A review by mirandacactusreads
Basil by Wilkie Collins

2.0

If Basil would've just chilled out and not demanded a secret marriage with the first girl he saw who struck his fancy, he wouldn't have had any problems (nor a story, I guess). Basil is so naive and entitled throughout the entire story that it was hard for me to have any sympathy for him. Some weird incestual undertones in his love for his sister also were uncomfortable, in addition to the way other female characters were characterized. The only redeeming thing about this book is Ralph, the older brother who kind of saves the day, but is introduced as an unreliable mischief-maker and degrader of the family name--which is apparently all Basil thinks his father cares about. I appreciated this book as a progressive (in theme) Victorian novel, but the application of it just didn't satisfy me.