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sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite Robert Louis Stevenson book. I have to re-read this, since I read it only in Russian translation. The original better be as good.
mizpurplest's review against another edition
4.0
A bit like Robin Hood, but not as excitingly outcast, I enjoyed this book, but parts of it annoyed me. There were some character inconsistencies that I had trouble getting past, and some of the characters were really, really flat. Also, there are many, many historical references that seemed like they just went nowhere. All in all, though, a quick, entertaining read.
dabs's review against another edition
Tutto quello che riesco a dire è: Dick etero quanto Shang di Mulan.
dotorsojak's review against another edition
3.0
Edition I read: Stevenson, R. L. THE BLACK ARROW: A Tale of the Two Roses. Ill. by Lionel Edwards. The Children's Illustrated Classics. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1957. I read this long, long ago when I was a child and knew nothing of the War of the Roses or Richard III or Middle English. Okay, granted the book is not written in Middle English, but it is written in a peculiar, archaic lingo. The characters speak in an English that never was. Here is an example:
'And ye think I would be guardian to the man's son that I had murdered?' he asked.
"Nay,' said Dick, 'pardon me if I answer churlishly; but indeed ye know right well a wardship is most profitable. All these years have ye not enjoyed my revenues, and led my men? Have ye not still my marriage? I wot not what it may be worth--it is worth something' (93).
I know I was confused by this book when I read it at age 11 or 12, and even still it is not the easiest thing to follow, especially at the beginning when there are many references to characters and to the ongoing civil wars. Still, overall I liked it. There appears to be a slight anti-war, anti-violence theme, and for sure definite digs are made against political ambition and avarice, and the suggestion is that the two are related.
The love story is pretty standard. Joan does not appear very often in the novel. She shows a bit of courage at the beginning, but she also cowers on occasion. There is also the obligatory escape scene where Dick jumps out a window, but Joan stays behind and is captured. Rather reminds me of the absurd scene in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS where Hawkeye abandons Cora.
The novel is episodic and not tightly constructed. Characters are introduced never to reappear--or if they do reappear it is to perform some plot necessity and then exit stage left. It's not a great book, but for an adult it passes a few hours pleasantly. It's a 19th century YA book, I guess, but the vocabulary would be challenging for any 17 year old I know. 2.75 stars in fact
'And ye think I would be guardian to the man's son that I had murdered?' he asked.
"Nay,' said Dick, 'pardon me if I answer churlishly; but indeed ye know right well a wardship is most profitable. All these years have ye not enjoyed my revenues, and led my men? Have ye not still my marriage? I wot not what it may be worth--it is worth something' (93).
I know I was confused by this book when I read it at age 11 or 12, and even still it is not the easiest thing to follow, especially at the beginning when there are many references to characters and to the ongoing civil wars. Still, overall I liked it. There appears to be a slight anti-war, anti-violence theme, and for sure definite digs are made against political ambition and avarice, and the suggestion is that the two are related.
The love story is pretty standard. Joan does not appear very often in the novel. She shows a bit of courage at the beginning, but she also cowers on occasion. There is also the obligatory escape scene where Dick jumps out a window, but Joan stays behind and is captured. Rather reminds me of the absurd scene in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS where Hawkeye abandons Cora.
The novel is episodic and not tightly constructed. Characters are introduced never to reappear--or if they do reappear it is to perform some plot necessity and then exit stage left. It's not a great book, but for an adult it passes a few hours pleasantly. It's a 19th century YA book, I guess, but the vocabulary would be challenging for any 17 year old I know. 2.75 stars in fact
persephone0000's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, but everything worked out too well for the protagonist, so many deus ex machina situations, and such a sturdy plot armour to boot.. but the adventure was fun and exciting, never a dull moment.
jhouses's review against another edition
3.0
Una de mis mas queridas novelas de juventud. ha resultado sorprendentemente dificil de leer en en su idioma original. Lenguaje arcaico con imposura medieval y vocabulario poco comunún han contribuido a restar ritmo a lo que basicamente es una novela de acción. Comparándola con "La isla del tesoro" (lo sentimos Stevenson, ya se que es tu cruz) los personajes son mas primarios y tienen menos encanto.
anniebluebuble's review against another edition
It's nice a bad book, but i didn't enjoy it as much as i expected it
antonella2024's review against another edition
5.0
Ho letto questo libro con grande piacere e interesse. Si tratta di un romanzo storico e avventuroso ambientato nell'Inghilterra del XV secolo, durante la Guerra delle Due Rose tra le fazioni degli York e dei Lancaster. Il protagonista è il giovane Dick Shelton, che scopre di essere stato tradito dal suo tutore sir Daniel Brackley, responsabile della morte di suo padre. Dick si unisce ai fuorilegge della Freccia Nera, guidati da Ellis Duckworth, che combattono contro le ingiustizie e le oppressioni dei nobili. Insieme a loro, Dick vivrà numerose peripezie e lotterà per difendere il suo amore per Joanna Sedley, una ricca ereditiera contesa tra i due schieramenti.
Il libro è scritto con uno stile coinvolgente e ricco di colpi di scena. Il romanzo mescola sapientemente azione, suspense, sentimenti e riflessioni morali. Mi ha colpito soprattutto il tema della vendetta, che viene messo in discussione da diversi punti di vista. Il finale è emozionante e sorprendente.
Consiglio vivamente la lettura di questo libro a chi ama le storie di avventura, di amore e di coraggio. Si tratta di un classico della letteratura che non delude mai. Robert Louis Stevenson è un autore geniale e capace di creare mondi indimenticabili.
Il libro è scritto con uno stile coinvolgente e ricco di colpi di scena. Il romanzo mescola sapientemente azione, suspense, sentimenti e riflessioni morali. Mi ha colpito soprattutto il tema della vendetta, che viene messo in discussione da diversi punti di vista. Il finale è emozionante e sorprendente.
Consiglio vivamente la lettura di questo libro a chi ama le storie di avventura, di amore e di coraggio. Si tratta di un classico della letteratura che non delude mai. Robert Louis Stevenson è un autore geniale e capace di creare mondi indimenticabili.
legalois's review against another edition
5.0
I had seen a very old black and white movie version before that I only moderately liked so I wasn't keen on the book at the beginning. However, the book is quite different from that movie and I really enjoyed it. I am kind of partial to stories were the girl has to dress up like a guy... it is the tomboy in me I suppose. :)