Customer Reviews

The Two Vanrevels

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

 

 

This book was a bit difficult to read. It is set before the Civil War -- President Polk's era ( mid 1800's ) however this wasn't revealed until almost 3/4th's through the book. In addition, the location ( state ) of the book was never revealed. At first I thought it was Indiana ( where Tarkington is from ) and then thought perhaps Louisiana.

At any rate, this is a typical Tarkington love story involving mistaken identity. A beautiful, rich girl ( Betty Carewe ) comes back from a convent at the age of 18. She runs into Tom Vanrevel -- the town saint and winsomest man. She also encounters Criley, the town love-maker / partier. Both Tom and Criley are best friends and are partners in a law firm.

Her dad warns her not to see either of them as Tom is an ardent abolitionist and her dad hates those sorts. Criley is too much of a scoundrel.

However, she confuses the two and throughout the book thinks that Criley is Tom and that Tom is Criley. She falls for Criley thinking that he is Tom. Criley can only turn on his charms and take advantage of the situation.

By the end of the book and after several misadventures, Betty ( the girl ) figures out who is who. However tragedy does strike.

"The Two Vanrevels", originally published in 1902, is either Booth Tarkington's third or fourth novel, depending on if you count "Cherry" which had been published as a serial in Harper's Magazine in 1901, but was not published as a novel until 1903. In many ways it is a merging of the all three of these earlier works, taking the setting of rural Indiana from "The Gentleman from Indiana" and the much of the light romantic comedic feel of "Monsieur Beaucaire", and the romantic triangle from "Cherry", though it does a much better job of it than was done in that earlier effort. Another device taken from "Monsieur Beaucaire" is to thrust the reader into the story immediately, with almost no setting of the scene. He effectively fills in what the reader needs to know in the conversation of the characters, or with smaller sections of exposition. It is true, that it is not as dramatic here as it was in his second book, but there is no time wasted up front in setting the scene.

The romantic triangle is created fairly quickly. The beautiful Betty Carewe returns from the convent where she was studying, guarded over by her father, a rich and powerful citizen of Rouen. The two young men who ultimately vie for her attentions are Tom Vanrevel and Crailey Gray who are also the two young men that her father wants her to stay away from. There is a quarrel between Tom Vanrevel and the powerful Mr. Carewe, and Crailey's youthful antics are well known to the entire town. Crailey is currently engaged to Fanchon Bareaud, a young woman who also knew Betty from the convent which she had graduated two years before.

This story also borrows the idea of false identities from "Monsieur Beaucaire", though in this case the mistaken identity is accidental at first. Betty Carewe gets the initial impression that Tom and Crailey are each other, and when Crailey finds this out, he decides to keep it that way. He and Tom share an office, and an apartment, so as Betty's father works at keeping her away from Tom, it is relatively easy for him to pretend that he is the famous Vanrevel. Slowly clues are given to Betty about which man is which, but she has become so convinced that she ignores the words of her father and Mrs. Tanberry, a friend of the family who comes to stay with Betty, and keep an eye on her while her father is out-of-town. Tom is unaware of the deception until Betty sends a letter to the address that he and Crailey share.

Unlike his first novel, this novel is set in the past. Tarkington uses 1846 as the year, as the politics leading into the Mexican American war play a role in some of the events in the novel. During the initial part of the novel, there are hints given about this, but it isn't important to the story until the news of the Mexicans crossing of the Rio Grande hits town. This event also serves as a change in the mood of the story. Prior to the event, it is mostly about Crailey's antics in which he plays on Betty thinking that he is Tom Vanrevel. The feud between Mr. Carewe and Tom Vanrevel (or one way feud as it is only Mr. Carewe that is upset) is spoken of, but no actions are taken by Mr. Carewe. This all changes with the coming of the war, and the events are more serious, with much more tragic consequences.

This book is superior in many ways all of Tarkington's prior efforts. While perhaps not up to the level he would later achieve, one can see definite improvement in all aspects of telling the story, from the character development, to his ability to set the scene quickly, and his ability to keep the story moving at a fairly quick pace.

Newton Booth Tarkington (1869-1946) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was one of the most popular American novelists of his time. The Two Vanrevels, which first appeared in 1902, is set in Rouen, Indiana, in the days leading up to the Mexican-American War of 1846-48.

When Betty Carewe returns to his father's house, after spending her youth in a convent, she is introduced to the social life of a time when men wore swallow-tailed coats and high collars, and attended lavish balls where they flirted with the young women of their fancy. But amongst the young men who surround her are the brilliant Tom Vanrevel and the charming though feckless Crailey Gray. But, when Miss Betty falls for Crailey Gray, thinking him Tom Vanrevel, a strange situation arises - a situation that will result in tragedy or love, or perhaps both.

This is the first Booth Tarkington book I have ever read, so I cannot compare it to his other works. But, I found this book to be absolutely wonderful! Mr. Tarkington spins an interesting story that brings those old days back to life wonderfully. I enjoyed the characters, finding them interesting and believable, and found the plot twists to be captivating. I really enjoyed this book, and think that you will as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance, a good historical novel, or just plain a good story!