There are very few people with any knowledge of literature who have not heard of the character Sherlock Holmes. Beloved by readers for over a century,There are very few people with any knowledge of literature who have not heard of the character Sherlock Holmes. Beloved by readers for over a century, Conan Doyle crafted a pompous and overly confident detective that always seems to be on the trail of even the cleverest criminals. But this review is not about Sherlock Holmes. It is about the man who is responsible for influencing the creator of this character. His name is Auguste Dupin, a Frenchman. This detective created by Edgar Allan Poe appears in only three short stories but these stories really pack a punch and offer a very satisfying introduction to the detective fiction genre.
Poe’s writing here is complex. Although these stories appear short they should be read slowly and require a little more concentration as usual because these stories (Murders in the Rue Morgue, Mystery of Marie Roget, and the Purloined Letter) feature very little action and are more of a discussion of the science of deductive reasoning. Although this is not for everybody, I believe Poe really shows off his literary genius here and can take credit for creating the entire mystery genre. ...more
Robert Louis Stevenson, most well know for the famous Jekyll & Hide, has crafted a creepy, atmospheric, and elegantly written short story about grave Robert Louis Stevenson, most well know for the famous Jekyll & Hide, has crafted a creepy, atmospheric, and elegantly written short story about grave robbery. This entertaining story contains only one real flaw which is that it leads to a rather disappointing ending. ...more
The Mysterious Affair at Styles was a fun quick read. This book is Agatha Christie’s first published novel and the first to feature the famous BelgianThe Mysterious Affair at Styles was a fun quick read. This book is Agatha Christie’s first published novel and the first to feature the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Beloved by many for being a completely pompous prig, this character launched Christie’s career and ultimately resulted in her books being the most widely read in history selling millions of copies. This author, perhaps being outsold only by Shakespeare or the Bible, has to have been doing something right.
In this debut novel, we cover some familiar territory. A rich old woman, living in an English Mansion, has been murdered. We have a body, a murder weapon, some strange clues, and a well experienced detective that already has it all figured out. So sit back on that cozy couch, sip some hot coffee, and read The Mysterious Affair at Styles. What more could you love? ...more
John Le Carre is often considered to be the master of spy fiction. Many of his novels are considered classics of the genre and appear in many best-of John Le Carre is often considered to be the master of spy fiction. Many of his novels are considered classics of the genre and appear in many best-of lists. Some have even been made into Hollywood films. The most recent was Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy. I have only read one of his novels, The Spy who Came in from the Cold, which many claim is Le Carre’s finest work. However, that book appears in the middle of a series of novels dealing with the British Intelligence Agency and its main protagonist George Smiley. I read that novel and felt that I was starting the story from the middle. Much of the background of “control� has already been developed and the characters have had many experiences that I have missed. Therefore, I decided to start the “George Smiley� series from the beginning.
The first story is A Call for the Dead. This is nice short introduction to the series which introduces the main protagonist George Smiley and offers a bit of background of the character. It is also more of a detective novel than a spy novel. The plot is fairly simple. George Smiley is sent to investigate the suicide of the agent Samuel Fennan of the Foreign Office. As George conducts his inquiries he begins to suspect that Fennan’s death was not a suicide. This is pretty good place to start if you want to start the series. At only 125 pages, the reader can determine if Le Carre’s brand of espionage fiction is right for them. ...more
A quick fun read for Sherlock fans. This story is lighter in tone in that it isn't a murder mystery but deals more with blackmail. A quick fun read for Sherlock fans. This story is lighter in tone in that it isn't a murder mystery but deals more with blackmail. ...more
All you hardboiled crime fiction fans out there are going to kill me. I wanted to say I liked this book and give it 3 stars but I really did not like All you hardboiled crime fiction fans out there are going to kill me. I wanted to say I liked this book and give it 3 stars but I really did not like it that much. There was just something missing from this. This is the first time I have read one of Raymond Chandler’s Marlowe books and I just couldn’t really get into it. It's not that I don’t like crime fiction or early 20th century noir, it’s just that perhaps Chandlers writing style isn’t really for me. I suspect the reason for this is perhaps I believe the writing is slightly dated or that it is lacking. Sure, I know he is famous for it but it just doesn’t stand out for me. Granted, there are moments when Chandler’s metaphors are very clever and his dialogue very witty but much of his writing to me sounds very flat. The story itself introducing the private detective Philip Marlow who is hired by a wealthy man to follow his two wild daughters into a world of racketeering and murder didn’t hold my interest. Maybe some day I’ll return to Chandler to give his other famous crime stories a shot but for now I need a break. Sorry Chandler fans. You can kill me....more
East Lynne is a classic among 19th century sensation fiction but a sadly neglected gem in the history of English literature. The author, Ellen Wood, iEast Lynne is a classic among 19th century sensation fiction but a sadly neglected gem in the history of English literature. The author, Ellen Wood, is among the “big three� of sensation authors alongside Wilkie Collins and Marie Elizabeth Braddon. Whenever people are in the mood for this type fiction they usually reach for Collins� The Moonstone or Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret. Unfortunately, East Lynne gets passed up for these more famous works and the book became a one hit wonder for Ellen Wood. Nevertheless, this mystery story is a must read if you are interested in the genre....more
Armadale is the 3rd novel I have read out of 4 major works of Wilkie Collins. This is Wilkie Collins� longest novel and has, I believe, one of the mosArmadale is the 3rd novel I have read out of 4 major works of Wilkie Collins. This is Wilkie Collins� longest novel and has, I believe, one of the most convoluted plots that I have read of his. It is a semi-epistolary novel that is absolutely worth reading.
The plot of the book introduces two distant cousins who both share a dark family secret that follows these two men into their adult lives. This family secret results in both men bearing the name of Allan Armadale. One of the Allans inherits an estate in Norfolk and a conspiracy transpires to kill him and steal his family fortune. The other Allan, who goes by the alias of Ozias Midwinter, had hitherto lived a very difficult life and gets caught up in the conspiracy as well.
The villain of this novel is Lydia Gwylt, a beautiful yet wicked governess, who creates a web of deceit in order to implement Allan’s demise. This character is what makes this book so worthwhile. Her conspiracy is chronicled in her diary and she paints a picture of herself which is neurotic, selfish, and evil. In other words, a cold hearted bitch. As a result, I believe that Wilkie has successfully created one of the greatest villains of Victorian literature.
Armadale often gets passed up for two of Wilkie’s more famous novels, The Woman in White and The Moonstone, which is unfortunate. I believe that this novel is a must read for anyone who enjoys Wilkie’s work or thrillers in general. ...more
I once read that there were over ten thousand books written during the Victorian period. This period that lasted roughly from the early 19th century tI once read that there were over ten thousand books written during the Victorian period. This period that lasted roughly from the early 19th century to its close spawned some of the most popular and celebrated authors in the history of literature. Dickens, Elliot, Trollope, and the under appreciated Wilkie Collins all released great books that have been enjoyed by countless generations of readers ranging from mid 19th century lawyers to early 21st century web designers. These books have survived the test of time and remained on bookshelves while millions of other books have fallen into obscurity.
So now I present you with an interesting question: Why would anyone be interested in reading books written today set in these time periods and setting by people who were born almost a century later? What possible insight into the reality of these periods would any author in the opening years of the 21st century have about 19th century Victorian London? Well, the only answer I can offer is that these new books are a celebration of the great novels of M.E. Braddon or Collins.
Granted, you could probably spend the rest of your life reading all of the books written during the Victorian Era but reading a book such as the Meaning of Night leaves you with a feeling that you really can’t tell the difference. Michael Cox’s research into this period gives a very fresh and realistic feel. If you weren’t aware, you could almost be mistaken that this was even written by Wilkie Collins. Unfortunately, this major strength is also its weakness. There are almost too many similarities between this novel and some of the sensation classics of the 1860s such as ‘No Name�. If this novel were written during that time period it probably would not stand out and ultimately fall into obscurity. The writing here is great but there were many parts of the novel that inhibited the pacing that really leaves you to believe that it really is inferior to the classics.
So my advice to you is this: Read Collins, Braddon, Trollope, and Elliot. If you have exhausted the repertoire of these authors and are hungry for more then read The Meaning of Night. But you’ve got a lot of reading to do and if you don’t get to this book don’t worry. You are really not missing a lot. ...more
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