Scan barcode
exlibrisnoctis's review against another edition
dnf — even if it’s for class I cannot get through this lmao
edgeworthstan2000's review against another edition
5.0
This was so fun. It's Austen un-hinged. It's way too long, there's murder & duelling (by women!), some other ridiculous pursuits by some of the "good" characters that would show up in an Austen novel only in the actions of her villains. Edgeworth is also much more explicitly concerned with the slave trade & issues of race, which is great to see.
Part of the fun of reading this is to see what Austen did with her influences -- Edgeworth's weaknesses highlight Austen's strengths.
Part of the fun of reading this is to see what Austen did with her influences -- Edgeworth's weaknesses highlight Austen's strengths.
kaitmannix's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
hygrpfrt's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
mon_ique's review against another edition
2.0
2022- What say I, about such a story? Enchanting elements -few. Riotous and Vibrant personalities -abundant.
I really enjoyed Helena and the family atmosphere that she was able to thrive in with Percival's family.
I wish the book dwelled more on that!
In all seriousness, I think the dwelling on what's bad in the world was the turn off. Here is dedicated chapters and details of Lady D-'s past misdeeds, (oh, just flirtations and dissipation, yet am i shocked by this being published in 1801? A little... The maligning of Clarence with a mistress? A lot shocked) and spend more time than I'm comfortable with, with the brash Mrs. Freke. Is that a purposeful play on words, on the character described as a 'man-woman'? I'd rather not know, so my journey in Belinda's contrasting morality and prudence and kindness (such a contrast highlights the moral of the story quite elegantly...) Has ended about %48 in.
Do I delight in knowing who she ends up with? Quite indifferently, hence, a last peep at the last page which shows what happens with Lady D- suffices enough.
Edgeworth really seemed to delight in long speeches and chaotic commentary, just to highlight how good of a female Belinda was. Flawed. And yet, Belinda wasn't annoying, I liked her for her quiet courage.
I really enjoyed Helena and the family atmosphere that she was able to thrive in with Percival's family.
I wish the book dwelled more on that!
In all seriousness, I think the dwelling on what's bad in the world was the turn off. Here is dedicated chapters and details of Lady D-'s past misdeeds, (oh, just flirtations and dissipation, yet am i shocked by this being published in 1801? A little... The maligning of Clarence with a mistress? A lot shocked) and spend more time than I'm comfortable with, with the brash Mrs. Freke. Is that a purposeful play on words, on the character described as a 'man-woman'? I'd rather not know, so my journey in Belinda's contrasting morality and prudence and kindness (such a contrast highlights the moral of the story quite elegantly...) Has ended about %48 in.
Do I delight in knowing who she ends up with? Quite indifferently, hence, a last peep at the last page which shows what happens with Lady D- suffices enough.
Edgeworth really seemed to delight in long speeches and chaotic commentary, just to highlight how good of a female Belinda was. Flawed. And yet, Belinda wasn't annoying, I liked her for her quiet courage.
una_macchia's review against another edition
Well that was exhausting. I was actually engrossed for a while (approximately through the first half/two thirds) but then finished it feeling like -- what for? I actually liked the reconciliation between Lady Delacour and her husband, but after that everything became much more overtly moralistic and sententious. Which is interesting in a way because Maria Edgeworth's early 19th century morals were very different from mine, but it's also rather tedious at times. We learn exhaustively how important it is for a woman to behave within a narrow set of restrictions, because if she doesn't she'll inevitably come to a bad end like Mrs Freke (what an on-the-nose name), unless, like Lady Delacour, she has a perfect paragon handy to put her life back together. I must say I did not expect Mr Vincent to become a cautionary tale against the evils of gambling, or that Clarence Hervey's attempt at grooming an ignorant orphan into his perfect wife by keeping her secluded for two years would be recounted sympathically as a minor failing. (Vincent's moral failure, despite his harsh lesson and sincere avowal never to gamble again, is enough for Belinda to end their engagement -- fair enough. But everything Hervey did in secret is perfectly honourable and no obstacle to their marital happiness??) We also get more bonus racism and anti-Semitism, so that's fun.
[It does annoy me that so many people talk about Edgeworth, as well as other novelists like Frances Burney, only in relation to Jane Austen, and only as writers who are obviously far inferior to Austen. Bleh.]
[It does annoy me that so many people talk about Edgeworth, as well as other novelists like Frances Burney, only in relation to Jane Austen, and only as writers who are obviously far inferior to Austen. Bleh.]
mg_espi's review against another edition
3.0
3/2022 Esta era una de las novelas favoritas de Jane Austen y a mí se me ha atascado un poco, pero no era ella, he sido yo.
Me ha costado un poco entrar en el ritmo pausado de esta novela, tarda bastante en que empiecen a pasar cosas, pero alrededor del tercio ya salí del atasco y todo bien, teniendo en cuenta que no es una acción trepidante.
Pensaba todo el rato qué suerte no estar sujetas a tantísimas normas hechas solamente por aparentar y que me gustaría ver una adaptación.
Si os gustan las novelas de tacitas, dadle.
La traducción (maravillosa y llena de detalles) es de @noemijfurquet
Me ha costado un poco entrar en el ritmo pausado de esta novela, tarda bastante en que empiecen a pasar cosas, pero alrededor del tercio ya salí del atasco y todo bien, teniendo en cuenta que no es una acción trepidante.
Pensaba todo el rato qué suerte no estar sujetas a tantísimas normas hechas solamente por aparentar y que me gustaría ver una adaptación.
Si os gustan las novelas de tacitas, dadle.
La traducción (maravillosa y llena de detalles) es de @noemijfurquet