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Book Review
Dec. 1st, 2021 10:25 pmThe Mysteries of Udolpho
by Ann Radcliffe
This long novel, originally published in 1794, is one of the archetypical gothic novels. It's got all the usual features: a beautiful heroine who is also the picture of innocence and goodness, a hurdle-laden romance, a dastardly villain, neglected and possibly haunted castles, dark secrets, unkind relatives, and plenty of danger. It's a bit overlong, given to extended descriptions of landscapes, and has a couple of fairly pointless plot twists. Yet it's still an enjoyable and often compelling read. The plot is exciting and the settings are vivid. While our heroine Emily is a little too prone to weeping and fainting, she does have a spine and acts sensibly most of the time. Alongside the plot, Radcliffe makes some points about the value of having control over one's emotions and the virtues of communing with nature.
by Ann Radcliffe
This long novel, originally published in 1794, is one of the archetypical gothic novels. It's got all the usual features: a beautiful heroine who is also the picture of innocence and goodness, a hurdle-laden romance, a dastardly villain, neglected and possibly haunted castles, dark secrets, unkind relatives, and plenty of danger. It's a bit overlong, given to extended descriptions of landscapes, and has a couple of fairly pointless plot twists. Yet it's still an enjoyable and often compelling read. The plot is exciting and the settings are vivid. While our heroine Emily is a little too prone to weeping and fainting, she does have a spine and acts sensibly most of the time. Alongside the plot, Radcliffe makes some points about the value of having control over one's emotions and the virtues of communing with nature.
