Elster's Folly (Large Print Edition) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Mrs. Henry Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2008

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: BiblioLife; Large type edition edition (August 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0554261642
• ISBN-13: 978-0554261645
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining villains, but unconvincing heroes, July 28, 2010

By 

EDelaney - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elster's Folly (Kindle Edition)

Elster's Folly by Mrs. Henry Wood is about the youngest son in a noble family, Percival Elster. His folly is indecisiveness which, in the context of the novel, means that he is easily bullied. The novel is a domestic drama that shows the unfortunate consequences of Elster's indecisiveness. Having read Wood's novel East Lynne, I was prepared for more sensational tropes in the novel; however, its main focus is mainly a portrait of those who constantly manipulate Elster. In other words, it is far more domestic than sensational.

Wood gives us some delightfully despicable characters, such as the Dowager-Countess Kirton and her daughter, Maude (although Maude is a more rounded and sympathetic character than her mother). The "baddies" are clearly described and act out in heinous, though entertaining, ways. The "good guys" are far less convincing, though. We are told many times how likable Percival Elster is, yet we constantly see him acting in morally weak and dis-likable ways. It felt as if the author was taking pains to make sure we did not hate her protagonist. In her descriptions of Elster, she does more telling ("he's likable") than showing (giving us a scene that shows his likability).

Wood invests Elster with a terrible secret, and keeps readers' attention by waiting until the final pages of the novel to reveal it. Her tactic here was successful; I was itching to know what Elster had done despite the fact that I didn't really like his character.

All in all, I'd say that this wasn't the best Victorian novel I've ever read, but its villains and its secret induced me to finish the story.