Do You like book The Scandal Of The Season (2007)?
Mah, mi è sembrata un po' un'occasione sprecata. Non c'è stato il tempo né il modo di approfondire i personaggi, e quindi non ho potuto più di tanto interessarmi alle loro vicende: non ho sentito affetto, preoccupazione, pietà, speranza per Arabella, non ho aspettato con ansia che Alexander ottenesse il suo meritato successo. La storia è affascinante e avrebbe meritato molto di più - mi sono quasi più diverita a leggere la sorte dei personaggi nella vita reale alla fine del libro, e penso che questa vicenda sarebbe stata raccontata meglio in versione non-fiction: il periodo storico lo conosco poco (e in generale tutta l'epoca post-Tudor e pre-Georgiana) ma ultimamente avevo una mezza idea di leggere una biografia della regina Anna, e non mi sarebbe dispiaciuto immergermi in quell'atmosfera.Sicuramente mi è piaciuta l'ambientazione nell'alta società londinese, ma avrei voluto che l'autrice passasse più tempo a parlarmi di questi personaggi. Alla fine il risultato è quello di un period drama che si guarda più che altro per vedere i costumi, le carrozze, e le case in Grosvenor Square, ma la cui trama si dimentica in fretta.Non mi pento di averci speso tre euro ma, dato che in generale apprezzo molto la Vintage, mi sarei aspettata qualcosa in più (più Jane Austen e meno Tracy Chevalier, diciamo, ma non a caso questo romanzo in Italia è pubblicato da Neri Pozza).
—Claire
I bought this book on the strength of good reviews in the press, and was left disappointed. I too nearly put it down unfinished, which I have only very rarely done. A reviewer on Amazon asked why the book doesn't work, when Sophie Gee has a PhD in 18C literature and a clear passion for her subject - I think that's why. To me this book is an example of how not to turn an academic thesis and course of lectures into a novel.Unfortunately, Ms Gee is intent on proving that this 'is not Austen' and to that end inserts vignettes of 18C life from her thesis or her wider reading that add nothing to character or plot development ie the hogman driving his herd of pigs through the theatre going crowd, the overheard snatches of servants' conversation. They jar and jolt the reader away from the story - perhaps this was her intent? The 18C is contemporary yet not?I was convinced neither by the love story nor the Jacobite plotting - there was no sense of frisson in the former nor real threat in the latter - only four years after the novel is set the Old Pretender did mount an invasion. I feel this is because the author was aware that she was dealing with historical personalities and felt unable to write speech and behaviours for them which the trained historian in her could not justify through surviving texts. The plot only really got going in the last 50 or so pages, out of a 300 page novel - the pacing could have been better, and in the hands of a more experienced author it could have merited a longer treatment.Sadly, the author could not resist the temptation to sprinkle the text with 'in jokes' about the personalities and literature of the time: Pope's meeting with Mary Wortley Montague [Pierrepont in the novel] is one of many. I have a little knowledge of the times and found this tedious.I see that Sophie Gee has now published her thesis - I think it would be the better, more entertaining book, but I do hope she develops as a novelist and has the courage to cast aside her historical training and find her own voice, sadly lacking in this book.
—Carolynn
The Scandal of the Season is an account of the season Alexander Pope spent in London that inspired him to write "The Rape of the Lock," one of his most famous poems (that actually made him independently wealthy after being born without status, and therefore without a fortune).The Scandal of the Season is entertaining reading. It's not heavy or deep, but it's a fun look into the lives of high society during that period in England (circa 1712-1714). It's full of intrigue and trysts, secrets and jealousy, creating the perfect fodder for Pope's famous satire. I found myself entrenched in the lifestyle of that period, rather in the point of view of Mr. Pope (as an outsider experiencing the "fine" society). It's an interesting perspective.If you can't handle mild language and mild sexual innuendo, I don't recommend it. Gee skips the sex scenes, but keeps her observations regarding the literature and magazines of the time true to their content...which are known to be rather coarse and crude. While there are no illustrations, there are brief descriptions.
—Marek
