Growing up in an abbey with an irascible father, a long-suffering mother, a rakish brother and a pretty sister, Henry Tilney's life bears more than a passing resemblance to the Gothic novels he loves to read. And yet although Henry is undoubtedly cut out to be a hero, he cannot find his heroine - until, that is, he meets Catherine Morland. With her refreshing innocence and love of reading, Catherine is the perfect match...unless the scheming of Henry's father and the scandalous behaviour of his brother destroy their happy ending.