First Editions and Contemporary Works
In addition to first editions of Austen’s novels, this page contains works by Austen’s contemporaries, including a handful of works mentioned directly in Austen’s novels. Austen’s characters often read poetry to one another, particularly while forming a romantic attachment. Romantic poetry is often taught separately from Austen’s novels, but the works are contemporary to one another, and in conversation to a certain degree: scholars have studied narrative irony in Byron’s and Austen’s works side-by-side, for example. Austen notes works by Byron, Radcliffe, and Lathom in passing in her letters.
Works Included
![](https://exhibits.library.illinois.edu/files/asset/095faf4234e7d13bf9edf3e27d31e90893d5f2db.jpg)
The Discarded Son
This is one of the novels Isabella lists in Northanger Abbey.
Call number: 823 R583D
![](https://exhibits.library.illinois.edu/files/asset/f82c2b921391d8b22353caf1cce8baa3cfe7de3a.jpg)
The Mysteries of Udolpho
This is the second edition of the highly popular book that Catherine and Isabella discuss throughout Northanger Abbey.
Call number: 823 R11m1794