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nsul93's review against another edition
4.0
In an effort to gain some perspective, I spent this Christmas break rereading old favorites. Incidentally, the first time I read John Buchan's The Dancing Floor, in 2010, was also during a Christmas break. At the time, the story of Vernon, Kore, and Leithen comforted me. An attempt at re-experiencing those feelings and thoughts drew me back to this book.
Though I read this book with different - older - eyes than I did the first time around, my hope of comfort was not disappointed. John Buchan writes beautifully. The image of the "mailed virgin", of the soul standing defiantly against evil or unfortunate circumstances, is still one of the most poignant descriptions of courage I've ever read. Moreover, I appreciate its articulation by Sir Edward Leithen, whose general sobriety makes its romanticism stand out all the sharper without veering into melodrama.
I think perhaps that's why, even after 6 years, I can still say I love this book so much. It doesn't try too hard to make a point or get through to the reader. It just stands, sober, robust, and unapologetic, and so it pierces the mind almost effortlessly. I wish more books did that.
Though I read this book with different - older - eyes than I did the first time around, my hope of comfort was not disappointed. John Buchan writes beautifully. The image of the "mailed virgin", of the soul standing defiantly against evil or unfortunate circumstances, is still one of the most poignant descriptions of courage I've ever read. Moreover, I appreciate its articulation by Sir Edward Leithen, whose general sobriety makes its romanticism stand out all the sharper without veering into melodrama.
I think perhaps that's why, even after 6 years, I can still say I love this book so much. It doesn't try too hard to make a point or get through to the reader. It just stands, sober, robust, and unapologetic, and so it pierces the mind almost effortlessly. I wish more books did that.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
Eerie and quite beautiful at moments, this is one of Buchan's best books.
bookpossum's review against another edition
2.0
All pretty wildly improbable, but okay as a holiday read.
jayrothermel's review against another edition
5.0
The Dancing Floor is a superb novel braiding pagan and Christian, ancient and modern, youth and age, Fate and ingenuity, family shame and family honor. Its characters traverse landscape and social obligations in England and on the small Greek island of Plakos. The larger imperial island in the northwest of Europe is in the thick of post-bellum metropolitan life; in southeast Europe, on Plakos, ancient folkways are barely below the surface: in the island cemetary peasants still keep lamps at relatives' grave-heads to ward off vampires.
Full review:
http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-dancing-floor-by-john-buchan-1926.html?m=1
Full review:
http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-dancing-floor-by-john-buchan-1926.html?m=1
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