Reviews

A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

moominess's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book exemplifies what makes early Gothic literature so entertaining to read.

In A Sicilian Romance, Ann Radcliffe takes the reader on a winding journey full of frankly, batshit coincidences, heart pounding mysteries and beautiful descriptions typical of the Gothic. 

Is the plot contrived and characters lacking in some complexity? Yes. But for the period, the agency Julia is written to have and how active a character she is was refreshing, rather than being a typical damsel in distress. 

If you enjoy the tropes characteristic of Gothic lit, this book will undoubtedly be a fun time for you. But, if you can't get behind the contrivances and didactic "Virtue and goodness prevails" sentiment then you might want to give this one a miss.

serving_goffman's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

smithel's review against another edition

4.0

Definitely my favourite of the Radcliffe's I've read so far.

oliviakateamerica's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

tom_f's review against another edition

2.0

too smitten with supposed international aristocratic virtues of politesse and good breeding to fully earn its critique of structural authority. don’t come here (as i did) expecting to learn anything about what was particularly sicilian about the sicilian ruling classes. some of the high-stakes action is quite fun.

ilseoo's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed the writing style, romantic nature descriptions, typical gothic elements, and intricate plot of this novel. The tension building in certain scenes was great and I really appreciate the commentary which the novel gives on patriarchy from the viewpoint of an eighteenth-century woman. My only dislikes are that some patterns and tension-building devices become repetitive during the final quarter of the book and that some scenes that keep the plot going are a bit too convenient.

mattia_bacchelli's review against another edition

2.5

No chance you could see Palermo and Calabria from the same castle just took me out of the plot. The only proper description of this book is criminally predictable.

gracechrister's review against another edition

3.0

every bitch has the same name in this fucking book

gregoreads's review against another edition

2.0

Definitely a drop from Udolpho! It reads very distantly, and despite having all the great melodramatic trappings of the Gothic novel, ends up being pretty non-engaging and it’s easy to let your eyes glaze over. It’s pre-Udolpho so I can accept that she was still perfecting the craft. She certainly had the plot down, and a potentially endearing cast of characters, but for me, it just didn’t weave together very well.

elenaj15's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

For ENGL 372
Very trope-y but Ms. Radcliffe knows how to write a gothic novel!