tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953280070115140001.post4980204009931138992..comments2023-08-02T14:53:17.253+02:00Comments on At the Villa Rose: Romancing the (Moon)StoneXavierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05702919450638993709noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4953280070115140001.post-86196660476413929092010-01-15T22:45:23.387+01:002010-01-15T22:45:23.387+01:00Ok, I finally read THE MOONSTONE. While I have rea...Ok, I finally read THE MOONSTONE. While I have read other works by Collins before, I always held off reading this one because I thought I already was familiar with it, having read the Classics Illustrated comic-book adaptation as a child. It always puzzled me, though, when people referred to it as a “mystery novel.” I remembered it as an exotic adventure story. Having now read the actual book, and re-consulted the Classics Illustrated version, everything is clear to me. The comic-book is a very loose adaptation. The Prologue of the novel, about the storming of Seringapatam and the original acquisition of the jewel, is expanded so that it takes up about half of the book! The mystery element is entirely removed, as we get to see who takes the jewel from Rachel’s sitting-room when it happens! There is no nicotine withdrawal, no doctor, no opium---instead Godfrey Ablewhite gives Franklin Blake some kind of hypnotic drug that puts the latter directly under his command!<br /><br />While THE MOONSTONE is thoroughly enjoyable, I would not call it the best mystery novel of all time, or even of Victorian times. My favorite Victorian novels are those of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. While the puzzles of Le Fanu’s mysteries are vastly inferior to anything Collins came up with, the best of his novels are extremely satisfying in a totally different manner. UNCLE SILAS is one of the most entertaining things you will ever read.Jojo Lapin Xnoreply@blogger.com