Ann Radcliffe (1764–1823)
Teoksen Udolpho tekijä
About the Author
Ann Radcliffe was born Ann Ward in England on July 9, 1764. She was the only child of William Ward and Anne Oates Ward. In 1788 she married William Radcliffe. They had no children. Ann published The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne in 1789. Other works include A Sicilian Romance, The Romance of the näytä lisää Forest, The Mysteries of Udolpho, and The Italian. She found much success with The Romance of the Forest and it established her as a Gothic novelist. Her later novels influenced other authors including Jane Austen, Sir Walter Scott, and Mary Wollstonecraft. She died on February 7, 1823 from respiratory problems. (Bowker Author Biography) näytä vähemmän
Image credit: Anne Ward Radcliffe. Wikimedia Commons.
Tekijän teokset
The Mysteries of Udolpho, A Romance: Interspersed with Some Pieces of Poetry, vol. II (1931) 32 kappaletta
The Mysteries of Udolpho, A Romance: Interspersed with Some Pieces of Poetry, vol. I (1931) 27 kappaletta
The Complete Northanger Horrid Novel Collection (9 Books of Gothic Romance and Horror) (2013) 22 kappaletta
The Complete Novels of Mrs Ann Radcliffe: Gaston De Blondeville; The Italian; The Mysteries of Udolpho; A Sicilian… (1987) 18 kappaletta
A journey made in the summer of 1794, through Holland and the Western frontier of Germany (1795) (1975) 12 kappaletta
The Complete Works of Ann Radcliffe: The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne, A Sicilian Romance, The Romance of the Forest,… (2012) 6 kappaletta
Bibliotheca Dracula. 9 Romane in 3 Bänden: Frankenstein - Dracula - Im Haus des Grafen Dracula - Melmoth - Der… (1978) 5 kappaletta
The mysteries of Udolpho : a romance; interspersed with some pieces of poetry, volume III (2010) 4 kappaletta
Mrs. Radcliffe's novels. The Italian, The romance of the forest, The mysteries of Udolpho (2007) 3 kappaletta
Five Gothic Masterpieces: The Mysteries of Udolpho, The Great God Pan, Frankenstein, Carmilla, and Dracula (2017) 3 kappaletta
The novels of Mrs. Ann Radcliffe 2 kappaletta
St. Alban's Abbey: With Some Poetical Pieces 2 kappaletta
The Female Advocate, Or An Attempt To Recover The Rights Of Women From Male Usurpation (2014) 1 kappale
The Poetry of Ann Radcliffe 1 kappale
Udolphos mysterier : en romantisk berättelse, interfolierad med några poetiska stycken. Vol. 2 1 kappale
[Works] 1 kappale
British Novelists: Vol. VI 1 kappale
British Novelists: Vol. V 1 kappale
Gaston De Blondeville Volume IV 1 kappale
Gaston De Blondeville Volume III 1 kappale
Gaston De Blondeville Volume II 1 kappale
Gaston De Blondeville Volume I 1 kappale
MISTERELE DIN UDOLPHO VOL2 1 kappale
MISTERELE DIN UDOLPHO 1 kappale
Anglický gotický román 1 kappale
The Mysteries of Udolpho, condensed 1 kappale
The Mysteries of Udolpho Volume 1 1 kappale
Associated Works
Great British Tales of Terror: Gothic Stories of Horror and Romance 1765-1840 (1972) — Avustaja — 80 kappaletta
Three eighteenth century romances: The castle of Otranto; Vathek; The romance of the forest (1931) — Avustaja — 43 kappaletta
Ladies of the Gothics: Tales of Romance and Terror by the Gentle Sex (1975) — Avustaja — 38 kappaletta
The Queen’s Story Book — Avustaja — 2 kappaletta
Anthology of Romanticism Volume Two: Selections From The Pre-Romantic Movement — Avustaja — 1 kappale
The King's Story Book — Avustaja — 1 kappale
Merkitty avainsanalla
Yleistieto
- Kanoninen nimi
- Radcliffe, Ann
- Virallinen nimi
- Radcliffe, Ann Ward
- Muut nimet
- Mrs. Radcliffe
- Syntymäaika
- 1764-07-09
- Kuolinaika
- 1823-02-17
- Hautapaikka
- St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London, England, UK
- Sukupuoli
- female
- Kansalaisuus
- UK
- Maa (karttaa varten)
- England, UK
- Syntymäpaikka
- Holborn, London, England, UK
- Kuolinpaikka
- England, UK
- Asuinpaikat
- London, England, UK
- Ammatit
- novelist
poet - Suhteet
- Ward, William (father)
Radcliffe, William (husband)
Lee, Sophia (friend) - Lyhyt elämäkerta
- Mrs. Radcliffe was the most popular writer of her day! She was born Ann Ward and in 1787 married journalist William Radcliffe. She created six spooky novels with a blend of the supernatural, morals, romantic descriptions of landscape, and drama that British readers just could not get enough of. Although she was not the first to write Gothic fiction, she's considered a pioneer of the genre and a major influence on many other writers. (See for example, Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey.)
Jäseniä
Keskustelut
Mrs. Radcliffe, Gothic Literature (helmikuu 2022)
The Mysteries of Udolpho, Gothic Literature (syyskuu 2018)
The Italian by Ann Radcliffe - lyzard tutoring SqueakyChu, 75 Books Challenge for 2014 (toukokuu 2016)
1001 Group Read May, 2012: The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1001 Books to read before you die (syyskuu 2012)
Kirja-arvosteluja
Read for a graduate seminar on Romantic Era Women Writers at CU Boulder.
I'd give this novel 3.5 stars, if such an option existed. As is, I'm rounding up!
I love how intricate the plot of this Gothic romance is - there really isn't a dull moment and the foreshadowing is not at all as obvious as it appears. That said - I could do without the excessive exclamation points (Perhaps Jay Anson was an avid reader of Radcliffe!) or the excessive exultations of the numerous servants/guides throughout the novel to which the main characters frequently failed to listen. As a plot device, I found that pretty weak - admittedly because my 21st Century sentiments were a bit vexed at the prospect of action moving forward because the rich guy ignored the poor guy.
That said - I'd recommend giving this one a read at some point in your life.… (lisätietoja)
I'd give this novel 3.5 stars, if such an option existed. As is, I'm rounding up!
I love how intricate the plot of this Gothic romance is - there really isn't a dull moment and the foreshadowing is not at all as obvious as it appears. That said - I could do without the excessive exclamation points (Perhaps Jay Anson was an avid reader of Radcliffe!) or the excessive exultations of the numerous servants/guides throughout the novel to which the main characters frequently failed to listen. As a plot device, I found that pretty weak - admittedly because my 21st Century sentiments were a bit vexed at the prospect of action moving forward because the rich guy ignored the poor guy.
That said - I'd recommend giving this one a read at some point in your life.… (lisätietoja)
Read for a graduate seminar on Romantic Era Women Writers at CU Boulder.
I'd give this novel 3.5 stars, if such an option existed. As is, I'm rounding up!
I love how intricate the plot of this Gothic romance is - there really isn't a dull moment and the foreshadowing is not at all as obvious as it appears. That said - I could do without the excessive exclamation points (Perhaps Jay Anson was an avid reader of Radcliffe!) or the excessive exultations of the numerous servants/guides throughout the novel to which the main characters frequently failed to listen. As a plot device, I found that pretty weak - admittedly because my 21st Century sentiments were a bit vexed at the prospect of action moving forward because the rich guy ignored the poor guy.
That said - I'd recommend giving this one a read at some point in your life.… (lisätietoja)
I'd give this novel 3.5 stars, if such an option existed. As is, I'm rounding up!
I love how intricate the plot of this Gothic romance is - there really isn't a dull moment and the foreshadowing is not at all as obvious as it appears. That said - I could do without the excessive exclamation points (Perhaps Jay Anson was an avid reader of Radcliffe!) or the excessive exultations of the numerous servants/guides throughout the novel to which the main characters frequently failed to listen. As a plot device, I found that pretty weak - admittedly because my 21st Century sentiments were a bit vexed at the prospect of action moving forward because the rich guy ignored the poor guy.
That said - I'd recommend giving this one a read at some point in your life.… (lisätietoja)
The Mysteries of Udolpho was published on May 1794. The book introduces to the readers the Gothic genre: terror, castles, supernatural events, and many pictures of landscapes: cliffs in moonlight, or beneath the shade of tree (obscurity), or the Power of Nature.
Description of landscapes:
‘The deep repose of the scene, the rich scents, that floated on the breeze, the grandeur of the wide horizon and of the clear blue arch, soothed and gradually elevated her mind to that sublime complacency, which renders the vexations of this world so insignificant and mean in our eyes, that we wonder they have had power for a moment to disturb us. Emily forgot Madame Cheron and all the circumstances of her conduct, while her thoughts ascended to the contemplation of those numbered worlds, that lie scattered in the depths of aether, thousands of them hid from human eyes, and almost beyond the flight of human fancy.’
Supernatural events:
‘Dark power! with shuddering, meek submitted thoughts. Be mine to read the visions old which thy awakening bards have told, And, lest they meet my blasted view, Hold each strange tale devoutly true.’
Darkness:
‘A fresher air came to her face, as she unclosed the door, which opened upon the east rampart, and the sudden current had nearly extinguished her light, which she now removed to a distance; and again, looking out upon the obscure terrace, she perceived only the faint outline of the walls and of some towers, while, above, heavy clouds, borne along the wind, seemed to mingle with the stars, and wrap the night in thicker darkness.’
Towards light:
‘But soon, even this light faded fast, and the scenery assumed a more tremendous appearance, invested with the obscurity of twilight. Where the torrent had been seen, it was now only heard; where the wild cliffs had displayed every variety of form and attitude, a dark mass of mountains now alone appeared; and the vale, which far, far below had opened its dreadful chasm, the eye could no longer fathom. A melancholy gleam still lingered on the summits of the highest Alps, overlooking the deep repose of evening, and seeming to make the stillness of the hour more awful.’
… (lisätietoja)
Description of landscapes:
‘The deep repose of the scene, the rich scents, that floated on the breeze, the grandeur of the wide horizon and of the clear blue arch, soothed and gradually elevated her mind to that sublime complacency, which renders the vexations of this world so insignificant and mean in our eyes, that we wonder they have had power for a moment to disturb us. Emily forgot Madame Cheron and all the circumstances of her conduct, while her thoughts ascended to the contemplation of those numbered worlds, that lie scattered in the depths of aether, thousands of them hid from human eyes, and almost beyond the flight of human fancy.’
Supernatural events:
‘Dark power! with shuddering, meek submitted thoughts. Be mine to read the visions old which thy awakening bards have told, And, lest they meet my blasted view, Hold each strange tale devoutly true.’
Darkness:
‘A fresher air came to her face, as she unclosed the door, which opened upon the east rampart, and the sudden current had nearly extinguished her light, which she now removed to a distance; and again, looking out upon the obscure terrace, she perceived only the faint outline of the walls and of some towers, while, above, heavy clouds, borne along the wind, seemed to mingle with the stars, and wrap the night in thicker darkness.’
Towards light:
‘But soon, even this light faded fast, and the scenery assumed a more tremendous appearance, invested with the obscurity of twilight. Where the torrent had been seen, it was now only heard; where the wild cliffs had displayed every variety of form and attitude, a dark mass of mountains now alone appeared; and the vale, which far, far below had opened its dreadful chasm, the eye could no longer fathom. A melancholy gleam still lingered on the summits of the highest Alps, overlooking the deep repose of evening, and seeming to make the stillness of the hour more awful.’
… (lisätietoja)
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The Mysteries of Udolpho came within pages of being the third book off one of my reading lists that was left unfinished. Ann Radcliffe's novel relating the ordeals of Emily St. Aubert is an exasperating slog which taxes your patience through the tedious repetition of mundane details intended to elicit sympathy for her melancholy protagonist and multiple ineffective attempts to create mystery by the withholding of crucial facts by an otherwise intrusive narrator.
The first hundred pages of the book see Emily lose both parents in a manner more akin to batteries draining than the effects of disease, as well as Valancourt, the man who wins her lifelong affection despite the lack of meaningful interaction between them leading up to her infatuation. Her tearful brooding over these tragedies occupies all her spare time during this period.
After fulfilling her father's dying wish by burning his secret letters, Emily is placed in the care of her aunt, the first of several characters masquerading as wealthy while seeking to enrich themselves through favorable marriages to someone of actual wealth. Forced to travel from her native France to Venice, Emily is stalked by Count Morano, another charlatan who is so besotted with Emily that he forgets he is royalty and she nothing. His repeated proposals are enthusiastically supported by her aunt's villainous husband Montoni, who conceives to force Emily to wed the Count despite her strenuous objections. In the first but not last unbelievable turn of events, Emily unwittingly agrees to wed Morano while believing she is discussing a different topic.
On the morning before her coerced nuptials, Emily is again forced to flee in the company of her aunt and uncle, this time to Udolpho castle, where she and her aunt are held prisoner by Montoni and his despicable henchmen. During her captivity, she sees a sight so horrible she faints but tells no one what it is, including the reader and alternates between brooding over her lost love Valancourt, investigating the mysterious music and singing outside her window, and vacillating whether to sign over her birth right to Montoni in exchange for her freedom.
Unfortunately, you are only halfway through the novel at this point, and have another three hundred pages of—among myriad other nuisances—Emily's constant tears, tiresome references to her father's mysterious letters and the sight at Udolpho that caused Emily to faint, a chateau haunted by mysterious music and singing (yes, again) and a dying, disreputable nun with a secret upon which the whole novel turns.
Most disappointing about The Mysteries of Udolpho is that it is actually an entertaining and ultimately redeeming story ruined by the way Radcliffe goes about supposedly building mystery and suspense through tiresome repetition of known and uninteresting facts (which adds a significant number of unnecessary pages) and summarizing events she should have instead spent time narrating, as well as swooping in like Agatha Christie's Poirot to reveal—in two unsatisfying pages near the very end of the book—the mystery of Emily's father's letters and the horrid sight at Udolpho. If that is typical of the gothic style, this will be my only venture into the genre.
If you keep in mind the era this novel was written in, the level of sophistication of readers of the time and perhaps the lack of entertainment alternatives that would leave readers no choice but to tolerate writing of this nature, you might enjoy this book more than I did.… (lisätietoja)