The Wyvern Mystery a Novel Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 9781141890040 Books
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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
The Wyvern Mystery a Novel Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 9781141890040 Books
Poor Alice! Why is her new husband so secretive? Why is the housekeeper so cool toward her? What does her brother-in-law know that he isn't telling? And what is that strange scratching noise in her bedroom at midnight?All good questions, but don't expect answers for a few hundred pages. Le Fanu is the master of dragged-out suspense, but he really drags it out in this one, then skips 12 years, then begins what appears to be a new plot needing another few hundred pages, until he recollects that he needs to finish the book and ends everything at breakneck speed in the last few pages. You wouldn't mind so much if you cared about Alice's problems, but she's the typical innocent and passive young heroine who needs squads of people on hand to help her while she's bedridden with grief. What makes this book enjoyable is not her but the other characters: there's old Squire Fairfield; he didn't like Alice's father, but when Alice was orphaned as a child, he raised her himself. His feelings toward her seem gruff but paternal.... or are they? Mildred the housekeeper has an endless supply of proverbs and sayings; she isn't loyal or even nice... or is she? Harry the brother-in-law seems to be a simple horse trader who's happy to let his elder brother inherit Wyvern, the family estate, but he may not be as simple as he seems. And what about the mysterious, tall, opium-smoking "Dutchwoman" ....? Le Fanu excels at ambiguous motivations, only in this book, the motives are especially nebulous. I would have appreciated an afterword explaining the laws of inheritance and primogeniture in a way that would make the baby plot a little clearer.
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The Wyvern Mystery a Novel Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 9781141890040 Books Reviews
LeFanu's "Wyvern Mystery" is a classic example of a Gothic mystery. During the 1860's, Gothic mysteries and horror novels were popular. Although LeFanu is not as "up there " as such notable Gothic novelists as Bram Stroker or Mary Shelley, LeFanu creates a chilling and suspenseful thriller. The tale has the typical features one finds in Gothic novels- a beautiful heroine who is in danger, a mysterious family secret, a haunted mansion, prophetic dreams, appropriate dark atmosphere and as added bonus LeFanu created a "sub-human " character who has been damaged in her past and has now become a monster out for revenge. At time reminiscent of Jane Eyre, Wyvern mystery is a must have for mystery fans of the genre. PBS broadcasted a screen adaptation on their Mystery Series. Also I recommend all other LeFanu novels and also the Gothic mystery "Lady Audley's Secret ". Enjoy.
J. Sheridan LeFanu is not as difficult to get into as other Gothic fiction authors are. I would definitely recommend the 'Wyvern Mystery' to anyone looking at beginning to read Gothic fiction. I would recommend to anyone, however, as a very well-rounded book. The storyline takes many exciting twists and turns, though LeFanu's slow and detailed style may find little friendliness from modern readers. Those who appreciate detail will find his intricate portraits both refreshing and beautiful. Many times I found myself smiling at the believable and realistic depictions of emotion or character traits. LeFanu definitely shows that he is not an amatuer and demands attention from modern readers. He is widely unread, but his great talents at storytelling deserve attention. The 'mystery' of the Wyvern Mystery centers around a young couple's troubles due to elopement, financial problems, and the hero's dark past that comes back to haunt them both. All this and a happy ending. I implore you to resurrect this wonderful old mystery.
In college, I took a course about Victorian Gothic writers, and I remember reading some of Le Fanu's stories, but he never struck me as being very important. I decided to read this because the book simply fell into my hands. It is not very Gothic. True, we have the old house, midnight happenings, a crazed woman with a knife walking around, but it's not that spine-tingling. As I was reading, I assumed that Le Fanu wrote this as a serial and was being paid by the word. (a half-penny a word?) I would say, however, that he deserved two pounds for using the word "febrifuge." The story seems to be heavily padded with atmospherics. Even as we near the end of the story, we get new characters, who are then given their long thick descriptive paragraphs, as well as their detailed life histories...and since each one might be in a room, we have to get 200 words describing everything in the room. The term "Victorian Clutter" applies to prose as well as to interior design.
I felt like this was watered-down Dickens you take poor but deserving kids and put them in uncomfortable situations and trust God to punish the villains and reward the saints. There is an overloading of the story with too many attempts at quirky colorful characters who seem to exist merely to spew out as many country proverbs as possible ("There be not many roads without stones and holes" type of pronouncements. Something like "It's only the dead rat that eats no cheese" was declared more than once.) At times the novel seems more like a catalogue of these wise-country saws than an actual story. I really can't recommend it, not even to someone who wants a long complex Masterpiece Theatre type of story.
Le Fanu is always good reading, although probably none of his other novels can stand up to "Uncle Silas." But this one has some good characters--both strong and frustratingly weak in personality--and some nicely creepy situations. Incidentally, the Derek Jacobi DVD is okay but only weakly related to the book.
It was ok, it took forever to get done with it and I won't be reading it again. There was a lot of "You are wonderful putting up with a poor wife/husband."
Can't remember the story line but I didn't feel it was up to LeFanu's standards.
First rate. I loved it.
KFW
Poor Alice! Why is her new husband so secretive? Why is the housekeeper so cool toward her? What does her brother-in-law know that he isn't telling? And what is that strange scratching noise in her bedroom at midnight?
All good questions, but don't expect answers for a few hundred pages. Le Fanu is the master of dragged-out suspense, but he really drags it out in this one, then skips 12 years, then begins what appears to be a new plot needing another few hundred pages, until he recollects that he needs to finish the book and ends everything at breakneck speed in the last few pages. You wouldn't mind so much if you cared about Alice's problems, but she's the typical innocent and passive young heroine who needs squads of people on hand to help her while she's bedridden with grief. What makes this book enjoyable is not her but the other characters there's old Squire Fairfield; he didn't like Alice's father, but when Alice was orphaned as a child, he raised her himself. His feelings toward her seem gruff but paternal.... or are they? Mildred the housekeeper has an endless supply of proverbs and sayings; she isn't loyal or even nice... or is she? Harry the brother-in-law seems to be a simple horse trader who's happy to let his elder brother inherit Wyvern, the family estate, but he may not be as simple as he seems. And what about the mysterious, tall, opium-smoking "Dutchwoman" ....? Le Fanu excels at ambiguous motivations, only in this book, the motives are especially nebulous. I would have appreciated an afterword explaining the laws of inheritance and primogeniture in a way that would make the baby plot a little clearer.
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