…. and it has spun me a book that wasn’t one of my most wanted or one of my most feared.
Though I love 20th century authors who were inspired by the gothic and the romantic – I’m thinking here of authors like Daphne Du Maurier, Victoria Holt, and Mary Stewart – I don’t always get on with the older gothic novels, even though the idea of them does appeal.
I hope that the mixture of gothic and romantic that Mrs Radcliffe is known for will suit me. I know this isn’t reckoned to be her best book but I thought I should start here because it’s her first and because its short.
I do want to like it, because her later, bigger books look lovely.
And I’m in the final stages of a wonderful, not so well known as it should be, sensation novel, so my reading head is in the right place for ‘A Sicilian Romance.’
On balance, I think I’m pleased ….
Fleur in her World 
The only Radcliffe I’ve ever encountered is The Mysteries of Udolpho which I think I read about 30 years ago and can’t remember anything about! But I did inherit A Sicilian Romance from one of my children who had a copy from University, so I’ll be interested to hear how you find it!
I’ll also be interested to hear what you think. I really struggled with The Mysteries of Udolpho.
I want to read this one. I loved The Mysteries of Udolpho. I hope you like it. 🙂
Yes, The Mysteries of Udolpho is the only one I’ve read too – and like your first commenter I can’t remember much about it, except a feeling that I enjoyed it more than I expected to. I’ll be interested to hear what you make of this one…
I love gothic novels, both old and new, and have read a few of Ann Radcliffe’s books. As this one is shorter than her others it’s probably a good choice to start with to see if you like her writing style, but my favourite is The Italian.
I have not read this one.
I find that when I return to the classics now I am struck by the time taken to introduce the main elements of the story. There is a different tempo altogether from contemporary fiction where we expect to be drawn in immediately..
Interested to know what you make of the book.
I read A Sicilian Romance about a year ago….its very different and you right it is one of the first predecessors of 20th century gothic… its got some lovely poetry and descriptions! Let us know what you thought of the book!!