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chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
3.0
A distinctly gothic story. The sentences blend well.
veronikarih's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
emilymdxn's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ificouldreadallday's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
paulcowdell's review against another edition
3.0
Another one from the 'rational' end of the Gothic, and rather the poorer for it.
stories4life's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
phia2002's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
franfernandezarce's review against another edition
3.0
according to the chapter on gothic fiction by james watt in the cambridge companion to english literature 1740 - 1830, clara reeve's the old english baron represents a perfect example of a loyalist gothic romance. as the author says, rather than stage the uncanny eruption of the past ... loyalist gothic romances invoke the agency of the supernatural in more straightforwardly benign terms.
thus, unlike other more iconic gothic novels such as horace walpole's the castle of otranto, some people might consider this type of novels as dull.
which, to be fair, sounds fair game. think not about walpole's melodrama, absurd happenstances, and vaguely explained or acknowledged supernatural elements; think, instead, about usurpations, reversals of fortune, and patriotic heroes. see? dull.
reeve states herself having read walpole's most famous work and found it lacking. so, she did what every proactive person says they will do and wrote her own version of the genre. is it better accomplished than walpole's novel? depends on what you're looking for. if you're looking for a more serious story about a young man seeking to reclaim his inheritance, then this book is for you. if you want a piece of those sensationalist themes and tropes satirised in jane austen's northanger abbey, then you might want to pick something else.
think about the world of theatre during the renaissance and elisabethan times: if you're going for a use of words never encountered before, go for shakespeare. if you want the blood and guts, go for kyd or marlowe (if he's still alive).
thus, unlike other more iconic gothic novels such as horace walpole's the castle of otranto, some people might consider this type of novels as dull.
which, to be fair, sounds fair game. think not about walpole's melodrama, absurd happenstances, and vaguely explained or acknowledged supernatural elements; think, instead, about usurpations, reversals of fortune, and patriotic heroes. see? dull.
reeve states herself having read walpole's most famous work and found it lacking. so, she did what every proactive person says they will do and wrote her own version of the genre. is it better accomplished than walpole's novel? depends on what you're looking for. if you're looking for a more serious story about a young man seeking to reclaim his inheritance, then this book is for you. if you want a piece of those sensationalist themes and tropes satirised in jane austen's northanger abbey, then you might want to pick something else.
think about the world of theatre during the renaissance and elisabethan times: if you're going for a use of words never encountered before, go for shakespeare. if you want the blood and guts, go for kyd or marlowe (if he's still alive).