The Sheik (Barbara Cartland's Library of Love ; 1) [ABRIDGED] (Hardcover)

by Edith Maude Hull (Author), E. M. Hull (Author), Barbara Cartland (Author) "Are you coming in to watch the dancing, Lady Conway?..." (more)
Key Phrases: heavy scowl, robber chief, Saint Hubert, Ahmed Ben Hassan, Ibraheim Omair (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
This was the first real romance novel I ever read and it changed my life. -- Jayne Ann Krentz --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"This was the first real romance novel I ever read and it changed my life."--Jayne Ann Krentz

"The Sheik . . . continues to be an outstanding and highly recommended romance novel for a whole new generation of readers."--Bookwatch

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Duckworth Pub; Abridged edition (November 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715613774
• ISBN-13: 978-0715613771
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,380,455 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting relic, little more, August 23, 2001

By	Gwen Kramer "gwenhwyvar" (Tehachapi, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sheik (Paperback)

I rather enjoyed the kitchy Valentino film based on this book so I decied to check it out. Also, I was curious to read a "scandalous" best seller from 1919.

What annoyed me was the instant about face of the heroine's principals. One page, she is a confident feminist. The next, she is breathless, whimpering and whining, deeply in love with an extremely abusive and domineering man.

I am all for old fashioned romance but this seems a bit much.

There is no catylist for this change in attitude, one minute Diana hates the Sheik's guts and them about halfway through, he shoots her horse out from under her and she figures that she can't live without him. This is especially disappointing since other passages in the book are psychologically accurate. The descriptions of post traumatic stress are realistic.

The prose is another problem. The book starts with readable prose but then descends into purple slush. I noticed that the author has about ten pet words that are used over and over again. (savage, brutal, cruel, slim, boyish, mutinous) I had a good time opening the book at random and finding one of these words. (This works about 95% of the time)

Also, can a book really be so good that pretty much advocates attempted suicide as a means to getting Mr. Right? I think not! The fact that this story is blessing a rather abusive relationship is in itself distressing. The title character is selfish, unpleasant and a general boor and I fail to see why he would be considered such a catch.

I realize I will be accused of being a rabid feminist (and get a flurry of NOT HELPFUL votes, all negative reviews do and its a bit sad since I'm voicing my opinion just like everyone else) but the truth of the matter is this: I demand psychological accuracy and interesting characters from the books I read. Almost any other sin can be forgiven. I love melodrama as much as the next girl but this book was way out there in terms of oddness.

This is an interesting period piece but most certainly not something I would normally read.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars bleh, March 20, 2008

By	Lucy Gillam "cereta" (Champaign, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sheik (Paperback)

I don't know what's more horrifying: this book, or the reviews talking about how "romantic" it is to read about a woman who's kidnapped and raped until she falls in love with her rapist.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Sheik, December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sheik (Library Binding)

I first discovered this book one summer when I was a teenager in among my mothers stash of old books upstairs. It was old and falling apart, the copyright was 1921. But I fell in love with it! It is passionate and romantic in a way books are not written anymore. This book inspired me to start writing on my own. About every year I start wanting to read it again and since is it so old and the pages no longer stick to the binding it is time for me to get a new one. This book is for everyone who loves passionate, old fashioned romances. Boy sees girl, boy kidnaps girl and forces her to be his love slave.......