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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Mantel is an excellent writer of tremendous imagination and skill. Pulling off the feat of this book as she does is a superb achievement. She offers wonderful insights into the minds and hearts of the main players beyond what you read in history books.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Wow, I've finally finished it, it only took me a year, on and off! At first I found the sheer quantity of characters confusing - inevitable I suppose with a subject as big as the French revolution. I also was irritated by their interminable conversations, Danton et al seemed to do nothing but gossip. Then we had to wait what felt like forever before the revolution actually happened... Also I felt the endless talking detracted from feeling the heat and smoke of the revolution. I wanted more background, to be almost able to smell the tension in the streets.
And yet I still give it 5 stars... that's because the end was stunning, jaw dropping. I found myself having to slow down so I could savour every moment. By now Mantel had got into her stride and her command of words is incredible.
It's one of those books where you know what's going to happen before you start, and in fact I kept on top of the characters by reading Wikipedia frequently. I think Mantel captures very well the descent of Robespierre - from high-minded idealist to cold hearted killer, the man who disposed of his best friend to maintain his position. He is a fascinating enigma.
Also it struck me how the French revolution was a truly modern revolution.... many of the ideals espoused are more familiar to the 20th century than the 18th. A fascinating period of history and Mantel is a writer of genius, even though a slightly bonkers one.
And yet I still give it 5 stars... that's because the end was stunning, jaw dropping. I found myself having to slow down so I could savour every moment. By now Mantel had got into her stride and her command of words is incredible.
It's one of those books where you know what's going to happen before you start, and in fact I kept on top of the characters by reading Wikipedia frequently. I think Mantel captures very well the descent of Robespierre - from high-minded idealist to cold hearted killer, the man who disposed of his best friend to maintain his position. He is a fascinating enigma.
Also it struck me how the French revolution was a truly modern revolution.... many of the ideals espoused are more familiar to the 20th century than the 18th. A fascinating period of history and Mantel is a writer of genius, even though a slightly bonkers one.
dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I only docked half a star because Hilary really got away from the editors with this one. I enjoyed every page but jesus christ that book was long.
This book was really incredible, a really great, vivid and multi-faceted portrait not only of the main 3 characters but also of various other important people in the French Revolution, but particularly Danton, Robespierre and Desmoulins. The book explores multiple angles (I'd be annoyed if it didn't with all that word count), including how the characters deal with the shift between the Revolution of '89 and the revolution '94, how they adjust to the much more bloody, violent and unjust nature of the Revolution as it progresses, and also the relationship between each character and the Revolution as they see it (a vehicle for personal gain, a vehicle for fame and immortality, a vehicle for the betterment of the people at all costs).
But what I was most pleasantly surprised by, considering that this is not mentioned in the blurb, is that this book also examines the ways that various characters, from figures whom some might label "feminist" like Desmoulins and Robespierre to lusty, masculine characters like Danton, and, obviously, the sansculotte mob, treat women, and how this changes whether they are educated, young, rich, pretty, or none of these things (this is most evident in the comparison between Lucile and Gabrielle's relationship vs. Lucile and Louise's). It was also very well done through the portrayal of Manon Roland, a difficult and complex figure due to her "thoroughly contemporary" views about women, and the way in which she was treated by Danton and Desmoulins as well as by the press (Marat and Hébert, mostly).
I appreciated the characters of Danton and Camille and Lucile Desmoulins. Loads of people were reading this novel with their yaoi goggles on apparently, and I see why. The relationship between Camille and Georges-Jacques is very well explored and is incredibly fascinating, especially when you consider the role in their dynamic played by Lucile. I appreciated that Mantel gave absolutely no time to the rumours in the press about Lucile, instead framing them as a way in which Lucile was able to advance her husband's and her own political interests (though it does allow that she seems to really love Danton, though the novel has it that they never slept together; the Camille of A Place of Greater Safety is much more likely to have slept with Danton than was his wife).
Finally, the character development of Robespierre was immaculate, from the Candle of Arras, a shy provincial lawyer, to a tireless and devoted servant of the Republic, the Revolution and the People, and then into a short-sighted, slightly unhinged version of that same man. The image of Robespierre delivering his cold, flat oration at the tribune with his blue tinted lenses was very chilling and really helped to contextualise and explain why Robespierre would allow someone he loved to be executed - why he would execute someone he loved.
This is a novel that really understands the French Revolution. It doesn't fall into the typical English Burkian interpretation, but nor does it glorify the Revolution via strategic omissions and half-truths. Mantel sees the idealism, the hope for liberty, equality, fraternity, but she also seed the terror, The Terror, the mob rule, the vitriol, the power hungry, drunk, young lawyers, and the rivers of blood flowing from Paris to the Vendée to Lyon. Truly Mantel never misses, I loved Wolf Hall and I loved this.
This book was really incredible, a really great, vivid and multi-faceted portrait not only of the main 3 characters but also of various other important people in the French Revolution, but particularly Danton, Robespierre and Desmoulins. The book explores multiple angles (I'd be annoyed if it didn't with all that word count), including how the characters deal with the shift between the Revolution of '89 and the revolution '94, how they adjust to the much more bloody, violent and unjust nature of the Revolution as it progresses, and also the relationship between each character and the Revolution as they see it (a vehicle for personal gain, a vehicle for fame and immortality, a vehicle for the betterment of the people at all costs).
But what I was most pleasantly surprised by, considering that this is not mentioned in the blurb, is that this book also examines the ways that various characters, from figures whom some might label "feminist" like Desmoulins and Robespierre to lusty, masculine characters like Danton, and, obviously, the sansculotte mob, treat women, and how this changes whether they are educated, young, rich, pretty, or none of these things (this is most evident in the comparison between Lucile and Gabrielle's relationship vs. Lucile and Louise's). It was also very well done through the portrayal of Manon Roland, a difficult and complex figure due to her "thoroughly contemporary" views about women, and the way in which she was treated by Danton and Desmoulins as well as by the press (Marat and Hébert, mostly).
I appreciated the characters of Danton and Camille and Lucile Desmoulins. Loads of people were reading this novel with their yaoi goggles on apparently, and I see why. The relationship between Camille and Georges-Jacques is very well explored and is incredibly fascinating, especially when you consider the role in their dynamic played by Lucile. I appreciated that Mantel gave absolutely no time to the rumours in the press about Lucile, instead framing them as a way in which Lucile was able to advance her husband's and her own political interests (though it does allow that she seems to really love Danton, though the novel has it that they never slept together; the Camille of A Place of Greater Safety is much more likely to have slept with Danton than was his wife).
Finally, the character development of Robespierre was immaculate, from the Candle of Arras, a shy provincial lawyer, to a tireless and devoted servant of the Republic, the Revolution and the People, and then into a short-sighted, slightly unhinged version of that same man. The image of Robespierre delivering his cold, flat oration at the tribune with his blue tinted lenses was very chilling and really helped to contextualise and explain why Robespierre would allow someone he loved to be executed - why he would execute someone he loved.
This is a novel that really understands the French Revolution. It doesn't fall into the typical English Burkian interpretation, but nor does it glorify the Revolution via strategic omissions and half-truths. Mantel sees the idealism, the hope for liberty, equality, fraternity, but she also seed the terror, The Terror, the mob rule, the vitriol, the power hungry, drunk, young lawyers, and the rivers of blood flowing from Paris to the Vendée to Lyon. Truly Mantel never misses, I loved Wolf Hall and I loved this.
saga about the French revolution--great historical read about Paris
i read this with yaoi goggles firmly affixed and now i feel like i’ve been peeled. when i die of this i want it recorded that my last words were “yes… ha ha ha… yes…”
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes