Customer Reviews

Gondal's Queen: A Novel in Verse (Austin Reprints)

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I searched for this title for a good three years before finding a copy. It was worth the time. The true romantic spirit of Emily that underlies _Wuthering Heights_ and her other prose comes out in its purest form in these poems. The storyline is a high-quality (Tolkien-quality) fantasy tale that is truly before its time, evoking images of dank dungeons, starry nights and long journeys across desolate landnscapes. But whereas Tolkien and most of the fantasy tradition focus on the epic struggle between good and evil, the most amazing things in Emily's world of Gondal are all driven by the simple ache of human love.

You will read this book many times--once because it is so rare and of historic value, or perhaps to analyse her verse. Then again, as you are captivated by it, to really live with the characters. Then to know the places and the little details. Then to at last begin to appreciate the verse itself. This book is worth the sizeable price it usually carries.

All that said, be prepared for typical Bronte diction and style, minus the happy vibe of Emily's sisters. If you couldn't get a thrill from the depth of _Wuthering Heights_ a lot of the power of this work will be lost on you.