Customer Reviews

Vendetta

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I've come to actually enjoy reading scary books again thanks to Curt Herr's revival of 18th century Gothic literature. This story, among the others he has brought back to the life, is intriguing and frightening from every angle. The main character Fabio's journey into insanity is provocative, spell-binding and is a test to our own morals. What's even more bewitching is that a young female writer (Corelli) of the time this book was first published had an imagination that pales to those of the menial mystery or horror novels we see on the newsstands today. Her vivid descritptions of old Italy and the Mediterranean sea create for the reader a landscape where one would think nothing can go wrong. (Oh, but it does!) Also, her uncanny ability to write from the male point of view is marvelous. Herr, once again, through his engrossing introduction and notes, walks the reader through the pivotal matrixes of a time when deceit, death and the supernatural most-daringly put to words our deepest fears. The climax of "Vendetta" will put a shiver through your bones.

This is the second novel by Marie Corelli that I've read; the first being 'Sorrows of Satan'. It is, indeed, a great read. However, I believe intending purchasers should be made aware of the actual quality of this particular publication by Zittaw Press. In short, it is probably the worst example of the publisher's art I've ever encountered. At times it seemed as if every page contained a major typographical error. I'm well aware that peculiar spellings are sometimes found in early works of literature and support the idea that they should be maintained in new editions but these are obviously typographical errors, not simple spelling errors. In addition, the layout is flawed (on more than one occasion chapter headings appear at the foot of the previous page). I have purchased quite a large number of Zittaw's publications and have been prepared to overlook many of the simple spelling errors that appear in them ('Varney the Vampire' for example). This is, without doubt, their worst offering to date. Whoever was given the responsibility of proofreading this book before it went to press needs to consider whether it is worth their while continuing in the role. Lift your game Zittaw. People pay money for your productions and deserve much better.