Monday, March 8, 2021

A Real Gem--For Bronte Scholars, And/Or Fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                                Girls, let's face it.  The Brontes were the original Sister Act!  Before  the Andrews, McGuires, and Lennons,  they sang  with the power of  language.  Now, imagine, which Catherine Lowell does brilliantly, in this first novel, if there remained, in present day, a living descendant of the Brontes.


                                                 That is the situation facing Samantha Whipple, as she begins her studies in English litereature, at Oxford, in Cambridge.  Samantha, the daughter of a Trollope wannabe novelist  named Tristan Whipple, is given the tower room there, at the insistence of her father, himself obsessed  with the  Brontes, and within which may or not be the key to the entire mystery.

                                                   To reveal any more, would be to rob the reader of this literary treat.  For Bronte fantatics, such as myself,  this  is a veritable feast; for those less schooled,  don't be afraid.  To  be sure,  the standards, Charlotte's "Jane Eyre," and Emily's "Wuthering Heights," are referenced, but much of  the emphasis is on the  lesser Anne's two novels, "Agnes Grey," and "The Tennant Of Wildfell Hall."  None of these works  have to be read to enjoy the book, but those such as I may be compelled to give them a re-examination.  Currently, I am re-reading Emily's "Wuthering Heights" for the tenth time, thanks to this novel.

                                                     I know I will be re-reading Anne's work soon.

                                                     As I read the book,  I was certain  Lowell was a Bronte scholar.   But  she makes no claim; though her book  is so thoroughly researched, as to suggest otherwise.

                                                      However she got  there,  Lowell's accomplishment is amazing,  and finally somehting I can highly recommend.  Granted, I am a Bronte fanatic.  But this novel can be enjoyed, on many levels,  by everyone.

                                                        Newcomers drawn into this world, are sure to be drawn into  the world of the Brontes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           Take  it away,  Charlotte, Emily, and Anne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                            

2 comments:

  1. Suspenseful, challenging in a good way, and FUNNY!!
    Good reading.

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  2. Victoria,
    I can't believe I missed this one!
    It pressed all my buttons!

    ReplyDelete