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The Romance of the Forest
Set in a Roman Catholic Europe of violent passions and extreme oppression, the novel follows the fate of its heroine Adeline, who is mysteriously placed under the protection of a family fleeing Paris for debt. They take refuge in a ruined abbey in south-eastern France, where sinister relics of the past - a skeleton, a manuscript, and a rusty dagger - are discovered in conc...more
Paperback, 397 pages
Published
June 10th 1999
by Oxford University Press, USA
(first published 1791)
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An unknown girl given to a stranger, a deserted Abby, secret chambers, bones, a cruel Marquis, the handsome stranger- ahh... My first gothic romance. I read this after reading Northanger Abby (Austen)- It is a romance novel and adventure in one. A guilty pleasure for young girls whose imaginations had a tendency to run wild. What evil lurked each time they took the carriage out? What unknown spirit lived within the forest?
As for the book itself I thought it has a pretty good story line...predict...more
As for the book itself I thought it has a pretty good story line...predict...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Nothing else I've read by Ann Radcliffe has even come close to equaling this one.
" From this chapel he passed into the nave of the great church, of which one window, more perfect than the rest, opened upon a long vista of the forest, through which was seen the rich colouring of evening, melting by imperceptible gradations into the solemn grey of upper air. Dark hills, whose outline appeared distinct upon the vivid glow of the horizon, closed the perspective. Several of the pillars, which had onc...more
" From this chapel he passed into the nave of the great church, of which one window, more perfect than the rest, opened upon a long vista of the forest, through which was seen the rich colouring of evening, melting by imperceptible gradations into the solemn grey of upper air. Dark hills, whose outline appeared distinct upon the vivid glow of the horizon, closed the perspective. Several of the pillars, which had onc...more
Being a huge Jane Austen fan, I've naturally been curious about the books that were popular to her characters. Gothic romance novels aren't really my thing, but I have read one other (The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole) which I found rather bizarre, but amusing because it was so out there. The other one I never made it through. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe played a prominent part in Austen's story Northanger Abbey. I really tried to make it through that one, but the characters...more
It's hard to review a book like this without giving away some key points (aka, spoilers), so I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut. The story got better as it went on - the beginning sort of bored me. There's a lot of preamble and mood-setting which is all fine and dandy, except I just wanted to get to the meat of the matter. Enough foreplay already.
It's totally Gothic. It's filled with secrets, a lot of darkness, plenty of mystery, and a whole lot of freaking tears. Seriously, I was ready to build...more
It's totally Gothic. It's filled with secrets, a lot of darkness, plenty of mystery, and a whole lot of freaking tears. Seriously, I was ready to build...more
This novel is an 18th century gothic narrative from Great Britain. Radcliffe's descriptions of nature and her creation of an admirable, attractive heroine make this book memorable. The elements of horror and suspense necessary for a gothic novel also make this novel exciting.
Adeline, the heroine of the novel, is beautiful, innocent and lacks family and friends. Because of her daunting past, she becomes even more attractive to those around her and a competition ensues of who can win her love and...more
Adeline, the heroine of the novel, is beautiful, innocent and lacks family and friends. Because of her daunting past, she becomes even more attractive to those around her and a competition ensues of who can win her love and...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
As gothic romances go,The Romance of the Forest fits its genre sufficiently. Having read "Mysteries of Udolpho" and "The Italian", two supreme gothics, I was pleased to find the familiar moody landscapes, dark, crumbling structures with hidden secrets, sinister villians, and fated lovers. The incestual suggestion in this tale was a nice twist as well. All of these elements are very well executed in Romance. What the novel lacks (and what I gather was improved upon in her later works) is the cont...more
[These notes were made in June, 1981:]. Source - Robarts. Finished May/81. Having read Castles and Sicilian Romance, I am amazed at the astonishing improvement in this book. For my money it is better than Udolpho - it is mercifully free of the excessive natural description, and its death-cell scenes stir me a little more than Emily's gallant defence of her property. The Marquis is not, perhaps, so masterly a villain as Montoni, but then, neither can live up to Schedoni, and I find Adeline and he...more
This was a great book and I understand why it is considered a classic given the oh so dramatic gothic elements and flowery language. However, I must say that for readers who like a strong female lead will easily get pissed off at Adeline. She is very much the damsel in distress and for those of us alpha-females, she will get on your nerves the first 150 pages. Radcliffe will say, "wretched Adeline" "Adeline fainted" "Adeline weak with emotion" As soon as you think "Good God I'm putting this book...more
Despite some intense suspenses and lofty descriptions, Radcliffe tells too much in the narrative voice, where I would have valued more some substantial showing of the actual details. I found it difficult to involve myself given that I was so detached from the situation and every effort to involve myself was barred by the author's refusal to give me detail. So I was left too unaffected to either conjure up an interesting picture or to feel like an observer before whom, to Radcliffe's credit, some...more
I really wish I could just rave my pants off about Radcliffe, but I can't. She just doesn't transfer quite so well to a modern audience. There is too much fainting away or falling into illness caused by surprise or sorrow, just when things are getting interesting. I do get caught up in the language. You have to give her the language ... it is part of what I read old books for. She does have me turning the pages, though...many of them... when she descends into pages and pages of poetry. I really...more
I confess I've wanted to read Mrs Radcliffe's books ever since I read Northanger Abbey. Now I gave this one a go, and must say I quite enjoyed it. Perhaps Jane Austen would think me silly, but I don't think I need to follow Jane Austen's opinion in every aspect of my life!
Sure, the writing is sometimes (often?) overblown with its excessively descriptive Romantic style, but I have a weakness for that style and could overlook its excesses with an occasional amused smile. I did roll my eyes every t...more
Sure, the writing is sometimes (often?) overblown with its excessively descriptive Romantic style, but I have a weakness for that style and could overlook its excesses with an occasional amused smile. I did roll my eyes every t...more
1 like · like · see review
Jun 13, 2010
Barb
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
all readers of Gothic Novels and those who love the language of writing.
Recommended to Barb by:
movie "Becoming Jane"
Shelves:
victorian,
my-home-library
This book was published in 1791. Author Ann Radcliffe was married, never traveled far from London, and she is regarded as one of those writers that began the "romantic gothic novel." She profoundly influenced Jane Austin. The writing is so rich and exquisite, you'll need to go slow and savor each sentence. Is is possible that the English language peaked in the 18th century, and then we began to lose words? Here's an excerpt: "She read a little, but finding it impossible any longer to abstract he...more
I'm a big fan of gothic novels. The contrast between the dark and mysterious and the sublime and romantic makes for great suspense and story telling in my opinion. Unlike Radcliffe's The Italian and The Mysteries of Udolpho, this novel was too slowly paced and too focused on the picturesque for me. I had to struggle to get to the end and only did so because I wanted to know if what I suspected would happen would. For those who like gothic novels, I'd say skip this one and go straight to Charles...more
I didn't give this one star because it wasn't completely horrible, but it was close. I heard from an English teacher that an author is only allowed to expect the reader to accept one unbelievable or irrational thing in a book, well, in that case Radcliffe could have written at least 10 books out of this one. She lost me pretty early on and it kept getting more ridiculous. I usually don't let my rationality to destroy a read, but this one is just so absurd that I couldn't deal with it. If I hadn'...more
This has everything you've ever wanted to read when craving life in a summer forest. The heroine is super pure hearted like most heroines in art and literature of the time, but you shoulldn't let modern feminist ire get you down and just enjoy book. A crumbly abby lost deep in the woods and all sort of ghoulish intrigue. So good.
1 like · like · see review
Read this for my 18th C women novelist course at Wadham C, Oxford U. Total page turner. Gothic novel, scary, suspenseful, mysterious. Didn't see the ending coming at all (well, except that the heroine gets married to the man she loves!). Lots of plot twists and all ends tied nicely in a bow at the end (although had to slow down and re-read the ending chapters... very confusing...).
A great gothic romance - a classic. But not as good as Wuthering Heights. One too many twists in the plot.
The philosophy, Poetry, Emotions and fainting lady are normal for the era in which this book was written.
Ann Radcliffe now added to favourite classic shelf, next to Jane Austen and Bronte sisters.
The philosophy, Poetry, Emotions and fainting lady are normal for the era in which this book was written.
Ann Radcliffe now added to favourite classic shelf, next to Jane Austen and Bronte sisters.
For academic purposes I'd give this text a 5. For the average plot driven reader, I don't think he/she would enjoy it as much. Definitely a must read if you are a student of the Gothic genre. But, I would argue that it doesn't read as a 'typical' Gothic text. The Romance is very heavy in contemporary aesthetic theory and for that is truly an amazing text. If you are not well read in that, you may not fully appreciate this text or 'get it.' Also, a must-read if you read Austen's Northanger Abbey.
I don't have much words for this book because it has everything you want in a Gothic novel. Its dark, suspenseful, and romantic. I was happily surprised that all the mysteries that are involved in this book are eventually solved, normally when I read a book like this I never get the answers I want or think i deserve as a reader so I was very happy in this aspect. I was completely surprised with the ending of this book i was on the edge of my seat with tears in my eyes and after the last page wa...more
Currently reading this for my Female Gothic literature class (I should have finished it over a week ago, but I'll get to the end eventually) and like it a lot more than I had expected. Definitely plan on reading more of Anne Radcliffe's works (as soon as I have a spare moment to catch my breath....)
I read this book primarily because it is mentioned in \Emma\ - and the more Mrs. Radcliffe novels I read, the more I appreciate Jane Austen! I have trouble imagining this book to be anything that Mr. Knightley would condone, but I can see the appeal for Harriett Smith, and can imagine Emma reading it as a guilty pleasure. For me, I have a typically modern difficulty digsesting the sickly sweet heroines and heroes of the early gothic novel, but I can see the appeal of the murky, sinister settings...more
I read this just less than a year after taking a class in eighteenth century British literature which ended on works that just preceded Radcliffe, so I was certainly helped along by what the endnotes were able to trigger of my memory of aesthetic theory of the day. One of the great things about Radcliffe is that, unlike other Gothic works such as The Castle of Otranto and The Old English Baron, all the supernatural goings-on are always revealed as having a physical, rational basis. The plot was...more
I picked up this book after having a "Jane Austen" kick. I read (and re-read) her books, and watched many movies. I adore Northanger Abbey and feel I can relate to Catherine, since she loves to get lost in books. Catherine liked to read the "naughty" books of the era, which were by Anne Radcliffe. I wanted to see just how naughty they were so decided to pick one up...and this is the one I chose.
I got about 1/3 of the way through and just stopped. It isn't bad writing, the story isn't horrible, b...more
I got about 1/3 of the way through and just stopped. It isn't bad writing, the story isn't horrible, b...more
I loved the description within the book. It reminded me a lot of "Tess of the D'urbervilles" in the copious amount of description found for nature. This, about the book, I really loved and made me enjoy even more. I also loved the plotline, which in a sense, also reminded me of "The Woman In White" by Wilkie Collins. Though, the ending I found to be rushed. The rest of the book, however, was wonderful. I would recommend it for others to read.
I really wanted this book to scare me, but I guess 18th century horror just can't do it for me.
There are times when Ann Radcliffe's writing is fluid; she paints vivid, surreal pictures of the night and the things one sees during. What I found interesting was the presence of all the horror story tropes (the virgin, the foolish woman, the hero, etc.). Ann Radcliffe's books were a starting point for the horror genre, after all. It was interesting to see where all the tropes came from.
A lot of the...more
There are times when Ann Radcliffe's writing is fluid; she paints vivid, surreal pictures of the night and the things one sees during. What I found interesting was the presence of all the horror story tropes (the virgin, the foolish woman, the hero, etc.). Ann Radcliffe's books were a starting point for the horror genre, after all. It was interesting to see where all the tropes came from.
A lot of the...more
This is the book that Miss Smith recommends to the romantically interested farmer in Emma. It will be of some interest to JA fans, of little interest to anyone else
Ann Radcliffe is the queen of gothic. This story isn't as sound as The Italian, but it is still a curl up by the fire kind of a read.
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Ann Radcliffe was an English author, a pioneer of the gothic novel.
Radcliffe was born Ann Ward in Holborn. At the age of 22, she married journalist William Radcliffe, owner and editor of the English Chronicle, in Bath in 1788. The couple was childless and, to amuse herself, she began to write fiction, which her husband encouraged.
She published The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne in 1789. It set the...more
More about Ann Radcliffe...
Radcliffe was born Ann Ward in Holborn. At the age of 22, she married journalist William Radcliffe, owner and editor of the English Chronicle, in Bath in 1788. The couple was childless and, to amuse herself, she began to write fiction, which her husband encouraged.
She published The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne in 1789. It set the...more
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“There are certain prejudices attached to the human mind which it requires all our wisdom to keep from interfering with our happiness; certain set notions, acquired in infancy, and cherished involuntarily by age, which grow up and assume a gloss so plausible, that few minds, in what is called a civilized country, can afterwards overcome them. Truth is often perverted by education. While the refined Europeans boast a standard of honour, and a sublimity of virtue, which often leads them from pleasure to misery, and from nature to error, the simple, uninformed American follows the impulse of his heart, and obeys the inspiration of wisdom.
Nature, uncontaminated by false refinement, every where acts alike in the great occurrences of life. The Indian discovers his friend to be perfidious, and he kills him; the wild Asiatic does the same; the Turk, when ambition fires, or revenge provokes, gratifies his passion at the expence of life, and does not call it murder. Even the polished Italian, distracted by jealousy, or tempted by a strong circumstance of advantage, draws his stiletto, and accomplishes his purpose. It is the first proof of a superior mind to liberate itself from the prejudices of country, or of education… Self-preservation is the great law of nature; when a reptile hurts us, or an animal of prey threatens us, we think no farther, but endeavour to annihilate it. When my life, or what may be essential to my life, requires the sacrifice of another, or even if some passion, wholly unconquerable, requires it, I should be a madman to hesitate.”
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Nature, uncontaminated by false refinement, every where acts alike in the great occurrences of life. The Indian discovers his friend to be perfidious, and he kills him; the wild Asiatic does the same; the Turk, when ambition fires, or revenge provokes, gratifies his passion at the expence of life, and does not call it murder. Even the polished Italian, distracted by jealousy, or tempted by a strong circumstance of advantage, draws his stiletto, and accomplishes his purpose. It is the first proof of a superior mind to liberate itself from the prejudices of country, or of education… Self-preservation is the great law of nature; when a reptile hurts us, or an animal of prey threatens us, we think no farther, but endeavour to annihilate it. When my life, or what may be essential to my life, requires the sacrifice of another, or even if some passion, wholly unconquerable, requires it, I should be a madman to hesitate.”
Sonnets From the Portuguese
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Belovèd, thou hast brought m...more
Feb 27, 2008 03:28pm