Oswald Cray

by Mrs. Henry Wood

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

508 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1879

About the author

Ellen Wood (née Price) was an English novelist, better known as "Mrs Henry Wood". She wrote over 30 novels, many of which (especially East Lynne), enjoyed remarkable popularity. Among the best known of her stories are Danesbury House, Oswald Cray, Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles, The Channings, Lord Oakburn's Daughters and The Shadow of Ashlydyat. For many years, she worked as the proprietor and editor of the Argosy.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed many books by Mrs Wood but this was a real chore. Events are foretold before actually happening, taking away a lot of the drama and suspense. There are no hiss and boo villains of her more "sensational novels", only a stupid young man and a pryingand untrustworthy servant. The whole premise of the novel is built on misunderstanding but it is terribly contrived and convoluted. Where the author isn't aware of the details of, say, medical matters or railway engineering, she vaguely glosses over them robbing the piece of authenticity. The piece is written in the third person, but the author often addresses the reader directly and this has an alienating effect on the telling of the tale. I find it hard to believe that this was written by the same author who wrote East Lynne and Trevelyn Hold (to name but two).

[Sarah Asp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as East Lynne but a page turner nonetheless. I always love how Ellen Wood sets you up to know that had her characters just been truthful with one another from the start then none of the book would have happened! There's no ambiguity when it comes to the morals of Ellen Wood. She was most definitely an original - one of a kind. I so need to read everything else she wrote.