Love in Excess (Broadview Literary Texts)
10 journalers for this copy...
An important addition to our understanding of the history of English novel.
The first part details the competition between Alovisa and Amena - two young upper-class women - for D'Elmont's attentions. Alovisa's machinations inadvertently lead D'Elmont to fall in love with Amena and proceed to nearly rape her as she tries to defend her honor. Alovisa's servant intervenes, and D'Elmont decides to marry Alovisa for her ample fortune.
Part the Second details D'Elmont's falling in "true" love with Melliora, a girl entrusted in his care. D'Elmont ends up nearly raping the loving but resisting Melliora; meanwhile, D'Elmont's friend the Baron falls in love with D'Elmont's wife Alovisa. A climactic scene leads to the death of the Baron and Alovisa and D'Elmont's self-exile.
D'Elmont ends up in Italy in Part the Third, endlessly yearning for Melliora - who in the meantime has been kidnapped from the convent to which she was sent after Part the Second. In Italy, D'Elmont happens to meet Frankville, Melliora's brother. D'Elmont helps Frankville flee Italy with his forbidden love Camilla; the two women in Italy who have fallen in love with D'Elmont (Ciamara, the lusty "bad" woman; and Violetta, the chaste "good" woman) both end up dead. The survivors - D'Elmont and Melliora; Frankville and Camilla; Melliora's kidnapper and Charlotta, a girl he loved before Melliora - all marry.
Love in Excess was a huge bestseller in its time.
I had problem with the language, a bit too difficult for me...
The first part details the competition between Alovisa and Amena - two young upper-class women - for D'Elmont's attentions. Alovisa's machinations inadvertently lead D'Elmont to fall in love with Amena and proceed to nearly rape her as she tries to defend her honor. Alovisa's servant intervenes, and D'Elmont decides to marry Alovisa for her ample fortune.
Part the Second details D'Elmont's falling in "true" love with Melliora, a girl entrusted in his care. D'Elmont ends up nearly raping the loving but resisting Melliora; meanwhile, D'Elmont's friend the Baron falls in love with D'Elmont's wife Alovisa. A climactic scene leads to the death of the Baron and Alovisa and D'Elmont's self-exile.
D'Elmont ends up in Italy in Part the Third, endlessly yearning for Melliora - who in the meantime has been kidnapped from the convent to which she was sent after Part the Second. In Italy, D'Elmont happens to meet Frankville, Melliora's brother. D'Elmont helps Frankville flee Italy with his forbidden love Camilla; the two women in Italy who have fallen in love with D'Elmont (Ciamara, the lusty "bad" woman; and Violetta, the chaste "good" woman) both end up dead. The survivors - D'Elmont and Melliora; Frankville and Camilla; Melliora's kidnapper and Charlotta, a girl he loved before Melliora - all marry.
Love in Excess was a huge bestseller in its time.
I had problem with the language, a bit too difficult for me...
It will travel to Haugtussa when read.
Journal Entry 3 by Deepswamp at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 18, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/18/2009 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
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I hope you enjoy it!
RABCK challenge 2009
The Ultimate Challenge 2009
I hope you enjoy it!
RABCK challenge 2009
The Ultimate Challenge 2009
The book arrived today - thank you very much.
Well - what to say about this one?
Interesting, is one way of describing it. I had to keep in mind that it is a book written about 300 years ago, both due to the language and the plot.
But you have it all; love, murder, kidnapping, infidelity, suicide... Have to admit that I didn't really believe in D'Elmont. A man that all women instantly fall in love with, and that they are willing to betray their best friends (and murder them if they have to!) in order to get. Who could that be in the modern world? Brad Pitt? Johnny Depp?
Anyways. it was interesting to read the book - thank you for sharing.
Interesting, is one way of describing it. I had to keep in mind that it is a book written about 300 years ago, both due to the language and the plot.
But you have it all; love, murder, kidnapping, infidelity, suicide... Have to admit that I didn't really believe in D'Elmont. A man that all women instantly fall in love with, and that they are willing to betray their best friends (and murder them if they have to!) in order to get. Who could that be in the modern world? Brad Pitt? Johnny Depp?
Anyways. it was interesting to read the book - thank you for sharing.
This book is now offered as a bookring:
Participants:
lucy-lemon - UK (UK)
pinkydinky - UK (UK/EU)
bookowl1000 - UK (EU)
babydoll857 - UK
Danielle 23 - UK (EU/Intl)
davemurray101 - Australia (Intl)
cat207 - Australia (Intl)
Back home to me.
Participants:
lucy-lemon - UK (UK)
pinkydinky - UK (UK/EU)
bookowl1000 - UK (EU)
babydoll857 - UK
Danielle 23 - UK (EU/Intl)
davemurray101 - Australia (Intl)
cat207 - Australia (Intl)
Back home to me.
Let the ring start.
Happy reading to all of you.
Happy reading to all of you.
Arrived in the post yesterday, and I started reading it straight away. I'm about to start the third part. While I am enjoying it, I'm also struggling with the plot. I guess back in the day authors weren't quite so bothered about things being realistic!
Arrived in sunny Melksham today. Thank you.
I too struggled with the plot. At times it felt like a Carry On film. Found it hard to connect with or sympathise with any of the characters.
Released 13 yrs ago (10/13/2010 UTC) at
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Posted to bookowl1000 today.
Arrived here in Chepstow some time last week while I was working away. It should not take too long to read.
Sometimes this novel was fast paced and utterly entrancing, while at other times the excessive use of words caused it to be too slow and I sometimes lost track of what was going on. The long sentences and lack of paragraphs gets some getting used to, but was what I expected from other 18th century novels read. I found that I had to read it in a quiet place with no distractions and concentrate fully in order to follow the story. This is not something I do except when reading pre 20th century literature and it did cause me to ponder if over the generations, readers have developed a lack of attention span.
The characters were shallow and the plot was ridiculous but being, fully of love, lust, adultery, kidnapping and violence I can see why it would have attracted a large number of fans. It truly is a "bodice ripper" and to me it seemed like a Mills and Boon novel of that time, yet falling in and out of love so easily seems to be the norm in the 'classics' and they cannot really be fairly judged using modern standards. I love the comparison with Carry On films, pinkydinky, you hit the nail on the head there.
I enjoy reading 'old' novels for their incite into a different time period, but am not well read enough to know if this qualifies as a good piece of writing. The books claim to fame seems to be that in terms of book sales it was one of the most popular books of the 18th century. However, we need look no further than 'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer to know that being a blockbuster is not necessarily an indicator of quality writing.
The characters were shallow and the plot was ridiculous but being, fully of love, lust, adultery, kidnapping and violence I can see why it would have attracted a large number of fans. It truly is a "bodice ripper" and to me it seemed like a Mills and Boon novel of that time, yet falling in and out of love so easily seems to be the norm in the 'classics' and they cannot really be fairly judged using modern standards. I love the comparison with Carry On films, pinkydinky, you hit the nail on the head there.
I enjoy reading 'old' novels for their incite into a different time period, but am not well read enough to know if this qualifies as a good piece of writing. The books claim to fame seems to be that in terms of book sales it was one of the most popular books of the 18th century. However, we need look no further than 'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer to know that being a blockbuster is not necessarily an indicator of quality writing.
By the time the address from babydoll857 had arrived I was working away from home for a week and unable to get to a postoffice; it will be in the post tomorrow morning.
Journal Entry 15 by babydoll857 at Isleworth, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, November 7, 2010
Caught! I look forward to reading it.
Journal Entry 16 by babydoll857 at Isleworth, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, March 3, 2011
So so sorry for hogging this for so long. I just couldn't get round to reading it - I got caught up with a couple of other bookrings and in the end I have to admit defeat and admit that a glance at the first page put me off embarking on it. Apologies.
Journal Entry 17 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Thursday, March 10, 2011
Arrived this morning. Thank you for including me. I'm reading 'Slaughterhouse Five' at the moment but it shouldn't take me long. I'll get to this as soon as I can xx
Journal Entry 18 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, March 21, 2011
I loved this book and grew really quite attached to Count Delmont. I found at places that I was so interested in what was going to happen next, and where the next twist was going to appear, that I could not put the book down.
However, I can't believe that one man would have so many women fighting for his love and willing to die for him. A little unbelievable but still very enjoyable.
Will be off to Dave tomorrow xx
However, I can't believe that one man would have so many women fighting for his love and willing to die for him. A little unbelievable but still very enjoyable.
Will be off to Dave tomorrow xx
Journal Entry 19 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (3/22/2011 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom
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Off to Australia to Dave today. Enjoy xx
Journal Entry 20 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thanks to Danielle for sending and the postcard. And to Haugtussa for organising the bookring.
Surprisingly modern this one. Quite complex and at the same time fast-paced. Thanks again to Deepswamp. Posting to Cat207 soon.
Journal Entry 22 by davemurray101 at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (4/12/2011 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
posted to Cat207 today
Arrived in today's mail. Thanks Dave, and Haugtussa (could you PM me with your address for sending the book back home when I've finished it, please?).
I enjoyed this one.
Message to Danielle23 - such a man does not exist!
Waiting for an address to send the book on home to Haugtussa.
Message to Danielle23 - such a man does not exist!
Waiting for an address to send the book on home to Haugtussa.
Heading back home to Haugtussa in today's mail.
The book arrived back in Stavanger. Thanks to all the participants.
This well traveled book is what you chose.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Thank you very much Haugtussa. I'm very sorry for this late reply which is due to an early summer holiday.
Journal Entry 29 by wildwolverine at Fredrikstad, Østfold fylke Norway on Saturday, February 22, 2014
I tried, i really did. I just can't get past the language, it i so ... so ... horrible. And i did not manage to connect with any of the characters, they're just idiots the lot of them. So after 50 pages or so i decided life is too short and ventured to better novels.