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Loading... The Witch of Prague (1891)by F. Marion Crawford
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Classic Literature.
Fantasy.
Fiction.
Literature.
HTML: For fantasy fans bored with the same old cookie-cutter plots and themes, Francis Marion Crawford's The Witch of Prague is a welcome reprieve. This truly original and imaginative novel revolves a beautiful young witch, Unorna, and her attempts to win the love of an enigmatic figure known only as The Wanderer -- and to overcome the evil influence of dark wizard Keyork Arabian. .No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.4Literature English (North America) American fiction Later 19th Century 1861-1900LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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It will be despised by most critics, and I assume it was at the time of its premiere. Further, not all lovers of fantasy will take to it, either, it being such a strange brew of Gothic and romance and even philosophy.
But I greatly enjoyed the book. The tattered copy I first bought served me throughout this first reading, and still exists, not fallen apart, dirtied by too many readings as it is. I've purchased other editions, since.
And it is, I assure the reader, an almost unique experience, a rare thing in literature. The main character is never called anything but The Wanderer. The witch is a powerful and magical hypnotist, putting the Mesmerists to shame. The magician, Keyork Arabian, is a wicked man, full of life and vinegar and brimstone and smoke. And Israel Kafka, he's a character pitiful and much abused. Indeed, the witch Unorna's most grievous abuse of him would shock most readers then, and will now. The author built the abuse out of a shocking tale from Prague's history, and it demanded a footnote to the novel, the novel's only one.
Finally, there's Beatrice, the Wanderer's true love. I can't help but almost snigger when I write "true love," but Crawford didn't, and the reader won't, in context.
At least, the good reader won't.
I wonder: how many good readers of books like this are left in this world of video games and blood-drenched film? ( )