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rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
It was... ok. Getting used to the way the 1st person narrator referred to himself in third person took up most of the reading time. Then, from the midpoint of the book, I found myself struggling to adjust to the thought that the narrator was in love with his half sister. I know it was a different time, and during that era it was fairly common for cousins to marry, but even so, a half-sister is just a bit too close, especially when he knew her growing up. The pace of the story went slack far to often, and made parts of the book a drag to get through. I also struggled with the political/monarch-related aspects, because I'm not that familiar with the political situation at the time, but the book assumes the reader will be well versed in the intrigues of the age, so I had to do a lot of googling to keep up. The book did have some enjoyable sections though, and at no point was I tempted to give up and stop reading, so that's a plus.
lnatal's review
2.0
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Opening lines:
The actors in the old tragedies, as we read, piped their iambics to a tune, speaking from under a mask, and wearing stilts and a great head-dress. 'Twas thought the dignity of the Tragic Muse required these appurtenances, and that she was not to move except to a measure and cadence. So Queen Medea slew her children to a slow music: and King Agamemnon perished in a dying fall (to use Mr. Dryden's words): the Chorus standing by in a set attitude, and rhythmically and decorously bewailing the fates of those great crowned persons.
Page 117:
Ah! no man knows his strength or his weakness, till occasion proves them. If there be some thoughts and actions of his life from the memory of which a man shrinks with shame, sure there are some which he may be proud to own and remember; forgiven injuries, conquered temptations (now and then) and difficulties vanquished by endurance.
3* Vanity Fair
3* Barry Lyndon
3* The Mahogany Tree
3* The Rose and the King
2,5* The History of Henry Esmond
TR The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh and The Irish Sketch Book
TR Christmas Books
Opening lines:
The actors in the old tragedies, as we read, piped their iambics to a tune, speaking from under a mask, and wearing stilts and a great head-dress. 'Twas thought the dignity of the Tragic Muse required these appurtenances, and that she was not to move except to a measure and cadence. So Queen Medea slew her children to a slow music: and King Agamemnon perished in a dying fall (to use Mr. Dryden's words): the Chorus standing by in a set attitude, and rhythmically and decorously bewailing the fates of those great crowned persons.
Page 117:
Ah! no man knows his strength or his weakness, till occasion proves them. If there be some thoughts and actions of his life from the memory of which a man shrinks with shame, sure there are some which he may be proud to own and remember; forgiven injuries, conquered temptations (now and then) and difficulties vanquished by endurance.
3* Vanity Fair
3* Barry Lyndon
3* The Mahogany Tree
3* The Rose and the King
2,5* The History of Henry Esmond
TR The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh and The Irish Sketch Book
TR Christmas Books
nicholasbobbitt1997's review
4.0
Thackeray and the satirists of his age amuse me greatly. This isn't the best example of that satire, as it is a historical fiction, but his style still shines through.
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