The Mysteries of Udolpho

Ann Radcliffe has written one of the greatest gotic romantic stories of all time.

Plot

In the end of 1500, Emily, the daughter of Mr and Mrs S:t Aubert loses her mother at a young age, and when she leaves with her father for a trip in the French country side, they meet Valancourt, whom falls in love with Emily and follow them on their trip. When Emily's father then dies Emily is taken into custody by her aunt, Madame Cheron. Her aunt doesn't like Valancourt until she finds out he is a relative of a very wealthy woman, and their engagement is on, but as soon as Madame Cheron is married to Signor Montoni, Emily and her aunt have to leave France and Valancourt to go to Itlay, where Mr Montoni has his castle. As time goes by, Mr Montoni is showing more what he is made of.

Opinion

Radcliffe tells about scenery, and the books consists of many pages of. Every view is explained into the last detail, so even if you have never visited France, this is something you are able to imagine very vividly through her explanations.

Ann Radcliffe is the mother of the Byronic villian, what later came to be the Byronic hero, and now, the Byronic vampire. Mr Montoni, is cruel and evil, and destroys the ones around him. The byronic hero has later came to be the moping one, destroying the one around him, but is still not as evil as Mr Montoni.

The feel I get from the book, is that Radcliffe still have written a lot about her own culture, from the 1800s but still put them in the 1500s. 

Do I recommend it?

Yes I do. But I recommend that if you are not used to the times English, read it in your own home language, even if it is still a big piece, it will be an easier read, and you won't have to struggle to get through it and get bored.