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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant storytelling , the French Revolution brought vividly to life by Mantel.
Audible book number 2
Audible book number 2
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very cool history of the French Revolution told in a fictionalized style. The insight of the author into human behavior, and the fullness she gives these vivid yet dry characters from history is amazing! Truly a great book.
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love love love and admire ‘Wolf Hall’ and ‘Bring up the Bodies’ so when I heard someone say that this book was Mantel’s best I got it immediately. But, alas! As brilliant as it is, this book is not the triumph of her books on Thomas Cromwell and the reformation.
Still, it is a gripping and moving account of the relationships that shaped the political flows of violence, political corruption and despotism that shaped the French Revolution. Moving from the streets, to the homes and the offices of the revolutions most famous players - Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre and the families - the story focuses on the depth of the camaraderie, love and betrayal that brought them together and bound them in their various deaths.
The story itself is brilliant, and while some of the writing is overdone (the language and some metaphors show Mantel still building restraint in her craft) like her (for me) more beloved books, this one will stay with me.
As with the Wolf Hall books, my reading is punctuated by flicking to Wikipedia to clarify points on the history. But this is part of the pleasure of historical fiction.
dark
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I had actually started this book in 1992 but didn't get to finish it as I was pregnant and then the baby arrived so no reading was done for a while. Although this was the first novel Hilary Mantel wrote, way back in the 1970's, it took long while to get published. Maybe publishers were nervous of a giant tome of a historical novel, which is a bit ironic in view of the barnstorming success of her Cromwell trilogy much later. This novel shows the same attention to detail, skilful interweaving of authentic source material and imaginative recreation and brilliantly confident handling of telling such a complex story in an accessible manner. In this case there are three protagonists rather than one and it is the relationship between these three charismatic figures which are at its centre. I knew little about Camille Desmoulins, George -Jaques Danton or Maximilien Robespierre before reading the novel aside from their names, but felt very well-acquainted with them by the end. I liked the way Mantel uses different narrative voices in the novel with direct dialogue, third person narration and first person accounts from different characters' viewpoints which adds colour and interest and also that the reader gets to know the supporting cast of family and friends and political figures around the three men, especially the women with whom they were involved. As ever Mantel is great at evoking atmosphere and weaving in the historical events through the narrative without it seeming laboured although you need to keep your wits about you to keep a handle on who everybody is, especially at the beginning of the book. By the time I reached the end I felt very attached to them all and miss their company now. It has certainly made me want to find out more about the French Revolution and its aftermath.