Mrs. Henry Wood (1814–1887)

Another Goodreads reviewer likened this book to a Victorian soap opera, and I think that is a very good description. It is dramatic and fast-paced, often utterly unlikely and outrageous. There is adultery, assumed identities, a murder-mystery, an election, a murder trial and so on and so on. Until the last few chapters I was ready to give this novel five stars, but unfortunately the ending with the two pious deaths was a bit too sentimental even for me.

I spent most of the story wondering show more what sort of a name Afy was - turns out it's short for Aphrodite. The writing is extremely accessible for a Victorian novel.

Highly recommended. show less

Nothing like the odd interlude of Victorian melodrama, enfolding the reader in a soothing world of absolute truths, Reaping What One Sows and unswerving moral conviction (in some.)
Mrs Henry Wood takes as her theme alcoholism; by page 24 the reader is very clear on that, after an inebriated nurse has given baby laudanum in error, after Mrs Danesbury has startled the dinner guests by announcing her children should not drink wine and ale (never realised this was so prevalent in 19th century!) show more and a drunken gate keeper has precipitated a deadly accident...
The tale covers some decades, and illustrates drunkenness in its many forms- the wasted money, imprudent activities under its influence, wretched marriages, harrassed relatives.Three latter chapters- "An Evil Death", "Another Deathbed" and "One More Death" leave one in no doubt of the results...and yet it finishes on a hopeful note.
VERY well written! show less

This novel is a Victorian melodrama that explores morality in depth. The story revolves around Lady Isabel Vane, who becomes entangled in a scandalous affair that ultimately leads to her downfall. Throughout the story, she makes a series of poor choices and suffers from what we today know as postpartum depression. Additionally, some sections of the novel feel overly long, particularly the death scenes. 417 pages (felt longer!)

Mrs. Wood manages sterlingly to keep many pots on the boil at the same time as keeping a complicated plot stirred to the satisfaction of her readers. This is a high paced high action Victorian novel well suited to serialization, I would think. The characters are wonderful types and they are drawn with an expert eye, from the deeply loathsome , the sublimely tragic, the bad tempered and the completely noble.
The novel has everything to keep a reader interested and willing to continue. Those show more Victorians - they knew their language so well, they were inventive and understood perfectly what the reading public wanted - adultery, murder, rowdiness, fraud, cads aplenty, beautiful women, It's a triumph of good old story-telling. show less