The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This thread is for the discussion of The Mysteries of Udolpho. Volume Three. There will be threads for each volume 1-4 to cut down on spoilers. Feel free to add discussion questions.

Seriously? A random, portrait stealing Frenchman just happens to be Emily's secret admirer and imprisoned in the same castle???? What are the chances? And what has this girl got that all the men are obsessed with her?

She thought it was Valincourt imprisoned in that castle. I thought it was possible because Montoni and his thugs captured and robbed people. Personally, I became annoyed with Emily. She had no spine.

Cindy wrote: "She thought it was Valincourt imprisoned in that castle. I thought it was possible because Montoni and his thugs captured and robbed people. Personally, I became annoyed with Emily. She had no spine."

She's a Gothic heroine - THE Gothic heroine; if she had a spine, her constant swooning would probably prove fatal ;-)

For anyone who hasn't seen The Guardian's Gothic Heroine Swoonometer, here it is under point 2:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/inte...

Warning: Don't read point 4 if you want to avoid a major spoiler for Udolpho.

Lol. Thanks, Pip.

Renee wrote: "Lol. Thanks, Pip."

Always a pleasure! I'm impressed you've got this far - I think I abandoned Emily somewhere in the Pyrenees when I tried to read it. And that despite the fact I unashamedly skipped all the poetry ;-))

I skipped most of the poetry. It was too thick in some places.

Hahaha. I'm listening via Librivox so I'm getting all the poetry. So skippable!

The Guardian article was great, Pip. So so funny. But I might actually take a few titles for me tbr. ;-)

Oh, there are some top titles there! I think I mentioned when we were planning the Northanger read that I went on a huge Gothic binge a couple of years ago and read many, but by no means all, of the novels mentioned in the article. They're tricky to rate 1-5 because many are very dated now, so ask me if you want a recommendation or two rather than going by my GR ratings, which are quirky and personal to say the least!

Pip wrote: "Oh, there are some top titles there! I think I mentioned when we were planning the Northanger read that I went on a huge Gothic binge a couple of years ago and read many, but by no means all, of th..."

Ah Pip that's what we like about you - quirky and fun

Okay I completely agree that Emily's fainting and whimpering is over the top. But I do feel bad for her. She's an orphan at the mercy of a nut job who basically starved her aunt to death in a foreign country where the ghosts might be ridiculous but the threat of rape and murder is quite real.

And where the heck IS Valincourt???

I'm disappointed that time did not allow me to read along, I remember really enjoying the book.

I'm enjoying it as well. For some reason I find it funny that it is historical fiction. Although I'm not sure why. I suppose it's because something about the story or the dialog seems more contemporary to Radcliffe's time. I keep having to re-costume the characters in my mind.

Yet according to the Guardian article, most Gothics are set at least 200 years before written.

Valincourt finally shows his miserable head. (view spoiler)[ So... While Emily is basically imprisoned in her evil stepfather's castle, Val is living it up??? And I strongly suspect she's going to forgive his sorry, self indulgent butt. Which should have been trying to rescue her all along. What kind of messages are these???? (hide spoiler)]

*mentally slaps Ann Radcliff silly*

I thought the Guardian article was funny but so true. I just read The Hound of the Baskervilles. The weather on the moors was always awful, fog and rain. The people were talking about a Hell Hound that breathed fire. It came after anyone who took up residence in Baskerville Hall. Even Sherlock Holmes got into a Gothic story.

Pip wrote: " .... http://www.theguardian.com/books/inte... ..."

What a fun article! Thx, Pip.