Seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland is one of ten children of a country clergyman. Although a tomboy in her childhood, by the age of 17 she is "in training for a heroine" and is excessively fond of reading Gothic novels. She is invited by her wealthier neighbors in Fullerton, to accompany them to visit the town of Bath and partake in the winter season of balls, theatre and other social delights. On this visit Catherine meets a clever young gentleman, Henry Tilney, finds a new friend in Isabella Thorpe, a vivacious and flirtatious young woman, and begins her journey of self-knowledge, as she gains a better understanding of the world and those around her.

Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English author known for her novels which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Her best known works include Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma. Austen's works are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism, and her use of biting irony, along with her realism and social commentary, have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.