Classic Stories: Northanger Abbey
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This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Hello, my name's Tim. We've told lots of scary stories in this programme. And today's story is about a young woman who loves reading scary books. But is her story a scary one? Only time will tell.

Catherine Morland is a young woman who doesn't know much about the world, but she does love reading books with big castles, scary monsters and lots of romance. Some wealthy friends of the Morland family, Mr and Mrs Allen, tell Catherine they will take her to Bath and she excitedly agrees. In Bath, Catherine soon meets Henry Tilney and dances with him.

Everyone can tell that Catherine has a crush on Henry, but Catherine doesn't realise it yet. When Mrs Allen runs into an old friend, Mrs Thorpe, Catherine meets her daughter, Isabella Thorpe, who is a few years older than her. Isabella is only interested in Catherine because she believes Catherine is rich, but Catherine can't tell the difference between real and fake friends yet.

Catherine is disappointed because she doesn't see Henry Tilney for a while, but her brother James and Isabella's brother John Thorpe arrive in town to distract her. Isabella and Catherine's brother James begin to flirt, and John is interested in Catherine, although he is rude and likes to tell it like it is, which Catherine finds unpleasant.

Henry returns to Bath with his sister, Eleanor, and Catherine tries to spend more time with them, but John and Isabella get in the way. One day, Catherine has agreed to meet Henry and Eleanor for a walk, but John tells a lie and says Henry's left town.

Catherine reluctantly agrees to spend time with John, Isabella and James, who say they will visit an old spooky castle. But Catherine discovers the trick and is upset. Eventually, Catherine meets up with Henry and Eleanor and discovers that they love the same scary novels that she does.

Isabella and James get engaged. But when Isabella finds out James doesn't have much money, her disappointment is telling. And when Henry and Eleanor's brother Frederick comes to Bath, Isabella begins to flirt with him, which alarms Catherine. Henry invites Catherine to stay with his family at their home, Northanger Abbey.

Catherine is delighted to visit an old house like the ones in the book she reads, and on the journey there, Henry tells her scary stories he's made up about the Abbey.

But Catherine can't tell real life and stories apart. She imagines that the Abbey has a mysterious past and decides that Henry and Eleanor's father, General Tilney, has murdered his wife. General Tilney is very friendly to Catherine and drops hints about her marrying Henry, but you never can tell what people are like and Catherine decides to investigate her theory.

Catherine goes to explore the abbey at night for clues, and Henry finds her and realises her suspicions about his father. He tells her off for believing that books are like real life, and tells the truth about his mother's death, which is not suspicious. Catherine receives a letter to say that James and Isabella's engagement has been called off, and she believes Frederick has forced himself between them.

But Henry thinks that maybe Isabella isn't as innocent as Catherine believes. Soon, Catherine gets another letter from Isabella, who has now been rejected by Frederick and wants Catherine to apologise to James for her. Henry doesn't need to say, I told you so, and Catherine realises that Isabella is not a real friend. MUSIC

Catherine's stay at the Abbey ends suddenly when General Tilney returns angry from London and demands that Catherine leave without a plan or money to get home. When Catherine makes it home, her family are upset and confused by the General's rude behaviour. But I'm telling you, the story does have a happy ending.

Henry visits Catherine to apologise. It turns out John Thorpe told tall tales to the general about Catherine being rich and the general got very angry when he discovered that she wasn't. And there's one more surprise. Henry proposes to Catherine. A few months later, Eleanor marries a rich man and the general is in a good mood. He agrees to let Henry and Catherine get married.

So, it turns out, life isn't quite like the scary stories in books. Could you tell what was going to happen at Northanger Abbey? Join me again soon for another story. Goodbye. Yoga is more than just exercise. It's the spiritual practice that millions swear by.

And in 2017, Miranda, a university tutor from London, joins a yoga school that promises profound transformation. It felt a really safe and welcoming space. After yoga classes, I felt amazing. But soon, that calm, welcoming atmosphere leads to something far darker, a journey that leads to allegations of grooming, trafficking and exploitation across international borders.

I don't have my passport, I don't have my phone, I don't have my bank cards, I have nothing. The passport being taken, the being in a house and not feeling like they can leave...

You just get sucked in so gradually.

And it's done so skillfully that you don't realize. And it's like this, the secret that's there. I wanted to believe that, you know, that whatever they were doing, even if it seemed gross to me,

was for some spiritual reason that I couldn't yet understand. Revealing the hidden secrets of a global yoga network. I feel that I have no other choice. The only thing I can do is to speak about this and to put my reputation and everything else on the line. I want truth and justice.

And for other people to not be hurt, for things to be different in the future. To bring it into the light and almost alchemise some of that evil stuff that went on and take back the power. World of Secrets, Season 6, The Bad Guru. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.