Customer Reviews

Green Mansions (Dover Books on Literature & Drama)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first read this when I was 13 or 14 and never forgot the story. I just reread it 40 years later while vacationing in Central America, the perfect place for a tale of the rain forest. The language is exquisite - not a quick read, for I wanted to absorb the beauty of the descriptions and details. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in nature, for it is not only a wonderful love story, but also a vivid description of the Venezuelan rain forest and its indigenous people.

If someone were to describe the entire feeling that explodes from this book, it would take an entire century. The emotions of the characters were undescribeable. They just poured right off the page. Not all love stories have page after page of adrenaline pumping literature. As the main character chases after his secret admirer, she leads him further and further into her invisible trap of love. Then the secret begins to unfold.

The main male charachter has reason to leave civilization and travels far into South American jungles, meets with native tribes, and finds one which takes him in. They all seem happy with him until his curiosity gets the best of him, and he goes to a 'forbiden forest' so feared by this tribe he becomes ostricised for having been there.

In the second part of this book he befriends a mysterious girl who lives in the forest and seems more farie than human. He finds himself doing things for her which he would have never thought he would do for another person.

This is a clasic love story, intriguing, beautiful, and tragic. This was one of my first introductions to the classics of lliterature, and prompted me to find and read more of classic literature which has greatly enriched the scope of my reading experiences.

Hudson, a noted naturalist during the Romantic/Victorian periods, grew up in the wild Pampas, and this book reflects a fascination with nature that most likely began during his childhood. Themes of civilzation vs. savagery and the untouched beauty of the tropics vs. development are found throughout Green Mansions, but these issues are encased in a love story that holds notes of mystery, fantasy, and romanticism.

While the novel provides a good introduction to the naturalist writings of this period (and a much easier read than most of the more scientific prose being written at the time), I thought that the ending was not as developed as the rest of the book, in addition to being highly unsatisfying. The novel does, however, offer wonderful descriptions of the wild forests of the region, and develops fantastical characters, particularly in the case of Rima, the primary female character.

William Henry Hudson's novel Green Mansions is an exotic romance that takes place in the South American rainforest. The novel is written from the perspective of Abel, a young man who had to leave the city he was living in for political reasons. During his time in the rainforest he meets Rima, who he describes as a bird-like girl, and her grandfather Nuflo. Despite these two, Abel mainly interacts with the Indians with whom he was living before he met Rima and Nuflo. The Indians are mostly referred to as savages.
Green Mansions mainly focuses on the intimation of love and death, and the romanticism of nature versus the disturbing influences of civilization. However, Abel does not see any living creature during his stay in the rainforest as equal to him. He thinks of himself as superior to the Indians, Nuflo, and to Rima as well. He bases his sense of superiority on a better education, a greater intelligence, as well as a better physical condition. This sense of superiority is kept throughout the novel. However, his arrogance is one way to deal with his insecurity about many situations. Abel only seems to feel secure if he sees himself as superior to everybody else. This is the reason why he defines superiority based on the situation. Sometimes superiority is referred to as greater intelligence and in other cases as physical superiority. The way he uses superiority depends on the way it is easier for him to define himself as superior.

Those of you who have read Rand Johnson's "Arcadia Falls - A Fable" will find interesting parallels here, albeit in a Victorian idiom, as Hudson presents a moving and mysterious romance against a backdrop of great natural beauty, in this case the South American jungle.

This obscure classic is a jewel!I first read it when I was about 10 years old, and I never forgot the love story of Abel, a political refugee from Venezuala and Rima, the last of a race of exotic, mystical, bird-like people.If I could rate Green Mansions past 5 stars, I would use all the stars in our universe to convince you to read it!

William Henry Hudson's novel Green Mansions is an exotic romance that takes place in the South American rainforest. The novel is written from the perspective of Abel, a young man who had to leave the city he was living in for political reasons. During his time in the rainforest he meets Rima, who he describes as a bird-like girl, and her grandfather Nuflo. Despite these two, Abel mainly interacts with the Indians with whom he was living before he met Rima and Nuflo. The Indians are mostly referred to as savages.
Green Mansions mainly focuses on the intimation of love and death, and the romanticism of nature versus the disturbing influences of civilization. However, Abel does not see any living creature during his stay in the rainforest as equal to him. He thinks of himself as superior to the Indians, Nuflo, and to Rima as well. He bases his sense of superiority on a better education, a greater intelligence, as well as a better physical condition. This sense of superiority is kept throughout the novel. However, his arrogance is one way to deal with his insecurity about many situations. Abel only seems to feel secure if he sees himself as superior to everybody else. This is the reason why he defines superiority based on the situation. Sometimes superiority is referred to as greater intelligence and in other cases as physical superiority. The way he uses superiority depends on the way it is easier for him to define himself as superior.

This is 1 of my favorite novels!!! WH Hudson's prose is very lush: he pulls you into the hypnotic South American jungle and reveals a strange unforgettable tale of adventure and romance ... so unlike today's stale and predictable "stories." This isnt an easy read ... you'll need lots of time to savor the prose. As others have noted, the ending is underdeveloped (and a disappointment). I dont often buy books, but this 1 is a keeper!!!

I think the story was beautifully written. It is unique in its perspective. So few romances are written from a man's point of view. I was utterly engrossed in the story and i have read it many times. It didn't get a 10 because of the ending. It was really good, but.. well... I don't want to give it away. Let's just say it must be a guy thing. I do encourage any fans of romance and fantasy to read it. It is absolutely wonderful.