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Dragonwyck (Rediscovered Classics) by Anya Seton
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Anya Seton Foreword: Philippa Gregory Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2005-09-28 ISBN: 1556525818 Number of pages: 352 Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Book Reviews of Dragonwyck (Rediscovered Classics)Book Review: a great "escapist" book Summary: 5 Stars
Dragonwyck has all the ingredients of a stereotypical Gothic story -- a beautiful, innocent young girl, a handsome, brooding aristocrat, a haunting ghostly presence connected to some past evil, and a huge castle-like mansion. Even the name of this mansion "Dragonwyck" adds to the melodrama, suggesting the abode of a dragon. In the hands of a less skillful writer these ingredients could easily add up to a hackneyed cliche of a book. However, Anya Seton weaves her story in such a way that it is never boring, never contrived, and though the plot is pretty predictable without any real surprises, she manages to keep the story interesting. Even though you know what's going to happen, you want to keep reading, anyway.
Admittedly, I am a fan of well-written Gothics; Jane Eyre and Rebecca are two of my all-time favorites. And after reading Dragonwyck I consider it of almost that same caliber. It was only Seton's second published work and, like her other earlier books, it shows a subtlety and constraint that, I think, make it a finer work than if Seton had spelled out every detail. In this, too, it compares to Jane Eyre and Rebecca. For instance, the violence which led to the haunting of the Red Room at Dragonwyck, the evil in the Van Ryn men which has been passed down to Nicholas, and the psychological damage to Nicholas somehow connected to the loss of his mother, are all only vaguely described by Seton. Although she could have explained them in detail she instead leaves it for the reader to fill in the gaps of the past history themselves. And of course, the sexual relations between Miranda and Nicholas are only vaguely referred to. This is due more to the cultural constraints of the times during which Seton wrote than to a particular choice of style, as evidenced by her later works written when such constraints had become much more relaxed. Green Darkness in particular, and to a lesser degree Avalon, are much coarser in their treatment of sex. This is why I prefer Seton's earlier works, and older books in general. I do not need a writer to spell it out in graphic detail for me to understand what goes on behind the closed doors. And in fact, I find such graphic sex a poor substitute for the truly fine writing of earlier authors who knew how to tell a good story without titillating their readers.
Ok, enough of that.....
What makes Dragonwyck particularly engaging is the setting. Perhaps it's just the romantic or Gothic-lover in me, but I found the setting of 19th century New York along the Hudson river something that I wanted to return to; a perfect escape from the 21st century! Although Seton's works are typically considered "historicals", the historical element of Dragonwyck is secondary; it is first and foremost a romance. Although Seton does weave in some actual historical events that took place during the time of the story, the history doesn't really impact Miranda's and Nicholas' story all that much. The true driving force was Nicholas, and what happened to him, and to Miranda because of him, was inevitable regardless of what took place in the world around them.
There are a couple of little teasing tidbits that I wish Seton had followed up on. The first is in her Author's Note, where says that the idea for this story came from a news item she read in a New York newspaper from 1849. I do wish she had related just what was in that article ....... The second is in the early part of the book, when Nicholas orders a whole new wardrobe for Miranda shortly after her arrival at Dragonwyck. The modiste hired to make the clothes is not surprised, because Nicholas had done the same thing for "an orphan from New Orleans" not long before. Nicholas, being the misanthropist that he was, would not have taken in an orphan and ordered her a new, expensive wardrobe just to be generous. Just who was this orphan? I really thought this was going to be a significant point later in the book, but unfortunately it was never mentioned again......
So if you're looking for an enjoyable book to escape into for a time, this is it. Enjoy!
Summary of Dragonwyck (Rediscovered Classics)First published in 1944, Dragonwyck was a national bestseller that was made into a major motion picture starring Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in 1946. A classic gothic romance, the story features an 18-year-old Miranda Wells who falls under the spell of a mysterious old mansion and its equally fascinating master. Tired of churning butter, weeding the garden patch, and receiving the dull young farmers who seek her hand in marriage, Miranda is excited by an invitation from the upstate New York estate of her distant relative, the intriguing Nicholas Van Ryn. Her passion is kindled by the icy fire of Nicholas, the last of the Van Ryns, and the luxury of Dragonwyck, and a way of life of which she has only dreamed. Dressed in satin and lace, she becomes part of Dragonwyck, with its Gothic towers, flowering gardens, acres of tenant farms, and dark, terrible secrets. This compelling novel paints a marvelous portrait of a country torn between freedom and feudal traditions; a country divided between the very wealthy and the very poor. Poor tenant farmers at Dragonwyck, the European royalty who visit, and American icons such as Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, and the Astors are vividly brought to life. This is a heart-stopping story of a remarkable woman, her breathtaking passions, and the mystery and terror that await her in the magnificent hallways of Dragonwyck.
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