Book reviews – The Long Victorian – c.1789

Premiere of Dumas' Monte Cristo at Théâtre Historique (1848)

Book review – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1844). A 1250 page adventure novel by French author Alexandre Dumas (working with a collaborator), originally serialised in a French Journal between 1844 to 1846. I read the Penguin Classics edition with the Robin Buss translation. There is a limit to how many books you can read in a lifetime, so why not read the best or the most fun first? This one is a thumping good read and the ultimate revenge story. It is a tale that can satisfy the fantasies of anyone that has ever dreamed of winning the lottery. It is also the story of an individual victorious in the face of gross injustice, an evergreen theme ... CONTINUE READING

Book reviews, Crime & punishment, Curiosities, Life in the Long 19th Century, Mad scientists, Science & technology

Book review: Bodysnatchers by Suzie Lennox

January 23, 2019April 25, 2019 The Long Victorian

Book review – Bodysnatchers by Suzie Lennox (2016). Digging up the untold stories of Britain's Resurrection Men This was my Christmas read, and one of the most enjoyable non-fiction books I've read for some time. A bit surprising given the subject matter; corpses, the desecration of graves and dissection of cadavers in Georgian era Britain.… Continue reading Book review: Bodysnatchers by Suzie Lennox

Book reviews, Detective fiction, Dexter, Colin, Genre, Writers

Book review: The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter [Inspector Morse]

February 20, 2018January 25, 2019 The Long Victorian

The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter (1977) No human action happens by pure chance unconnected with other happenings, none is incapable of explanation. Warning - this review contains spoilers INTRODUCTION: Colin Dexter and Inspector Morse had a lot in common, I expect they would have enjoyed sharing a few pints of Old… Continue reading Book review: The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter [Inspector Morse]

Images of Murder on the Orient Express book covers

Book reviews, Christie, Agatha, Detective fiction, Writers

Book review: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

November 21, 2017August 26, 2020 The Long Victorian

Book review – Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie [pub. 1934] [Dont worry, I won't be giving away the book's ending in this review] This is a rambling review of the first and only Agatha Christie that I have read, Murder on the Orient Express (1934) [I later reviewed 4.50 from Paddington]. Like a… Continue reading Book review: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Cover images for the book when the world screamed

Book reviews, Conan Doyle, Arthur, When the World Screamed, Writers

Book review: When the World Screamed by Arthur Conan Doyle (1928)

November 6, 2017January 25, 2019 The Long Victorian

Book review – When the World Screamed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Professor Challenger #4). 1928. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is famous for his Sherlock Holmes stories, but did you know that he created a series of stories for another eccentric genius, Professor George Edward Challenger? There are five Challenger stories in total, this is… Continue reading Book review: When the World Screamed by Arthur Conan Doyle (1928)

Achebe, Chinua_2, Book reviews, Writers

Book review: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

October 30, 2017February 24, 2018 The Long Victorian

Book review - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958) I have just read a fascinating book, Things Fall Apart* by Chinua Achebe. It was published in 1958, but is set in the 1890s. The book was given to me by a friend: "I think you might enjoy this". As usual on these occasions my… Continue reading Book review: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Book reviews, Conan Doyle, Arthur, The Disintegration Machine

Book review: The Disintegration Machine by Arthur Conan Doyle

April 11, 2017January 25, 2019 The Long Victorian

Book review – The Disintegration Machine by Arthur Conan Doyle (Professor Challenger #5). 1929. Regular readers of The Long Victorian blog will have observed that I am an enthusiastic reader of thumping good yarns. Not only does this sort of writing bring happiness to many, they are much harder to write than most suppose. Try… Continue reading Book review: The Disintegration Machine by Arthur Conan Doyle

Book reviews, Conan Doyle, Arthur, The Poison Belt, Writers

REVIEW: The Poison Belt, Arthur Conan Doyle (1913)

May 22, 2016January 25, 2019 The Long Victorian

Book review - The Poison Belt: Being An Account of Another Amazing Adventure of Professor Challenger by Arthur Conan Doyle. Today is the anniversary of the birth of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930). So it seems fitting to post a review of one of his stories: The Poison Belt. One of my favourite… Continue reading REVIEW: The Poison Belt, Arthur Conan Doyle (1913)