Gallowglass (Paragon Softcover Large Print Books) [Import] [Paperback]

Barbara Vine (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Chivers Large print (Chivers, Windsor, Paragon & C; Large Print Ed edition (July 7, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745132820
• ISBN-13: 978-0745132822
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexual and psychological intrigue from the mystery master, May 15, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Gallowglass (Hardcover)

Ruth Rendell has been widely praised for her mystery novels and their depictions of psychological turmoil. When Rendell wrote under the pseudonym of Barbara Vine, she created a fascinating line of suspense novels which is best exemplified by "Gallowglass". Gallowglass is a loyal Scottish servant who is willing to die and protect his lord. In the open pages, we meet Joe who has been recently released from the mental hospital. He wanders in the subway and on an impulse attempts to jump into the tracks of the incoming train. He was saved by Sandor who turns Joe into his gallowglass and accomplice to kidnap the rich and beautiful Nina Abbot. It seems that Sandor has already kidnapped Nina before when she was the wife of an Italian prince and has fallen in love with her during her captivity. Nina meanwhile has fallen in love with Paul, her bodyguard and gallowglass. The tension builds as the kidnappers come closer to their goals and with the addition of Joe's sister who is infatuated with Sandor. The climax is unpredictable as well as the brilliant anti-climax which leaves the readers in a dazed and feverish state of agitation. For mystery lovers, this is a must read and for those who yearn for good fiction, this is for you

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A psycholgical thriller about different kinds of love., March 31, 2005

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gallowglass (Hardcover)

This book is a thriller that covers a large number of different kinds of love, and each kind is wonderfully described by Ms, Rendall's magic pen. There is the love between a man and a woman, the love between a man and his daughter, the love between a mother and her son, the love between two men, and last the obsessive love between a man and his ideal of a woman. Each of these types of love is shown to be almost pathological except the love between a man and his daughter. That is the love that endures, and the love that we are left with at the end of the novel. All the other kinds burn very hot and then fizzle out. Again, Ms. Rendall, writing as Ms Barbara Vine effortlessly enters into the criminal and patholobgical mind, and she brings us along for the ride. This is a very deep book, and on first read, it doesn't appear that way, but as you think about it afterwards you realize that there are many nuances hidden within the story. Take the time to read the story and you won't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Barbara Vine's finest, April 3, 2008

By 

C. S. Junker "soul_survivor" (Burien, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gallowglass (Onyx) (Paperback)

The hallmark of truly great fiction --- as opposed to merely good fiction --- is that you find yourself thinking about the characters as if they were real people. I've just finished reading GALLOWGLASS for the second time, and I feel as if I know the characters.

As in A FATAL INVERSION, many of the major characters are not particularly sympathetic people. GALLOWGLASS, however, presents Vine's typically obsessed and morally compromised people in a that allows you to identify with them --- up to a point.

Little Joe is an orphan, clinically depressed, who is rescued from suicide by a young man who calls himself Sandor. Little Joe, who has known almost no affection in his life, becomes Sandor's devoted servant, his Gallowglass.

Sandor has a love of his own, a former fashion model, whom he calls the Princess, now married to her third wealthy husband, and he enlists Little Joe in a mad scheme to kidnap her.

This is a brilliant study of obsession --- both the doglike, unconditional devotion of Little Joe for the mad Sandor, and the childish, possessive, utterly self-centered fixation of Sandor for the Princess.

GALLOWGLASS also tells the story of Paul Garnet, the Princess's bodyguard, whose relationship with her becomes more complex. These characters are more clearly sympathetic and balance the brutish self-centeredness of Sandor and his quest to possess the Princess.

As is usually the case with Barbara Vine, the novel is almost impossible to put down. The characters are utterly lifelike and the narrative moves like a bullet train.

Highly recommended for fans of Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine. Also recommended is the TV adaptation, although this is available on DVD only in Region 2 (Europe) format. It's not hard to find a used copy of the VHS tape, however.