Category: Victorian Literature
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I think everyone is familiar with the Barchester Chronicles and the Palliser series of political novels by this author and those were the titles I read first when I discovered Trollope some years ago. I then started to read my way through his stand alone titles, and there are plenty to be getting on with,…
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A few weeks ago I received a lovely email from the British Library asking if I would be interested in reviewing a couple of books they were publishing. Regular Random Readers will know that this was a very silly question as, obviously, I was and so they duly arrived. I was unaware that the British…
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The recent adaptation of Great Expectations screened by the BBC made me decide to revisit this book by Dickens, which I have not read for many a year. I remember studying it at school for my English Literature O Level, a process which is the kiss of death to enjoyment, and then read it again…
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Last time I saw Great Expectations on TV it was on the commercial side and starred Ion Grufydd as Pip. Rather toothsome I am sure you will agree but he paled into significance when set against the beauty of the actor playing Pip in the BBC version aired over Christmas. Lots of Tweets along the…
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I always feel when posting on a 'classic' that anything I write will be terribly inadequate as so many others have written essays, criticism and biographies already about the author. So it will be no surprise to Random Readers that there will be no erudite or academic analysis of the Prime Minister, as I am…
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I find this time of year when the nights draw in and the curtains closed always brings out the Trollope in me and I find it absolutely necessary to read one of the lovely Anthony's books. A few days ago I picked up The Betrams which I have never read and decided to give it…
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After reading Michael Slater's marvellous biography a couple of years ago I did wonder if there was anything more to say about Charles Dickens, but Claire Tomalin is such a wonderful biographer I just knew that I had to read her take on Charles and will say right now that I read it over a…
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Everyone knows by now how much I love Anthony Trollope and after reading his Autobiography a couple of weeks ago, I love him even more. I have said in the past and will, no doubt, say it again that when you write an autobiography or your letters or diaries are published the character of the…
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The writer of Lark Rise to Candleford is to return to BBC1 with a new series based on French novelist Emile Zola's The Ladies' Paradise, a rags to riches story about a young girl in the 1890s. via www.guardian.co.uk I read this Zola book a few yars ago and simply loved it (my review is…
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I am a member of an on line reading group and we are currently reading the Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. I have not read this for a few years so was delighted when this choice came up and it is clear that I will not stick to the reading schedule (I find…
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A few years back I was asked by an early visitor to Random, who noted that I love Victorian Literature, if I could name my favourite books from that genre. I have recently been asked the same question and so I have had a rethink and while I was jotting notes checked my earlier post…
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When I was painting my bookshelves last week and all my books were in heaps on the floor, I had a bit of a clear out (not a big one, just a few books went) and I realised that I had duplicate copies of many books. I remember my mum always used to ask me…
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I was sorting out my bookshelves the other day in a vain attempt to get some more space and, while doing so, realised that well over half my collection, if not more, could be classified as 'Classics'. Austen, Bronte, Dickens, Eliot, Wharton, Zola, Trollope et al and I started to wonder how a book is…
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Have just been on Face book and this link to the OUP blog was posted there. I had just sat down to write a post before driving off to London but my brain was feeling a bit frazzled, so when I came across this and read it and found it fascinating, I decided I would…
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I have loved the books of Louisa May Alcott all my reading life and had the luck and joy to visit Orchard House in Concord some years ago and posted about it here. To my utter dismay I lost my film with all my photos (this was pre-digital) and was so upset and angry. Nothing…
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Over the last few months I have read some wonderful books, new biographies, mysteries, travel books, histories etc etc and I still have a pile awaiting my attention. All those authors will have to bear with me and be patient as I have reached saturation point and really cannot take in anything new right now. …
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I have read some fine biographies this year and the fall out from this is that I immediately then want to read, re-read or revisit other related books by or about the particular person who has been the subject of such a book. As I have read biographies of Jean Rhys, L M Montgomery, Edith…
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Now where do I start with this simply stunning book? All a bit daunting to try and write something coherent and sensible on such a subject as Charles Dickens when he has been written about with such detail, love and a simply overhwelming volume of information. But as I was cheeky enough to ring Yale…
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I know I keep going on about my back, and I apologise, but when you can barely stand up straight without grimacing and wincing, it looms rather large. Heaven knows what I would be like if I was really ill. Anyway, getting better and can actually move about today but the need for comfort reading is…
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When I posted about LM Montgomery and showed you a picture of my collection, I received a comment from Rachel who has the most super blog at http://www.books-snob.blogspot.com who said that she collects Frances Hodgson Burnett and when I said I did the same, said she would love to see a picture of my FHB pile. …