
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She has been in several period productions such as Girl with a Pearl Earring, Daniel Deronda, Mansfield Park (1999 as Betsey Price), and Masterpiece Theatre’s Love in a Cold Climate.
A role such as Catherine could be her time to shine.
Here’s a nice page about the costumes she wears in Narnia. (just imagin what she’d look like without the pink lipstic!)
http://costumes.narniaweb.com/susan.asp
September 21st, 2005 at 11:10 am
I think that Anna Popplewell would be great. And i love Kate Maberly, she has always been one of my favorite younger english actresses. Hopefully they will do an adaptation of this soon. Mags how is that screenplay coming along?
~R
September 21st, 2005 at 3:32 pm
I’ve finaly been able to listen to part 1 of BBC NA and it is so good! I long for part 2!!
I do like the voice of the girl who plays Catherine. I wonder what she looks like?
Henry sounds rather old!
Isabella sounds rather strange also! Not very giddy and bubbly.
I like the voice of the guy who plays James! Funny!
October 4th, 2005 at 1:07 pm
I thought Romola Garai would make a good Catherine when I saw her in “I Capture the Castle.” I’ve thought of Ioan as Henry for so long I can’t imagine anyone else in the role. The can just put lots of Vaseline on the lens, right??
March 12th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Back in the 1970s, BBC Radio 4 broadcast an adaptation of of Northanger Abbey (starring, amongst others Fabia Drake and Frances Geeter (sp?)). Does anyone have a copy of this recording?
Liz