Valperga: Or, the Life and Adventures of Castruccio, Prince of LuccaNot reprinted since its first edition, Mary Shelley's second novel is sure to be a major discovery of the Mary Shelley bicentenary of 1997. The novel's lack of success as a follow-up to Frankenstein was the result of its subject matter and unconventional approach to the genre of historicalfiction, attributes that can only delight the twentieth-century reader. Shelley's mastery of the intricate details of thirteenth-century Tuscan politics is unique among women of her time, and her resolute filtering of the bloody heroics of the age through the sensibilities of two women who aredestroyed by them reveals the feminist perspective missing so conspicuously from her first novel. The latest addition to the acclaimed Women Writers in English series, this glittering novel from Romanticism's premier woman storyteller belongs on the shelves of all serious readers of Englishfiction. |
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appeared arms arrived asked Beatrice beauty became become believe called castle Castruccio cause cheeks command cried dark dear death deep desire destroyed earth endeavoured enemies entered Euthanasia evil eyes face father fear feelings fell felt Florence Florentines followed gave Ghibelines give Guelphs hand happy head heard heart heaven hope human imagination Italy kind leave light listened live looked lord Lucca means mind morning mountains nature never night noble once palace party passed path peace Pepi poor possessed present prince prison received remained replied rest round scene seemed side silent smile sorrow soul speak spirit strange suffered tears tell thing thought tion took town trees troops turned VALPERGA voice walls wish young youth