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#1 | |
Wizard
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The Red Cockade by Stanley Weyman (Discussion)
Here's the discussion thread for The Red Cockade by Stanley Weyman. You can find it in the Mobileread library.
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#2 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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I'm a quarter of the way in, and it's reading much more like a historical fiction than a romance. But assuming it is a romance, the protaganists have been introduced. Given the circumstances, a HEA seems unlikely, but I guess that's why it's a story...
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#3 | |
Wizard
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I had hoped to get lots of recommendations for modern romances, but since that didn't happen, I'm fine with the book that was chosen, even if it's not quite in the genre I had in mind. I'm a couple of chapters in, and I like the protagonist. He's got his heart in the right place, but is far from a perfect hero: He doubts and hesitates, while doing his best to live up to his ideals. I also liked his reaction when meeting his almost-fiance: When he sees that she is small, shy, and childish, he doesn't fall madly in love, but is disappointed -- a refreshing contrast with the beginning of "East Lynne". |
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#4 | |
o saeclum infacetum
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I have never seen Necker’s name spelled as it is in my edition, though; it is just a Project Gutenberg flaw (Neckar ![]() |
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#5 |
Snoozing in the sun
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I also think that Saux is believable, especially in his feeling that it would be so much simpler to go along with the majority of his fellow aristocrats, rather than remain true to his principles. That can be a hard thing to do.
Thanks for selecting this book. I read and loved Weyman’s books in my distant youth, though I have no memory of reading this one. |
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Grand Sorcerer
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It was an ingeresting read, as far as the French revolution part. Didn't seem like much of a HEA or HFN. And thank you, hildea, for running the club this month. |
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#7 | ||
Wizard
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Spoiler for chapter 11: Spoiler:
I'm in chapter 18 now. I've been reading other stuff in between -- I admit I lost a lot of sympathy with the protagonist around the time I lost track of how many times he's switched loyalties back and forth. Now it seems he picks whatever cockade serves his own purposes at the moment. I still want to see where the story goes, so I've definitively not given up on it! Quote:
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#8 | |
Snoozing in the sun
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I am amused by the amazing coincidences of his various meetings on the road. |
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#9 |
Snoozing in the sun
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So have people finished the book? I enjoyed it as a well written swashbuckler, set in a different part of France from the usual setting of Paris in the Revolution. From the bit of googling I did, Weyman made good use of real historical events in Nîmes in 1790.
While Hilary Mantel's A Place of Greater Safety remains for me the best novel I have ever read about the Revolution, I thought he did well in conveying the chaos and confusion of the time, and the feeling of not always knowing who stood for what. |
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#10 | |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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I thought the portrayal of the arrogance of the upper classes, including that of our 'hero' was well done. I was unconvinced by the Romance aspect of the story. It was OK overall for me. I'm not inclined to seek out other works by this author. |
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#11 | |
Wizard
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I put it aside for a while to read more tempting books, but now I've picked it up again and intend to finish it. The hero is now in Nimes and has met Denise again.
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![]() I can't remember any explanation for the red cockade -- was it there, and I overlooked it? There's the tricolor cockade of the revolution, and the white cockade the nobility wears in the beginning. Then we saw Denise wearing a red cockade, telling a story I thought was a lie about wearing it for the person she loves. And in Nimes it seems from context that the red cockade is the symbol of the anti-revolution church faction, but I can't remember anyone talking about it? I agree. I can well believe getting a crush on each other after the dramatic night of the fire, but they have hardly spoken to each other, so those strong feelings of love aren't convincing to me. |
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#12 |
Wizard
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I found it a fairly enjoyable historical novel set during the French Revolution with a romantic subplot. The hero is reasonably likeable not least because as Issybird said he is none to eager to give up his aristocratic privileges and takes class consciousness very seriously. Still, he does have sympathy for the poor and as the adventure unfolds so do his views evolve.
There is the noble villain and the tough mother of the hero’s romantic interest. Personally, I found both to be far more interesting than Denise who has practically no agency and is a rather boring stereotype. Generally she is there to be abducted and rescued. But the excitement and the vivid recreation of the period keeps one reading. Last edited by fantasyfan; 01-02-2022 at 07:03 AM. |
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#13 | |
Snoozing in the sun
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Given that it is the title of the book, it is curious, but perhaps Weyman uses it as a symbol of the confusion of the times, as its significance was not known beyond Nîmes. |
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#14 | |
Snoozing in the sun
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#15 | |
Wizard
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I've finished it now, and it seems to me that de Vieux didn't make a difference, and didn't really grow or change during the story. He might as well have accepted the white cockade in the beginning of the novel, married Denise, and stayed at home. The book gave a good impression of the chaotic nature of the time, but I never connected with any of the characters, so I wouldn't rate it more than OK. |
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Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Historical Fiction Weyman, Stanley J.: The Red Cockade v1 19 Sep 2011 | AlexBell | ePub Books | 1 | 04-27-2014 06:58 AM |
Historical Fiction Weyman, Stanley J.: The Red Cockade v2 27 April 2014 | AlexBell | Kindle Books | 0 | 04-27-2014 06:48 AM |
Historical Fiction Weyman, Stanley J.: Under the Red Robe, v.1, 12 Feb 2008. | BenG | Kindle Books | 2 | 02-16-2008 03:50 PM |
Historical Fiction Weyman, Stanley J.: Under the Red Robe, v.1, 12 Feb 2008. | BenG | IMP Books | 0 | 02-12-2008 08:30 PM |