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3.06 AVERAGE
3.06 AVERAGE
In the ‘preface to the first edition,’ it is mentioned that this is blasphemous, and I understand why because it has a lot of things that goes against Christianity, WHICH I APPRECIATE FOR A BOOK WRITTEN OVER 250 YEARS AGO.
This book is considered the first Gothic novel in English literature and quite frankly, bizarre. But it is the oddity that makes it so unique. If someone is starting with classics, I will not recommend this to them. The language is tilted towards Shakespearean English and isn’t described ideally for a beginner. BUT, It is still a brilliant piece of work, even if a lot of how the characters act in this book, would not in the time this is set in which is the era of the First Crusade.
Also, Jaquez and Diego stuttering when asked what they saw in the gallery and The Prince bashing them while they do it is hilarious.
This book is considered the first Gothic novel in English literature and quite frankly, bizarre. But it is the oddity that makes it so unique. If someone is starting with classics, I will not recommend this to them. The language is tilted towards Shakespearean English and isn’t described ideally for a beginner. BUT, It is still a brilliant piece of work, even if a lot of how the characters act in this book, would not in the time this is set in which is the era of the First Crusade.
Also, Jaquez and Diego stuttering when asked what they saw in the gallery and The Prince bashing them while they do it is hilarious.
slow-paced
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
everything that went sideways with this story can be blamed on men and their need to see women as property. Anyway no matter how bad or good you think this book is, whithout it we would not have the gothic literary genera and for that we should be thankful, also it is a very interesting and captivating story that does hook you up with its dramatic and hilarious tone.
what kind of TRASH. what even was the point of this book??????? i swear my lecturer picks the WORST books for us to read 🤧
Voici donc le premier roman gothique, celui qui offre des modèles pour les futures oeuvres du genre (personnages types, ton tragique incluant quelques éléments classiques et thèmes Shakespeariens tels que le château personnage central, secrets, prophéties et malédictions, romance, drame familial, impostures, sprectres et autres interventions surnaturelles)...
La lecture de ce court roman est pour moi sauvée par les préfaces de l'auteur indiquant les conditions de publication, en en faisant d'abord une traduction de manuscrit medieval italien authentique, puis admettant ses intentions en tant qu'auteur veritable, mais surtout par les interventions comiques sans lesquelles l'atmosphère excessivement mélodramatique en aurait fait une tragédie plutôt banale.
Une relecture en parallèle avec le contexte historique et social révélera sans doute d'autres éléments intéressants, mais j'avoue que je préfère laisser le XVIIIème britannique à mes souvenirs universitaires...
La lecture de ce court roman est pour moi sauvée par les préfaces de l'auteur indiquant les conditions de publication, en en faisant d'abord une traduction de manuscrit medieval italien authentique, puis admettant ses intentions en tant qu'auteur veritable, mais surtout par les interventions comiques sans lesquelles l'atmosphère excessivement mélodramatique en aurait fait une tragédie plutôt banale.
Une relecture en parallèle avec le contexte historique et social révélera sans doute d'autres éléments intéressants, mais j'avoue que je préfère laisser le XVIIIème britannique à mes souvenirs universitaires...
We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish us from the dust whence we sprung, and whither we must return.
The Goodreads reviews of this pioneer work are a caravan of groans; how sophisticated we've since become with our forensics and our shape-shfting (very-meta) protagonists. I may shudder and say, whoa, and allow the blush to fade from our consternation. Otranto is ridiculous, sure, but it is damn charming. Anyone ever encountered a contrivance or laughable twist in the Bard or even Nabokov: the car which killed Charlotte Haze dented our credulity, didn't it? I say onward with the GIANT HELMET! What lurks beneath is but prophesy and paternity. Walpole's book offers little in terms of fear. The pacing and revelation are no more haunting than a production of Hamlet. The notion of it being a "found" medieval text gives it sufficient distance to unnerve our sense of legacy.
The Goodreads reviews of this pioneer work are a caravan of groans; how sophisticated we've since become with our forensics and our shape-shfting (very-meta) protagonists. I may shudder and say, whoa, and allow the blush to fade from our consternation. Otranto is ridiculous, sure, but it is damn charming. Anyone ever encountered a contrivance or laughable twist in the Bard or even Nabokov: the car which killed Charlotte Haze dented our credulity, didn't it? I say onward with the GIANT HELMET! What lurks beneath is but prophesy and paternity. Walpole's book offers little in terms of fear. The pacing and revelation are no more haunting than a production of Hamlet. The notion of it being a "found" medieval text gives it sufficient distance to unnerve our sense of legacy.
I was 20 pages away from the end and just couldn’t make myself continue. It wasn’t wholly bad though. Maybe it makes me a wannabe gothic lit lover to have put it down but you could not have paid me to finish it.