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162 reviews for:
The confessional of the black penitents, or The Italian
Ann Radcliffe, Ann Radcliffe
3.35 AVERAGE
162 reviews for:
The confessional of the black penitents, or The Italian
Ann Radcliffe, Ann Radcliffe
3.35 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The epitome of the classic Gothic novel! I actually found this to be a pretty easy read. Sometimes older books are overly mannered in their use of language and this book does employ that style of mannered writing but it is not overdone and doesn't take away from the readability of the novel.
Of course, this is a classic Gothic novels, so most of the characters are lacking in depth and are not particularly nuanced...they are more archetypical than real but they are not shallow cardboard cutouts. Yes, Ellena and Vivaldi are the stereotypical young lovers but they are still more developed than many modern Gothic characters. Yes, the Gothic novel is the Georgian era version of the soap opera, what with all the secrets and twists and turns, but Radcliffe still manages to make those twists and turns entertaining despite their predictability. And, surprisingly, there is a strong thread of humor in this book and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
All in all, a very good read!
Of course, this is a classic Gothic novels, so most of the characters are lacking in depth and are not particularly nuanced...they are more archetypical than real but they are not shallow cardboard cutouts. Yes, Ellena and Vivaldi are the stereotypical young lovers but they are still more developed than many modern Gothic characters. Yes, the Gothic novel is the Georgian era version of the soap opera, what with all the secrets and twists and turns, but Radcliffe still manages to make those twists and turns entertaining despite their predictability. And, surprisingly, there is a strong thread of humor in this book and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
All in all, a very good read!
You know, I liked it, but it just wasn't my favourite. It had few of the excesses I expect from the Gothic, but also none of the coy denial-of-excess that made Udolpho so fascinating. Those trial scenes were just interminable. I'm glad I finished it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it.
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8/7/2013 - on further thought, the character of Schedoni has really stuck with me in a way that makes this novel more interesting.
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8/7/2013 - on further thought, the character of Schedoni has really stuck with me in a way that makes this novel more interesting.
This is possibly the most boring book I have ever read
Not quite as good as Udolpho but was still a pretty wild ride
I thoroughly enjoyed Ann Radcliffe’s The Italian. While it wasn’t a very deep story, it was well-told and kept me turning pages. At times, the plot twists were a tad melodramatic but she always kept the suspense high throughout three volumes, moved the plot swiftly and tied many threads together by the end. She didn’t explain everything, but I enjoy not having everything neatly tied up. It lets the reader enjoy and continue the story through their own mind.
I was impressed that Radcliffe, writing in 1797, suggests that torture is never a valid method for eliciting truth. Innocents will create false confessions just to stop the pain (vol. 2, p. 199, original text). Today, 217 years later, some still don’t realize that torture is both wrong and useless. She goes further by having one of her lead characters, Vivaldi, comment on the torturer: “that any human being should willingly afflict a fellow being who had never injured, or even offended him; that unswayed by passion, he should deliberately become the means of torturing him, appeared to Vivaldi nearly incredible” (vol. 3, p 312 Oxford World Classics complete edition).
Some might have problems with Ann Radcliffe’s verbose and descriptive language, but this should be savored not feared or dismissed. She was at the cusp of the Romantic movement that explored natural beauty and description of everyday experiences, and her prose is expansive in describing scenery and emotions. Sure, one could probably compress these three volumes into one, or maybe even a novella, but I believe such an effort would diminish the beauty of the journey.
It was a joy to hold these books, both old and new. The leather-bound editions with their old style script and spelling methods were scrumptious. The new Oxford World Classics edition had a wonderful introduction and useful reference materials. Finally, on a personal level, it was fun that one some of the characters were from an area at the base of the Tyrolean Alps. Some of my family is from this area!
I was impressed that Radcliffe, writing in 1797, suggests that torture is never a valid method for eliciting truth. Innocents will create false confessions just to stop the pain (vol. 2, p. 199, original text). Today, 217 years later, some still don’t realize that torture is both wrong and useless. She goes further by having one of her lead characters, Vivaldi, comment on the torturer: “that any human being should willingly afflict a fellow being who had never injured, or even offended him; that unswayed by passion, he should deliberately become the means of torturing him, appeared to Vivaldi nearly incredible” (vol. 3, p 312 Oxford World Classics complete edition).
Some might have problems with Ann Radcliffe’s verbose and descriptive language, but this should be savored not feared or dismissed. She was at the cusp of the Romantic movement that explored natural beauty and description of everyday experiences, and her prose is expansive in describing scenery and emotions. Sure, one could probably compress these three volumes into one, or maybe even a novella, but I believe such an effort would diminish the beauty of the journey.
It was a joy to hold these books, both old and new. The leather-bound editions with their old style script and spelling methods were scrumptious. The new Oxford World Classics edition had a wonderful introduction and useful reference materials. Finally, on a personal level, it was fun that one some of the characters were from an area at the base of the Tyrolean Alps. Some of my family is from this area!
For those confusing Gothic and Horror be aware, they are not the same and you will be disappointed if you read The Italian looking for the fear to be direct - it isn't.
A classic example of the sublime and Gothic. A young couple is finds love and is then torn apart by a mother who believes that Ellena is not good enough for her Vivaldi. With the help of her priest, the sneaky Schedoni, Ellena is kidnapped and, after a harrowing ride, delivered to a convent where she is held captive.
Radcliffe's The Italian, is often described as quintessential Gothic. There are hints of the paranormal (typical in the Gothic genre), some of which are explained and some, well you'll have to read it. The focus on the sublime (another mark of the genre) in the novel leads to some long-winded descriptions of the countryside and the uplifting effect it has on the character's soul.
A classic example of the sublime and Gothic. A young couple is finds love and is then torn apart by a mother who believes that Ellena is not good enough for her Vivaldi. With the help of her priest, the sneaky Schedoni, Ellena is kidnapped and, after a harrowing ride, delivered to a convent where she is held captive.
Radcliffe's The Italian, is often described as quintessential Gothic. There are hints of the paranormal (typical in the Gothic genre), some of which are explained and some, well you'll have to read it. The focus on the sublime (another mark of the genre) in the novel leads to some long-winded descriptions of the countryside and the uplifting effect it has on the character's soul.
Eh. It could've been a great story but ended too happily ever after. The landscapes were described beautifully but the execution of the story could have been smoother.
This took quite a while to get through; it dragged a bit at times, but overall I didn't mind it. I give it a three mainly for the stunning descriptions and the moving declarations of love/pain/anguish. On the one hand the over dramatisation is a bit ridiculous but on the other its a great indulgence. I would probably only recommend this to literary buffs.
I like the found family no i love it im a sucker for found family actually 4 stars