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A review by gnoe
Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin
I felt the need to read Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to be able to fully appreciate Mary Reilly. So that's what I did. And I'm glad of it because now I often knew what was happening while Mary did not.
Of course I was looking out for Mary Reilly in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde but... she wasn't there! Just the kitchen maid, a nervous little person. So Valerie Martin made Mary up. I like how she uses her (and Stevenson's story) to acquaint us with the fact that there *were* housemaids and underhousemaids in the Victorian Age that could read and write. How she plays with fact and fiction on this matter.
BUT. Although I enjoyed reading the book I got annoyed by Mary every once in a while - how she adored her Master and resigned herself to her fate. But that's easily said in this day and age ;-)
His mouth was set and he looked at me so cold, I felt he hardly saw me, that I was some object to him, useful like his pen or his cheque, such as only exists to serve his will. A rush of anger came upon me, but I fought it down, remembering my place and my duty. Why, I thought, should he think of his own hands when he needs them? No more should he think of me.
In this Mary Reilly reminded me of reading Girl with a pearl earring.
I would like to know what happened to Mary after the death of her Master. Might there be a follow up some time in the future?
I do believe that Mary Reilly is a better read when you have a good (recent) knowledge of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - and I am even afraid of how little might be left without that. It certainly isn't gonna make my 2006 hit list ;-) And if you have the choice you'ld better read Valerie Martin's Property!
Of course I was looking out for Mary Reilly in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde but... she wasn't there! Just the kitchen maid, a nervous little person. So Valerie Martin made Mary up. I like how she uses her (and Stevenson's story) to acquaint us with the fact that there *were* housemaids and underhousemaids in the Victorian Age that could read and write. How she plays with fact and fiction on this matter.
BUT. Although I enjoyed reading the book I got annoyed by Mary every once in a while - how she adored her Master and resigned herself to her fate. But that's easily said in this day and age ;-)
His mouth was set and he looked at me so cold, I felt he hardly saw me, that I was some object to him, useful like his pen or his cheque, such as only exists to serve his will. A rush of anger came upon me, but I fought it down, remembering my place and my duty. Why, I thought, should he think of his own hands when he needs them? No more should he think of me.
In this Mary Reilly reminded me of reading Girl with a pearl earring.
I would like to know what happened to Mary after the death of her Master. Might there be a follow up some time in the future?
I do believe that Mary Reilly is a better read when you have a good (recent) knowledge of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - and I am even afraid of how little might be left without that. It certainly isn't gonna make my 2006 hit list ;-) And if you have the choice you'ld better read Valerie Martin's Property!