What strikes one especially about this subtle novel is its construction, which places a complicated love story against life in Early Victorian England - just reaping the benefits of the Industrial Revolution. With more than a hint of the Gothic novel, the relationships in her life are portrayed by the narrator in a clinically objective, sophisticatedly modern manner. Rich in detail and colour, it's a 'must', even for those who don't usually read fiction.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 8 April 2001 ) |
