Excerpt: ...If you only knew how much happier I am-here, with you!" He clasped his hands, and looked at her. In the position which he occupied, when he did that, he turned my way. Can words describe how I sickened when I noticed exactly the same pathetic expression on his face, which had charmed me when he was pleading for destitute millions of his fellow-creatures on the platform at Exeter Hall! "It's hard to get over one's bad habits, Godfrey. But do try to get over the habit of paying compliments-do, to please me." "I never paid you a compliment, Rachel, in my life. Successful love may sometimes use the language of flattery, I admit. But hopeless love, dearest, always speaks the truth." He drew his chair close, and took her hand, when he said "hopeless love." There was a momentary silence. He, who thrilled everybody, had doubtless thrilled HER. I thought I now understood the words which had dropped from him when he was alone in the drawing-room, "I'll do it to-day." Alas! the most rigid propriety could hardly have failed to discover that he was doing it now. "Have you forgotten what we agreed on, Godfrey, when you spoke to me in the country? We agreed that we were to be cousins, and nothing more." "I break the agreement, Rachel, every time I see you." "Then don't see me." "Quite useless! I break the agreement every time I think of you. Oh, Rachel! how kindly you told me, only the other day, that my place in your estimation was a higher place than it had ever been yet! Am I mad to build the hopes I do on those dear words? Am I mad to dream of some future day when your heart may soften to me? Don't tell me so, if I am! Leave me my delusion, dearest! I must have THAT to cherish, and to comfort me, if I have nothing else!" His voice trembled, and he put his white handkerchief to his eyes. Exeter Hall again! Nothing wanting to complete the parallel but the audience, the cheers, and the glass of water. Even her obdurate nature was touched. I saw her...
Es ist sehr umfangreich! Es hat durchaus seinen Scharm und Collins ist sehr gut in der Lage, viele unterschiedliche Perspektiven zu einem Fall zu schildern. Jeder Mensch nimmt Dinge auf seine Art wahr und das hat er hier sehr gut beschrieben. Gegen Ende wurde ich auch an Draculas „Helden“ erinnert, da man sich hier für einen guten Zweck zusammenschließt, und das Rätsel lösen will. Sehr lesenswert und für Sherlock Holmes Fans ein Muss!
Jun 17, 2024
4.0
Es ist sehr umfangreich! Es hat durchaus seinen Scharm und Collins ist sehr gut in der Lage, viele unterschiedliche Perspektiven zu einem Fall zu schildern. Jeder Mensch nimmt Dinge auf seine Art wahr und das hat er hier sehr gut beschrieben. Gegen Ende wurde ich auch an Draculas „Helden“ erinnert, da man sich hier für einen guten Zweck zusammenschließt, und das Rätsel lösen will. Sehr lesenswert und für Sherlock Holmes Fans ein Muss!
Hatte zwischendurch durchaus seine Längen, aber schon ziemlich mind-blowing, wenn man sich vor Augen hält, wie alt der Roman ist. Und wie genial die Erzählung aus verschiedenen Perspektiven und dann die Auflösung der Geschichte gelöst ist.
May 17, 2024
4.0
Hatte zwischendurch durchaus seine Längen, aber schon ziemlich mind-blowing, wenn man sich vor Augen hält, wie alt der Roman ist. Und wie genial die Erzählung aus verschiedenen Perspektiven und dann die Auflösung der Geschichte gelöst ist.
While the whodunit/mystery aspect still was somehow interesting, I was much more interested in the character studies. Wilkie Collins created wonderfully fascinating, quirky characters that represent perfectly some types of people everyone knew at the time and in a way still knows now. My favourite example of the relevance of this portrayals is the butler, whose obsession, excapism to, and almost religious believe in the book Robinson Crusoe is a better caricature of modern fan culture than anything you see in contemporary works.
I loved how every different point of view changed and shaped the readers thoughts on the characters, especially Rachel. Also, the framing devise of the book being a collection of accounts about the case was quite clever and well done. Above all, the good balance of humor and serious topics and moments was outstanding.
It had some adventure, some love story, some mystery and satire, showed the thoughts and lives of different classes and all of this in a really nice writing. It deserves to be a classic.
I think 4.5 stars comes closest to the rating I want to give this but since there aren't half stars at goodreads I'll settle for 4. It's just not a perfect 5 stars for me since the mystery itself isn't as intriguing as others I loved, but I might still change the rating.
(Edit: What the heck, I'm just giving every book that "feels like a 5 star" to me the appropriate rating now. Critique still stands, and that's ok.)
Sep 4, 2022
5.0
While the whodunit/mystery aspect still was somehow interesting, I was much more interested in the character studies. Wilkie Collins created wonderfully fascinating, quirky characters that represent perfectly some types of people everyone knew at the time and in a way still knows now. My favourite example of the relevance of this portrayals is the butler, whose obsession, excapism to, and almost religious believe in the book Robinson Crusoe is a better caricature of modern fan culture than anything you see in contemporary works.
I loved how every different point of view changed and shaped the readers thoughts on the characters, especially Rachel. Also, the framing devise of the book being a collection of accounts about the case was quite clever and well done. Above all, the good balance of humor and serious topics and moments was outstanding.
It had some adventure, some love story, some mystery and satire, showed the thoughts and lives of different classes and all of this in a really nice writing. It deserves to be a classic.
I think 4.5 stars comes closest to the rating I want to give this but since there aren't half stars at goodreads I'll settle for 4. It's just not a perfect 5 stars for me since the mystery itself isn't as intriguing as others I loved, but I might still change the rating.
(Edit: What the heck, I'm just giving every book that "feels like a 5 star" to me the appropriate rating now. Critique still stands, and that's ok.)
