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Chargement... Old fires and profitable ghostspar Arthur Quiller-Couch
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Yes; you shall have the whole tale. The first effect of the news of Harry's death in October last was simply to stun me. You may remember how once, years ago when we were children, we rode home together across the old Racecourse after a long day's skating, our skates swinging at our saddle-bows; how Harry challenged us to a gallop; and how, midway, the roan mare slipped down neck over crop on the frozen turf and hurled me clean against the face of a stone dyke. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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Google Books — Chargement... GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)823.8Literature English English fiction Victorian period 1837-1900Classification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne:
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After reading the first two stories I had started to worry that this was going to be one of those books written in the 1800s that always had to bring Christianity into a story - but happily that's not the case. Instead it's a glut of Heavy Symbolism that's involved, not Christianity (though there's Christian symbolism scattered about too). Some of the stories seem to be better written than others; in some there's a slightly dream-like tone that sometimes doesn't work as well. The more dreamy ones seem to be going for a symbolism (psychological?) that is often unclear yet at the same time hits the reader in the face as a "This Means Something" moment - which all just seems awkward. The Room of Mirrors is the best example. There are a lot of shipwrecks in these stories - it's the one theme that continues throughout the book.
However! I don't dislike the book - I just had the impression that a few of the stories didn't quite seem as good as the rest. Many of the stories I did like, and would read again - the author does have the ability to make his stories seem like old folktales (not a surprise, given his biography).
At this point it's best just to give you a plot blurb on each and then a few quotes as examples of the author's writing style.
Contents:
I. OCEANUS.
Written as a letter to a family member, a brother struggles with his brother's death. He sees his brother again - or is it a dream/vision?
II. THE SEVENTH MAN.
Ship-wrecked survivors in the arctic. Suddenly there's one more in a head-count of the crew.
III. THE ROOM OF MIRRORS.
A man hunts down his enemy, but they are perhaps dependent on each other for existence in a supernatural way.
IV. A PAIR OF HANDS.
A quiet little ghost, and a rather sweet story. (I really liked this one.)
V. THE LADY OF THE SHIP.
A lady involved in a shipwreck is saved by a lord who then must deal with a case of...demonic possession? Or servitude to a demon? (I was somewhat fuzzy on that part, but so was the narrator.) Written by a servant trying to clear his master's name. (I also liked this story - good atmosphere.)
VI. FROZEN MARGIT.
Story told by one twin about the women saved from a shipwreck that he and his brother fell in love with. She chooses one of them, eventually they end up on a sea voyage that ends in...weirdness. (I didn't like the character of Margit, and don't think I'm supposed to - she's wildly unlikable. The story's ending was ...odd. As are all of Margit's choices.)
VII. THE SINGULAR ADVENTURE OF A SMALL FREE-TRADER.
A child from a family of smugglers gets separated from the crew of his vessel/smuggling group and ends up meeting a strange older lady.
VIII. THE MYSTERY OF JOSEPH LAQUEDEM.
Letter written by the minister to a friend, story of a Jewish business man who, while visiting the minister, meets a girl who the locals know to be "an imbecile." However he believes that he and the girl have a past bond. Romance with supernatural twist.
IX. PRISONERS OF WAR.
Two men who have known each other all their lives become enemies after becoming prisoners of war. "Humorous" ending.
X. A TOWN'S MEMORY.
Man returns to a town he hasn't seen since youth and tries to find someone that remembers him.
XI. THE LADY OF THE RED ADMIRALS.
Girl who lives with elderly guardians allows a passing stranger in on the secret of her fiance.
XII. THE PENANCE OF JOHN EMMET.
The parson has his pupil (our narrator) help him with a task he must perform for a dead man, and then tells his pupil the story behind it. (I liked this one.)
XIII. ELISHA.
Myth/fairytale-like story of the Biblical Elisha, the blind prophet, who returns to an area he'd visited before and finds out what happened in the life of Miriam since then.
XIV. "ONCE ABOARD THE LUGGER".
A small town gets a new minister and the local girls gossip about who will marry him. (This did not go where I thought it would or the way it would. Which I kind of like for surprising me. Then again, this depends on where you think the writer will go with things at this point.)
XV. WHICH?
A man and women meet who used to know each other, and reminisce about their sad past.
Quotes:
From The Singular Adventure of A Small Free-Trader:
From The Penance of John Emmet: I have to admit, I'm sharing that primarily for "like a goat out for a holiday" which for some reason really amused me. ( )