Reviews

Le manuscrit Hopkins by R.C. Sherriff

theocbs's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

It was a bit too slow for me and I didn’t think it was great until closer to the end. I also couldn’t stand the main character as much as that was the point of it I just found him incredibly annoying. But the later parts of the book were definitely better

carlat22's review against another edition

challenging funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bryoniadioica's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

suziemac's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

4.5

mk_e's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

phee's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

This started off really intriguing and I was so curious to find out what happened. But slowly I started to lose interest and I didn’t really care what was happening by the end. 

Very cool premise though and the thought of it actually terrifies me. 

lilis_land's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A tragic social commentary told through the memories of a self-conceited middle class poultry breeder living in the English countryside. 

Edgar Hopkins is at times aggravatingly prejudiced and at times tenderly endearing; he is the narrator of The Hopkins Manuscript and through his eyes you learn of the events that lead up to the demise of Europe, beginning with the moons impact with the earth and the events after his surprising survival 7 years after. 

R C Sherriff wrote The Hopkins Manuscript whilst the prospect of the Second World War loomed over Europe, just like the moon making its fatal descent. As you read you recognise the intended moral backbone of this novel and you feel Sherriff’s reflection on humanities tendency to be self-destructive whilst the true innocents “intent only upon rebuilding their shattered fortunes and living in quiet happiness” are left without a choice. 

Just as poignant today as it was back in 1939, this is a definite must read for those who love a moral science fiction classic. 

marieketron's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a great read for Covid times and I was continuously impressed by how apt a lot of the ‘predictions’ are, which just means that the author’s analysis and understanding of human behaviour is extremely clear sighted. Of course he was drawing from WWI and the Spanish flu, but the prediction of a European Confederacy of States and their relation to Britain was extremely visionary. The book is critical of humanity and society and government without ever becoming overly preachy while still laying out very astute ideas without lecturing. The pace and writing style read as very modern, and the way there is no romance and the main female character is never sexualised by the protagonist were honestly refreshing - which is a bit of an indictment on modern literature I guess. Highly recommend this one! The only reason I wouldn’t give this a higher rating is because sometimes the main character got on my nerves a bit too much, but most of the time he was a tone-perfect caricature of the country gentleman (some overtones of the Shire and other LOTR similarities here, understandable as they’re drawing from the same historical events) and brought the exact right amount and level of humour to the whole narrative.

gildius's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

annie314's review against another edition

funny slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0