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A Whisper in the Dark: Twelve Thrilling Tales by Louisa May Alcott, Stefan Dziemianowicz, Susie Mee
paintedsowl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
aamccartan's review against another edition
Note: This was more than just this story, but an anthology of Alcott's gothic short stories.
livthebooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
Hey, guys!
I borrowed this short story from my friend Mallory. This is the only piece by Louisa May Alcott's that she has read and I had never read it, so of course I had to borrow it! I love LMA!
A Whisper in the Dark was an intriguing look into Alcott's darker prose. Like her character Jo (Little Women), Alcott wrote many "blood and thunder" stories in her earlier writing career for newspaper columns and magazines. Her earlier work often discussed rather dark and taboo subjects that the public often did not want to discuss. During this time, women were considered quite unhinged if they were to write openly. Many women were put into asylums and hospitals for exhibiting behaviors that were considered irregular or too masculine.
In this short story, the main character: a young girl is sent to live with her uncle and cousin. She finds out that she is to be betrothed to her cousin in the future. She hears that her uncle plans to take her fortune and squander it. She plans to lead both of the men on and ensure her financial standing. When her uncle does the unthinkable, she becomes terrified for her future and emotional. She is then put into a mental institution and labeled as hysterical, though her emotions were understandable.
In this short story, Alcott has managed to discuss the mistreatment of the female sex during the late 1800s and creatively display to the public of the horrors that women had to face when falsely imprisoned and hospitalized for standing up for what they believe in. I really enjoyed seeing Alcott's stance on these issues through her work. I've already known that I deeply admire her, but this just further solidified my opinion of her. She was a pioneer for women and writing women alike. I just love her so much. This wasn't my favorite of her work, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. She's a masterful writer.
I borrowed this short story from my friend Mallory. This is the only piece by Louisa May Alcott's that she has read and I had never read it, so of course I had to borrow it! I love LMA!
A Whisper in the Dark was an intriguing look into Alcott's darker prose. Like her character Jo (Little Women), Alcott wrote many "blood and thunder" stories in her earlier writing career for newspaper columns and magazines. Her earlier work often discussed rather dark and taboo subjects that the public often did not want to discuss. During this time, women were considered quite unhinged if they were to write openly. Many women were put into asylums and hospitals for exhibiting behaviors that were considered irregular or too masculine.
In this short story, the main character: a young girl is sent to live with her uncle and cousin. She finds out that she is to be betrothed to her cousin in the future. She hears that her uncle plans to take her fortune and squander it. She plans to lead both of the men on and ensure her financial standing. When her uncle does the unthinkable, she becomes terrified for her future and emotional. She is then put into a mental institution and labeled as hysterical, though her emotions were understandable.
In this short story, Alcott has managed to discuss the mistreatment of the female sex during the late 1800s and creatively display to the public of the horrors that women had to face when falsely imprisoned and hospitalized for standing up for what they believe in. I really enjoyed seeing Alcott's stance on these issues through her work. I've already known that I deeply admire her, but this just further solidified my opinion of her. She was a pioneer for women and writing women alike. I just love her so much. This wasn't my favorite of her work, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. She's a masterful writer.
abarone121's review against another edition
4.0
Another Alcott short story read for my American fem lit class, my feelings about "A Whisper in the Dark" are very similar to those for "Behind a Mask." I love the way Alcott takes a seemingly harmless story and twists it into something dark and interesting.
crying_again's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
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