Tag Archives: 19th Century

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

British Literature February 24, 2007 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: The destinies of two men who look almost like twins are intertwined with a prisoner of the Bastille and his golden-haired daughter, as the drums of the French Revolution bring death, destruction, and La Guillotine ever closer. Review: A Tale of Two Cities is three of five for the Classics Challenge. I don’t think I’m going to accomplish the goal, not because I wasn’t reading but because I should’ve signed up for Anna Karenina. Oh well. Dickens I have loved, and Dickens I have…

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (translated by Joel Carmichael)

Russian Literature February 10, 2007 Superfast Reader 3 Comments

Synopsis: The tale of a society woman and her unconventional love affair contrasts with that of a landowner struggling with faith and duty. Review: Anna Karenina. The very words have struck me with fear and awe ever since a disastrous Russian History class in 12th grade, where I discovered my superpower’s limits for the first time. I elected to read Anna for my final paper because I wanted to read Anna, but I had four AP exams happening at the same time and should’ve chosen…

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

British Literature January 7, 2007 Superfast Reader 4 Comments

Synopsis: The theft of a rare diamond from India throws an upper class family and their servants into disarray and suspicion. Review: Published in 1868 and taking place from 1847-48, The Moonstone is one of my selections for the Winter Classics Challenge and the Chunkster Challenge. I knew that it was the first novel to introduce the classic British detective character, but I was not prepared for how funny and satirical the book would be. Collins structures the book around a series of first-person narratives…

Eleanor’s Victory by ME Braddon

British Literature December 11, 2006 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A naive young woman loses her beloved father to scoundrels in a Parisian back alley, and decides to devote her life to seeking vengeance.

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

French Literature November 6, 2006 Superfast Reader 1 Comment

Synopsis: Bored with her marriage to a dull country doctor, Emma Bovary spins fantasy into adultery and rampant overspending. Review: Ooh-la-la! What a great read! I must say I was surprised at how contemporary this novel felt. Written in 1857, Madame Bovary is a psychological tour-de-force. Emma’s story is about much more than adultery, and it’s far more than just a cautionary tale. When Flaubert said, “Who is Emma Bovary? I am Emma Bovary,” he was speaking for all of us. The book shows how…

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