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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Whenever I read a piece of 'classic literature,' I go into it with trepidation. I've been pleasantly surprised by works that are considered classics and I have also been sorely disappointed. I was very happy to find that 'The Black Tulip' by Alexandre Dumas falls into the first of those two categories.
In 'The Black Tulip,' Dumas tells the story of Cornelius van Baerle, a horticulturist who has devoted his life to producing a black tulip. van Baerle's life is thrown into turmoil when his godfather Cornelis de Witte, and Cornelis brother, John De Witte, are murdered because they are suspected of treasonous acts. When van Baerle is suspected of being in league with his godfather, he is ripped from his home and the bulbs he has just produced that are likely to blossom into the famous black tulip. What continues is a story of betrayal, love, and lots of flowers.
Dumas has crafted a fantastical fiction out of real life events, pairing the real political intrigue surrounding the de Witte brothers with tulip frenzy in the fictional character of van Baerle. I also came to care for the tulip as its own character, hoping to see it succeed and bring glory to van Baerle. It's a short read but that helps to create a relatively fast paced story that keeps the reader intrigued in where it is going next. If you like flowers, a dash or romance, and learning what people will do to get their hands on a priceless plant, you should definitely consider 'The Black Tulip.'
In 'The Black Tulip,' Dumas tells the story of Cornelius van Baerle, a horticulturist who has devoted his life to producing a black tulip. van Baerle's life is thrown into turmoil when his godfather Cornelis de Witte, and Cornelis brother, John De Witte, are murdered because they are suspected of treasonous acts. When van Baerle is suspected of being in league with his godfather, he is ripped from his home and the bulbs he has just produced that are likely to blossom into the famous black tulip. What continues is a story of betrayal, love, and lots of flowers.
Dumas has crafted a fantastical fiction out of real life events, pairing the real political intrigue surrounding the de Witte brothers with tulip frenzy in the fictional character of van Baerle. I also came to care for the tulip as its own character, hoping to see it succeed and bring glory to van Baerle. It's a short read but that helps to create a relatively fast paced story that keeps the reader intrigued in where it is going next. If you like flowers, a dash or romance, and learning what people will do to get their hands on a priceless plant, you should definitely consider 'The Black Tulip.'
I didn't know anything about this book when I read it and I was a little disappointed; I think I was just expecting more from a Alexandre Dumas book. It's short and sweet... and predictable.
From the description on the back, I don't think I realized exactly what this book was about. It was definitely different from many Dumas books I have read, but no less well written. Now my head is full of tulips. The end.
Really suspenseful novel centred around Cornelius who is trying to be the first to grow the elusive black tulip, his spiteful neighbour Isaac who will go to any lengths to stop him and claim prize and glory for himself, and Rosa the jailer's daughter. The first chapters centred on Dutch political intrigue and wrongful imprisonment and executions which I found slow going. But once I got into the plot proper I found it hard to stop reading. Especially approaching the climax when so many issues would be resolved but it appeared things could go either way. Would Cornelius ever be freed from prison so he and Rosa could find their happy ever after? Would the villain Isaac succeed in claiming the black tulip was his? Definitely a worthwhile read and an easier and shorter introduction to Dumas than his better known works such as The Count of Monte Christo.
This is an entertaining read and has everything you'd expect from a Dumas novel - intrigue, melodrama, romance and adventure. But it lacks the depth of his finer works, and the characters are a little disappointing.
Set at the height of the "tulipomania" that gripped Holland in 17th century, this is the story of Cornelius van Baerle, a humble grower whose sole desire is to grow the perfect specimen of the tulip negra.
Not quite Count of Monte Cristo level, but still a lot of fun.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Black Tulip is a clever reversal of the classic ‘damsel in distress’ tale. It is the Prince who is locked in a tower, not the Princess. And it is the jailer’s daughter, Rosa, who bravely rides to the rescue and saves the day. From my experience, this is the perfect novel to pull you out of the grips of a reading slump - it's fast-paced, funny and adventurous. Full review, which includes a reference to the Riddikulus Charm, is available on my blog: https://www.sullivanreads.com/post/the-black-tulip
Above all, this book is fun to read. An epic tale about the growth of a tulip, Dumas does all he can to make the seemingly simple task difficult including political intrigue, romance, and a tulip heist! It’s entertaining at every moment.