This took me on a murderous ride
★★★★☆ 1/4 – CALSPIE 8.43
Title: Zofloya, or the Moor
Author: Charlotte Dacre
Narrator: Lucy Scott
Genre: Fiction / Classic / Gothic
First published: 1806
Edition: Audio & paperback, published by Oxford University Press in 2008
A tale of lust, betrayal, and multiple murder set in Venice in the last days of the fifteenth century. The novel follows Victoria’s progress from spoilt daughter of indulgent aristocrats to a career of deepening criminality conducted under Satan’s watchful eye.
***
Talk about unhinged women… I think Victoria, the leading lady in this gothic tale pretty much takes the biscuit.
An immensely unlikely main character, who ends up doing one dark deed after another… I don’t think I have read a classic with a female character quite like this. This book is a ride, especially for the time.
Then there is the character of Zofloya – I kind of liked his goading and his thinly veiled sarcasm and disdain. I thought he was superbly written.
I only wish there was a bit more of a sense of place in the story, especially whilst in Venice, but it was very much character driven. The point of view of Victoria’s brother Leonardo also seemed a bit superfluous to me. I did not really see the point, as it was only for such a short time.
Nonetheless, I thought this was a fun classic. Is this book over the top? Oh yes, absolutely! I kind of love it for its ridiculousness though.
I am kind of sad that none of the other stories that Charlotte Dacre wrote are in print, because I would have liked to read more by her.
4.25 out of 5 stars
***
CALSPIE: 8.43
- Characters: 9
- Ambience: 8
- Language: 9
- Story: 8.5
- Pacing: 8
- Interest: 8
- Enjoyment: 8.5
Lola Et La Vie 