Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Completely not what I expected, and I really enjoyed it.
"There are little things which are necessary from time to time in friendship; and five or six blows with a sword between people who love each over can only revive their affection."
- Elizabeth Gaskell, "Curious, if True"
Vol N° 39 of my Penguin [b:Little Black Classics Box Set|24611766|Little Black Classics Box Set|Various|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432158376s/24611766.jpg|44222896]. This book contains two of Elizabeth Gaskell's gothic, Victorian short-stories.
Included were:
1. "The Old Nurse's Story" - ★★★★
2. "Curious, If True" - ★★★
"The Old Nurse's Story" first appeared in print in Charles Dicken's magazine Household Words in 1852. "Curious, If True" first appeared in print in William Thackery's Cornhill Magazine in 1862. I've never actually read Gaskell before, so it was a treat. She reminds me of combination of Dickens and Austen. I need to read more of her [b:Gothic Tales|182385|Gothic Tales|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388580053s/182385.jpg|1138427] and her social novel [b:North and South|156538|North and South|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1349633381s/156538.jpg|1016482] to bettter appreciate her work.
- Elizabeth Gaskell, "Curious, if True"
Vol N° 39 of my Penguin [b:Little Black Classics Box Set|24611766|Little Black Classics Box Set|Various|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432158376s/24611766.jpg|44222896]. This book contains two of Elizabeth Gaskell's gothic, Victorian short-stories.
Included were:
1. "The Old Nurse's Story" - ★★★★
2. "Curious, If True" - ★★★
"The Old Nurse's Story" first appeared in print in Charles Dicken's magazine Household Words in 1852. "Curious, If True" first appeared in print in William Thackery's Cornhill Magazine in 1862. I've never actually read Gaskell before, so it was a treat. She reminds me of combination of Dickens and Austen. I need to read more of her [b:Gothic Tales|182385|Gothic Tales|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388580053s/182385.jpg|1138427] and her social novel [b:North and South|156538|North and South|Elizabeth Gaskell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1349633381s/156538.jpg|1016482] to bettter appreciate her work.
Another read for Victober. I would give this 3.5 stars! This first appeared in a Christmas edition of Dickens' Household Words magazine in 1852. It's a really Gothic and ghostly tale. Perfect for a chilly October rainy day, when you don't go out unless you have to!
I really enjoyed the title story, it was eery and critical of society, which is what Gaskell + Gothic promises. Despite its racist undertones (a product of its time) a really great read.
Curious, If True took me way too long to understand and I only got the fairytale references on the very last page, which frustrated me and made me go and reread it, which didn't help too much. I guess knowledge of French (or, you know, English/British) fairytales/folk stories would help, but even the German ones I'm not sure about.
For the first one, it still gets 4 stars.
Curious, If True took me way too long to understand and I only got the fairytale references on the very last page, which frustrated me and made me go and reread it, which didn't help too much. I guess knowledge of French (or, you know, English/British) fairytales/folk stories would help, but even the German ones I'm not sure about.
For the first one, it still gets 4 stars.
The titular story was just okay, but the second story was adorable and charming, and definitely worth a read!
I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long time, I can tell you.
Un par de relatos cortos con tintes de misterio e influencias de la literatura gotica que te entretienen durante una tarde de invierno como esta.
El estilo de las grandes novelas de Gaskell, también es visible en este ejemplar, donde con el paso de las páginas te vas sumergiendo más y más en la historia y es al final cuándo la verdad es revelada.
El estilo de las grandes novelas de Gaskell, también es visible en este ejemplar, donde con el paso de las páginas te vas sumergiendo más y más en la historia y es al final cuándo la verdad es revelada.
This is my first taste of Elizabeth Gaskell's writing and I was quite pleased! I just love these little Black Classics for giving me a small insight into a writer's repertoire.
The Old Nurse's Story is a story about a children's nurse, she takes care of little miss Rosamond. After the death of the parents of miss Rosamond both move to the estate of family, a big old house where the east wing is closed off. But that's not all that's weird with this house. The sound of an organ playing when a storm rages is heard and little miss Rosamond runs outside in the freezing snow when she says to have seen a little girl asking to be let inside....
I found the premise to be very chilling and was excited to read on. Sadly the pacing was a bit off for me personally. There's quite an outstanding moment in the middle of the story and after that it just feels drawn out a bit. Gaskell's writing did really hit the right spot for me and I am planning on picking up a novel by her in the future, to see her full capacity displayed instead of in a short story of 30 pages.
I didn't care much for the second part of the Little Black Classic, so I'll leave it at that.
I have discovered I do really like the atmosphere of Victorian gothic tales and would like to pick up more of those in the future. Any recommendations will be very welcome.
"Even in the stillness of that dead-cold weather, I had heard no sound of little battering hands upon the window-glass."
The Old Nurse's Story is a story about a children's nurse, she takes care of little miss Rosamond. After the death of the parents of miss Rosamond both move to the estate of family, a big old house where the east wing is closed off. But that's not all that's weird with this house. The sound of an organ playing when a storm rages is heard and little miss Rosamond runs outside in the freezing snow when she says to have seen a little girl asking to be let inside....
I found the premise to be very chilling and was excited to read on. Sadly the pacing was a bit off for me personally. There's quite an outstanding moment in the middle of the story and after that it just feels drawn out a bit. Gaskell's writing did really hit the right spot for me and I am planning on picking up a novel by her in the future, to see her full capacity displayed instead of in a short story of 30 pages.
I didn't care much for the second part of the Little Black Classic, so I'll leave it at that.
I have discovered I do really like the atmosphere of Victorian gothic tales and would like to pick up more of those in the future. Any recommendations will be very welcome.
"Even in the stillness of that dead-cold weather, I had heard no sound of little battering hands upon the window-glass."