Customer Reviews

The Mysterious Hand; or, Subterranean Horrours!

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
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This is an extremely rich piece of Gothic fiction. Implicitly or explicitly, it opens social and political debates. Contains some very original scenes and settings. The plot is basically about threatened love. Amateurs of the Gothic genre will surely love it. Personally, I love the cover art, the card covers, the fonts. Those are things that count when you buy a book, especially a reprint. I value this edition very much and recommend it strongly!

I quite enjoyed reading this book. I really started to feel a little sorry for the hero, Theodore. He hadn't done anything wrong, but he went through hell to win Julia. Count Egfryd was just the embodiment of mean and evil, he did everything to cause Theodore's death, but in the end the Count was the one to die.

Unlike Emily St. Aubert in "The Mysteries of Udolpho" Julia didn't cry once and only fainted once. She saw maniac standing behind her when she looked in a mirrior, she didn't faint at the sight of two skeletons (Subterranean Horrours!), a mother and baby, but the maniac. She was a true heroine, she kept her wits about her.

The maniac was another victum of Count Egfryd. As it turned out he was Chevalier du Lange, Julia's father Mr. Bolton had been friends with him when they were younger.

I will admit to skipping a part in the center where Theodore started talking about capital punishment and how wrong it is. I have my reasons that I won't put here, but Theodore's long speech fit in the book well.

In the end Mr. Bolton lives with Julia and Theodore and their two children, they were finally able to marry, Chevalier du Lange regained his reason and lives nearby. I thought "The Mysterious Hand:Subterranean Horrours!" was a wonderful story.