The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics)

The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics)
by Ann Radcliffe

The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics)
List Price: $14.00
Our Price: $8.22
You Save: $5.78 (41%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Ann Radcliffe
Contributor: Jacqueline Howard
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2001-10-01
ISBN: 0140437592
Number of pages: 704
Publisher: Penguin Classics

Book Reviews of The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics)

Book Review: Unusually revolting sentimentality
Summary: 2 Stars

"I believe that memory is responsible for nearly all these three-volume novels"
-Oscar Wilde

One thing I will say for this book is that it made Oscar Wilde's plays even more entertaining for me. I now know what he was talking about when he trashes books of "unusually revolting sentimentality." And what he says is very true. I am absolutely certain that Ann Radcliffe wrote this book as a sort of extended journal for her travels. At least half of it is devoted to scenery descriptions. Now this is not a bad thing in itself. I read "classics" all the time and I understand/appreciate that books tended to be more long winded due to the limited amounts of solo activities available at the time. But this is ridiculous.

I should point out that the full title of this book is "The Mysteries of Udolpho, A Romance; interspersed with some pieces of poetry by Ann Radcliffe." SOME pieces?!? Give me a break. She throws in her poetry every chance she gets. Her prose is neither creative or inspired. Every single verse is cheesy, lacking good poetic structure and ALWAYS about nature. This quickly gets redundant and I found myself skipping over her longer ones which can last for pages.

I have seen a few of these reviewers compare this book as the predecessor to Jane Austen. I beg to differ. I have read every single one of Jane Austen's books and these authors are separated by one very crucial fact: Jane Austen is a good writer and Ann Radcliffe is not. Radcliffe's writing style is extremely difficult to follow. Commas seem to be a critical plot point with her. Any kind of sentence and/or dialogue will read something like this:

"Emily, called, as she had requested, at an early hour, awoke, little refreshed by sleep, for uneasy dreams had pursued her, and marred the kindest blessing of the unhappy, but, when she opened her casement, looked out upon the woods, bright with the morning sun, and inspired the pure air, her mind was soothed."

Yes, that is all one sentence. I am almost positive that I've heard William Shatner talk more fluidly.

Despite all my griping about this book, I think the thing that annoyed me the most was that I really just didn't care about Emily. She struck me as very spoiled and sheltered. She cries nonstop and is constantly wallowing in self pity. In reality, none of the characters (not even her "evil" uncle) really abuse her. They are strict and worldly, nothing more. In one especially nauseating scene she is driving in a carriage with her aunt and uncle, wallowing in self pity as usual, and sees some peasants playing instruments. She then thinks to herself how lovely it would be to be a peasant because then she could spend the whole day doing whatever she wanted and not be controlled by an evil aunt and uncle. Umm... what?!? Last time I checked, peasants did NOT live a charmed life.

In contrast to Emily and Valancourt, I found myself actually liking her "evil" stepuncle, Montoni. He was pretty much the only character with ANY kind of common sense.

To sum up, save yourself a painful +/- 700 page read. If you want a cute and light romance I suggest checking out books by Georgette Heyer. Or go to the Bronte sisters if you want something more Gothic and substantial.

Summary of The Mysteries of Udolpho (Penguin Classics)

With The Mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe raised the Gothic romance to a new level and inspired a long line of imitators. Portraying her heroine's inner life, creating a thick atmosphere of fear, and providing a gripping plot that continues to thrill readers today, The Mysteries of Udolpho is the story of orphan Emily St. Aubert, who finds herself separated from the man she loves and confined within the medieval castle of her aunt's new husband, Montoni. Inside the castle, she must cope with an unwanted suitor, Montoni's threats, and the wild imaginings and terrors that threaten to overwhelm her.

This new edition includes an introduction that discusses the publication and early reception of the novel, the genre of Gothic romance, and Radcliffe's use of history, exotic settings, the supernatural, and poetry.

General Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Dive into Gothic Horror Literature
House of Leaves ImageHouse of Leaves
by Mark Z. Danielewski
Pantheon; Published: 2000-03-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $27.63
Price in other shops: $45.00
The Stand (Modern Classics) ImageThe Stand (Modern Classics)
by Stephen King
Gramercy; Published: 2001-08-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.39
Price in other shops: $14.99
Blaze: A Novel ImageBlaze: A Novel
by Richard Bachman
Pocket; Published: 2008-01-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: $9.99
Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae ImageGates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
by Steven Pressfield
Bantam; Published: 2005-09-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops: $15.00
I Am Legend ImageI Am Legend
by Richard Matheson
Tor Books; Published: 2007-10-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.70
Price in other shops: $14.95
Brother Odd (Odd Thomas Novels) ImageBrother Odd (Odd Thomas Novels)
by Dean Koontz
Bantam; Published: 2007-10-30; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops: $7.99
The Vampire Armand (The Vampire Chronicles) Book 6 ImageThe Vampire Armand (The Vampire Chronicles) Book 6
by Anne Rice
Ballantine Books; Published: 2000-10-03; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.94
Price in other shops: $7.99
The Vampire Lestat (Rice, Anne, Chronicles of the Vampires, 2nd Bk.) ImageThe Vampire Lestat (Rice, Anne, Chronicles of the Vampires, 2nd Bk.)
by Anne Rice
Ballantine Books; Published: 1997-11-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.85
Price in other shops: $15.95
The Queen of the Damned (Vampire Chronicles) ImageThe Queen of the Damned (Vampire Chronicles)
by Anne Rice
Ballantine Books; Published: 1997-11-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.81
Price in other shops: $15.95
Interview with the Vampire ImageInterview with the Vampire
by Anne Rice
Ballantine Books; Published: 1997-03-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.68
Price in other shops: $14.95
Similar Books and other products
Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey ImageMasterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey
WGBH BOSTON VIDEO; Release date: 2008-01-22; DVD
Best price: $13.92
Price in other shops: $24.95
The Castle of Otranto (Dover Thrift Editions) ImageThe Castle of Otranto (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Horace Walpole
Dover Publications; Published: 2004-03-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.90
Price in other shops: $2.50
Northanger Abbey (Modern Library Classics) ImageNorthanger Abbey (Modern Library Classics)
by Jane Austen
Modern Library; Published: 2002-01-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.29
Price in other shops: $6.95
Melmoth the Wanderer (Penguin Classics) ImageMelmoth the Wanderer (Penguin Classics)
by Charles Robert Maturin
Penguin Classics; Published: 2001-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.57
Price in other shops: $15.00
Evelina (Oxford World's Classics) ImageEvelina (Oxford World's Classics)
by Frances Burney
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2002-07-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops: $12.95
The Monk (Oxford World's Classics) ImageThe Monk (Oxford World's Classics)
by Matthew Lewis
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1998-05-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.50
Price in other shops: $9.95
The Monk (Penguin Classics) ImageThe Monk (Penguin Classics)
by Matthew Lewis, Christopher MacLachlan
Penguin Classics; Published: 1999-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.21
Price in other shops: $11.00
Romance of the Forest (Nonsuch Classics) ImageRomance of the Forest (Nonsuch Classics)
by Ann Radcliffe
Nonsuch Publishing; Published: 2005-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.04
Price in other shops: $10.00
The Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story ImageThe Castle of Otranto: A Gothic Story
by Horace Walpole
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1998-07-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.00
Price in other shops: $8.95
The Italian (Penguin Classics) ImageThe Italian (Penguin Classics)
by Ann Radcliffe
Penguin Classics; Published: 2001-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.79
Price in other shops: $12.00
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories