October 26, 2007

I have a confession to make:

I have never read Northanger Abbey.

Ordinarily I would feel such great shame at so fundamental a failing that I would never reveal it to anybody, but in this case I have good reason for my omission.

Because as long as I don’t read Northanger Abbey there will always be more Jane Austen in the world for me to read. And the idea that there is more Jane Austen in the world to read fills me with hope.