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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
This tome was so long that I nearly lost interest in it many times, but because I had decided to make 2020 my year for reading British literature and find out why certain books influenced which books. In the case of The Mysteries of Udolpho, I had planned to read all of Jane Austen, (again - she’s one of my favorite authors!), and I had heard that Northanger Abbey was influenced by Ann Radcliffe.
I just plain didn’t care much for Emily. Reasons for my immediate dislike of her was the first time I read about her fainting. My goodness, was it that fashionable to faint all the time back then?! Sounds like it was just lazy writing on author’s part to make her faint all the time at critical points in the story.
It’s supposed to be gothic right? But no one actually abuses anyone or tortured anyone to death. Her aunt was made to stay in different area of the castle, but she wasn’t physically abused or tortured. Even though Emily saw the torture room but it was never used. Not by her “evil” step uncle nor by anyone. All it mentioned was her uncle may have been a murderer, yet later we found out the lady he was supposedly to have murdered was simply hiding out in a convent for a murder she did commit. Which ends up being Emily’s aunt/mother. I’m not sure who Emily is by the end of the novel because I just didn’t care so I skimmed ahead to see what the ending was. Of course she marries the guy she first fell for who happens to have a gambling past which he apparently have recovered from. What about his debts now that he’s married???? He would certainly have to pressured her for money from the sales of her aunt’s estates, but no he is described as being sweet husband of hers who had no problems now that he’s married to her. What?
Life is not that easily done away in neat happy endings like this. I have decided I have quite enough of Ann Radcliffe. Especially her writings of landscapes that has no effect on the actual story it self. I’m so glad I only got the ebook which was free to read because I would be kicking my ass for shelling out money for this thick book that would just make me want to stab a fork through my eyes to just stop the boring rambling of a heroine who does not know how to appealing heroine AT ALL.
P.S. (I had to add this when I remembered after I posted my original review!)
Plus, gothic means supernatural, right? So, the book dates to explain what was supernatural was not supernatural at all. If anyone dared to explain away what makes supernatural not supernatural in one of TV shows I enjoy to watch, that person would find out how much I would no longer enjoy that TV show. A bit of supernatural unexplained is more mysterious and fun, yet Ann Radcliffe thinks her readers should appreciate that what appears as supernatural was not really supernatural. Why spoil our fun when we want to read a spooky novel?!?!?
I just plain didn’t care much for Emily. Reasons for my immediate dislike of her was the first time I read about her fainting. My goodness, was it that fashionable to faint all the time back then?! Sounds like it was just lazy writing on author’s part to make her faint all the time at critical points in the story.
It’s supposed to be gothic right? But no one actually abuses anyone or tortured anyone to death. Her aunt was made to stay in different area of the castle, but she wasn’t physically abused or tortured. Even though Emily saw the torture room but it was never used. Not by her “evil” step uncle nor by anyone. All it mentioned was her uncle may have been a murderer, yet later we found out the lady he was supposedly to have murdered was simply hiding out in a convent for a murder she did commit. Which ends up being Emily’s aunt/mother. I’m not sure who Emily is by the end of the novel because I just didn’t care so I skimmed ahead to see what the ending was. Of course she marries the guy she first fell for who happens to have a gambling past which he apparently have recovered from. What about his debts now that he’s married???? He would certainly have to pressured her for money from the sales of her aunt’s estates, but no he is described as being sweet husband of hers who had no problems now that he’s married to her. What?
Life is not that easily done away in neat happy endings like this. I have decided I have quite enough of Ann Radcliffe. Especially her writings of landscapes that has no effect on the actual story it self. I’m so glad I only got the ebook which was free to read because I would be kicking my ass for shelling out money for this thick book that would just make me want to stab a fork through my eyes to just stop the boring rambling of a heroine who does not know how to appealing heroine AT ALL.
P.S. (I had to add this when I remembered after I posted my original review!)
Plus, gothic means supernatural, right? So, the book dates to explain what was supernatural was not supernatural at all. If anyone dared to explain away what makes supernatural not supernatural in one of TV shows I enjoy to watch, that person would find out how much I would no longer enjoy that TV show. A bit of supernatural unexplained is more mysterious and fun, yet Ann Radcliffe thinks her readers should appreciate that what appears as supernatural was not really supernatural. Why spoil our fun when we want to read a spooky novel?!?!?
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of The Mysteries of Udolpho
By: Ann Radcliffe
While traveling to visit her Aunt Madame Cheron, Emily’s father dies and she must live with her, but the pair don’t connect with each. Her aunt’s new husband Count Montoni tries to arrange Emily’s marriage to a Count Morano, but he turns out to not to be as rich as he led them to believe. Montoni uproots them to his Castle, Udolpho, in the Italian Mountains and holds them hostage, trying to force Emily’s aunt to give up her fortune.
This was quite the read and a page turner, but it was also an exhausting read. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t absolutely love it. Emily is sensible and isn’t completely naïve, but I did get frustrated and annoyed with her in the last part of the story. The last part of the novel also felt like a whole another story. Montoni is an unpredictable and frightening antagonist to read about as he tries to intimidate Emily and her aunt. I appreciate how Emily stood up to him even in fear and didn’t cower like other female heroines would. Her aunt, Madame was annoying, but I did feel sorry for her towards the end. It annoyed me when she was impatient with Emily’s grief over her father’s death, expecting her to get over it even though she lost him only a few days ago. Annette and Theresa were great secondary characters and Theresa was saying exactly what I was thinking. Annette’s assuming everything is supernatural and Emily getting impatient with Annette’s habit of going off on tangents is fun to read about it. There are so many beautiful descriptions of the landscapes that immerse me easily in the setting of France and Italy. Emily fancies herself a poet and loves poetry so there are poems throughout that are beautifully written, but sometimes tedious to read through, so at times I skipped some of them. The atmosphere was quite creepy and mysteries with a lot of secrets to unravel. It was written originally in 1794 and set in 1584, so the characters are so dramatic for me as a modern reader, and the dialogue is overtopped in tone and words. There were some challenging aspects of the writing such as the awkward sentences throughout. An example “They now returned to the supper-room, where the Count’s guests awaited to accompany him and Ludovico to the door of the north apartments, and Dorothee, being summoned for the keys, delivered them to Ludovico, who then led the way, followed by most of the inhabitants of the Chateau.” “Generously anxious for her peace, Emily, therefore, tried to persuade, when she could convince, and sought by every gentle means to induce her to forebear the asperity of reply, which so greatly irritated Montoni.” The sentences don’t flow or feel natural, too many pauses. I know Emily’s life is sad and terrifying, but if I had a dollar for every time Mrs. Radcliffe used the word melancholy I would have quite a bit of money. I had my problems, but wanted to know what was going to happen to Emily and if she would be reunited with Valancourt. This kept me engaged enough to keep reading the 672 pages, despite feeling of mental exhaustion while reading at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
2.5★
Every author and aspiring author should read this book. Not because it is a great book (it really wasn't) but because they will look at their proofreaders, copy editors and beta readers with a whole new appreciation!
Another reader I know decided to read the audio version - & fell asleep. When she awoke (a few hours later) Emily & her father were still endlessly travelling through Europe. A ruthless, modern day editor would have halved this book in size - & would have produced a far better book. The imaginative descriptions of the scenery were lovely - it's just there was so much of it.
While Emily was a very brave heroine, she also cried, sobbed, trembled, shuddered, sighed & above all fainted
through most of the story. The book's worst fault was that some of the most important actions happened off page. By 80% I was in skim mode - & I'm amazed it took me that long.
An important read for Northanger Abbey fans - but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else.
Every author and aspiring author should read this book. Not because it is a great book (it really wasn't) but because they will look at their proofreaders, copy editors and beta readers with a whole new appreciation!
Another reader I know decided to read the audio version - & fell asleep. When she awoke (a few hours later) Emily & her father were still endlessly travelling through Europe. A ruthless, modern day editor would have halved this book in size - & would have produced a far better book. The imaginative descriptions of the scenery were lovely - it's just there was so much of it.
While Emily was a very brave heroine, she also cried, sobbed, trembled, shuddered, sighed & above all fainted
through most of the story. The book's worst fault was that some of the most important actions
Spoiler
for example, the death of The VillainAn important read for Northanger Abbey fans - but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else.
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark, suspenseful and sweet at the same time
slow-paced
The OG gothic romance. While I always enjoy classic English literature this one did take me about 3 weeks to get through. All the tropes were basically invented in this novel. From secret passageways to ghostly apparitions, it was all there. For all the spookiness and dastardly villains the ending unfortunately fell rather flat.
I didn't realize this was still on my list and will return one day but this got interrupted by a death and I haven't gone back
The very first english class I took after I made the resolute decision to become, in fact, an "english major" was English 2330--A survey class of English lit from 1700-the present. My professor was the ex-head of the dept, knew her shit, and was really into cats, opera, and could rattle off all of Elegy in a Churchyard or any amout of Wordsworth by heart, like it was nothing. She was also really into gothic literature-not the Anne Rice variety, mind you- but the authentic progenitors of the genre. We read The Monk, The Castle of Otranto, Dracula...that sort of thing. And I remember her talking about Udolpho, but we never actually read it 'cos it wasn't on the syllabus. It was only a survey class, after all. So hence my return to my roots. I haven't been reading much canonical work lately, and I do miss the acerbic bite of good prose.
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes