How brilliant to take Belinda to our time and show us of many of the morals in her novel are still relevant today. So many people read and love Jane Austen, while this novel is just as readable and lovely!
Your channel has such wonderful & reliably interesting content! I really do adore it. Thank you! I find the post-truth era difficult intellectually, philosophically, ethically and emotionally. And, I feel like so many others do as well & don't know why. It's such a relief to hear someone openly discuss it. I do seek knowledge, truth, & sometimes guidance as I read, & find it's so much easier to find clear and helpful insights in classics, and even if I don't agree with the morality in some works, the work is unequivocally saying something and I can sharpen my own understanding of why. It's frustrating to pick up a book & find a barren landscape of words that go nowhere, a book without opinion or heart. While I truly believe many of the social changes that have steered us closer to humanism are a positive start, I feel like the philosophical breakdown makes it almost possible to make good and necessary changes... (For example if Martin Luther King, Jr. argued for desegregation today I think he'd fail, many people don't have the critical thinking or skills or conviction in a clear, objective morality and the most logical or good arguments are nixed, because logic itself hardly seems to matter without the grounding of belief in morality or a higher truth.) It's a hope for me that contemporary writers and artists can lead us culturally to a new & improved understanding of life & the world, returning to the best of literature, philosophy and history and not repeating the mistakes of the worst of it.
Hello Tristan: You gave a brilliant exposition of the book Belinda. I read it years ago. Many points you made escaped me then. I was much younger and my English still somewhat shakey.. You did remind me however of the debths of English literature and why I continue to read classic English novels for pleasure and education. Please keep it up I am a big fan of yours!.
I finished reading Belinda yesterday. Thanks for your recommendation, otherwise I will never come across this book. I really loved the way she portrayed Vincent's folly in the last chapters and also agree with your opinion about how human character doesn't change, and we could learn something from it. PS:I am an Indian student who really likes classic English literature and I would really like your recommendation on ancient classic literature that isn't too hard to read.
Thanks so much for this review - another one for the TBR!!! Without this video to explain it, I wouldn't have looked twice at this, but now I'm trying to work out how to fit it into my reading schedule asap :-) Your discussion about novels in our current age might be why I very rarely find a newly published novel that interests me. Almost all the ones aimed at women seem to be along the lines of 'female journalist takes a sabbatical from her London job and travels to Cornwall/Wales/Dorset/Scotland to sort her life out, and meets a man who she at first finds irritating, but ends up falling in love with'. It's like they have all been written using AI.
I happened upon an 1896 illustrated edition of this book and purchased it because I knew it was a favorite of Jane Austen's! I haven't read it yet but this video certainly entices me. Btw, the Introduction is by Anne Thackeray Ritchie. Loved all the detail you put into your video on this book!
Belinda is a fascinating and entertaining read. A video on the shift in perspective between the era of Maria Edgeworth and that of Jane Austen would be very interesting. If you haven't read it yet, you might like Marilyn Butler's Jane Austen and the War of Ideas which has a chapter on Edgeworth. Butler was an academic but her prose is free of jargon and fun to read.
Hi Tristan! I hope you are doing well. I never heard of this book. I have read all of JA's books and enjoyed them. I will have to give this book a read at some point. I will put it down on my ever expanding list of classic books to purchase and read, especially since it comes in the Oxford World Classic format which I love alongside Penguin Black Spine and Barnes & Nobles Classic Library and Barnes & Nobles Library of Essential Readings. Have a great day!
I did read Belinda for Febregency and, although the witty dialogue was challenging to read at times, I enjoyed the story and learning about the regency period. Belinda, to me, seemed to be the "voice of reason" amidst the drama around her. I listened to the book on audio with the reader using different voices for the characters - some very funny. I agree with you that many of the moral lessons in the book certainly carryover to today. Thanks for your insightful review.
I have to be honest and say I never heard of this novel or it's author 😯 I shall most certainly have to look into purchasing Belinda. Tristan, you really got be interested in the synopsis and the style ie: aka Jane Austen and having read all of novels this sounds interesting. Thank you.
Tristan…your presentation on Belinda was outstanding! I’ve already placed a hold on the book through my local library. Many thanks for sharing yours thoughts on this book. 📚
I read Belinda for Febregency. While I enjoyed some of the characters-and I agree, people are people no matter what the era-I have to say Maria Edgeworth is neither a Jane Austen nor a Georgette Heyer. I thought the book lacked humor. It’s pretty heavy going without the fun of either Austen or Heyer. I next want to read The Way of All Flesh. I don’t know whether it will be dreary, but I think I might enjoy-or at least appreciate-it. Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. I’m enjoying your channel.
Thank you so much for recommending this book Tristan. I am intrigued and love your summary. I can’t wait to read it. Lady Delacour our sounds an absolute peach! 😮
I’m following your advice, I’ve just downloaded ‘Belinda’ (99p Amazon Kindle version - my local library didn’t have it on the shelves). I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for recommending.
With regard to Jane E you didn’t comment upon her gaining wealth. There are two possible endings. 1. Her gaining wealth and sharing it with her new family and the independence she gets. Or 2. With the independence she can return to Rochester with funds and equality.
I had meant to read it when you mentioned it but February was too short for me. Still on my TBR though. As an aside about gossip, you may have heard of a short piece by Victor Hugo called Le mot (The word). It’s light and witty and describes how a bad word spoken about somebody in the utmost secrecy travels and finds a way to get to that somebody.
Thanks for your superb synopsis and insights, Tristan. I actually read the book a few weeks ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. An aspect I found unconvincing, however, was the resolution of the Virginia sub-plot (and, to a lesser extent, Lord Delacour's "reformation"). Your comments?
100% agree. In an online conversation, I said exactly the same thing. The Virginia resolution was horribly weak. As for Lord Delacour, I could forgive that. I think it was an expedited transformation to fit the moral of the story. Normally the overtly serendipitous ending would irk me. But I realise that we need to judge the book according to its intent and its place in time in respect to the development of the novel.😀👍❤️
@TristanandtheClassics, How about 50 books readers hate for whatever reason. I know, rather polemical.but could be fun 🙂 It is often the case that we say "I hated that book" and invariably people respond with " Why continue to read it then ? ". Well, that is just it.....we try to find a loophole , a reason why we finished a book that we then say "horrible,hated it" !
Then there must be a thin line between Oscar Wilde’s famous statement on laughter…to make people laugh or they will kill u if you tell them the truth…and this novel’s trifles
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
You are so convincing and inspiring that I feel it is an absolute must to be on my tbr. Thank you for the great review 😊
I hope that you enjoy it as well as I did. 😀❤️👍
How brilliant to take Belinda to our time and show us of many of the morals in her novel are still relevant today. So many people read and love Jane Austen, while this novel is just as readable and lovely!
Tristan, it's a joy to listen to you explaining novels' synopsis.
Thank you, Erica. I really appreciate your support and generous spirit.😀❤️
Your channel has such wonderful & reliably interesting content! I really do adore it. Thank you! I find the post-truth era difficult intellectually, philosophically, ethically and emotionally. And, I feel like so many others do as well & don't know why. It's such a relief to hear someone openly discuss it. I do seek knowledge, truth, & sometimes guidance as I read, & find it's so much easier to find clear and helpful insights in classics, and even if I don't agree with the morality in some works, the work is unequivocally saying something and I can sharpen my own understanding of why. It's frustrating to pick up a book & find a barren landscape of words that go nowhere, a book without opinion or heart. While I truly believe many of the social changes that have steered us closer to humanism are a positive start, I feel like the philosophical breakdown makes it almost possible to make good and necessary changes... (For example if Martin Luther King, Jr. argued for desegregation today I think he'd fail, many people don't have the critical thinking or skills or conviction in a clear, objective morality and the most logical or good arguments are nixed, because logic itself hardly seems to matter without the grounding of belief in morality or a higher truth.) It's a hope for me that contemporary writers and artists can lead us culturally to a new & improved understanding of life & the world, returning to the best of literature, philosophy and history and not repeating the mistakes of the worst of it.
I just ordered it! I love your channel. Cant wait to read this.
Hello Tristan: You gave a brilliant exposition of the book Belinda. I read it years ago. Many points you made escaped me then. I was much younger and my English still somewhat shakey.. You did remind me however of the debths of English literature and why I continue to read classic English novels for pleasure and education. Please keep it up I am a big fan of yours!.
I absolutely loved Belinda. Your review is spot on and as always so articulate. You are a master speaker Tristan. we love you.
Wow, thank you! Im so pleased that you enjoyed Belinda.
I finished reading Belinda yesterday. Thanks for your recommendation, otherwise I will never come across this book. I really loved the way she portrayed Vincent's folly in the last chapters and also agree with your opinion about how human character doesn't change, and we could learn something from it.
PS:I am an Indian student who really likes classic English literature and I would really like your recommendation on ancient classic literature that isn't too hard to read.
Thank you for the recommendation. I love to read. 💕
I never get tired of listening to Tristan's reviews and once again a book to add to my tbr.😊
Thanks so much for this review - another one for the TBR!!! Without this video to explain it, I wouldn't have looked twice at this, but now I'm trying to work out how to fit it into my reading schedule asap :-)
Your discussion about novels in our current age might be why I very rarely find a newly published novel that interests me. Almost all the ones aimed at women seem to be along the lines of 'female journalist takes a sabbatical from her London job and travels to Cornwall/Wales/Dorset/Scotland to sort her life out, and meets a man who she at first finds irritating, but ends up falling in love with'. It's like they have all been written using AI.
I happened upon an 1896 illustrated edition of this book and purchased it because I knew it was a favorite of Jane Austen's! I haven't read it yet but this video certainly entices me. Btw, the Introduction is by Anne Thackeray Ritchie. Loved all the detail you put into your video on this book!
I am also interested into your views on the similarities and differences between Rebecca and Jane Eyre.
Thank you for your in-depth review. This is what I want for reviews. I love how you walk through it.
Belinda is a fascinating and entertaining read. A video on the shift in perspective between the era of Maria Edgeworth and that of Jane Austen would be very interesting. If you haven't read it yet, you might like Marilyn Butler's Jane Austen and the War of Ideas which has a chapter on Edgeworth. Butler was an academic but her prose is free of jargon and fun to read.
This sounds brilliant! Thank you for recommending it - I'm looking forward to reading it. 😊
I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.
I bought this in a charity shop two days ago. Can't wait to read it now. Thanks Tristan.
Hi Tristan! I hope you are doing well. I never heard of this book. I have read all of JA's books and enjoyed them. I will have to give this book a read at some point. I will put it down on my ever expanding list of classic books to purchase and read, especially since it comes in the Oxford World Classic format which I love alongside Penguin Black Spine and Barnes & Nobles Classic Library and Barnes & Nobles Library of Essential Readings. Have a great day!
I did read Belinda for Febregency and, although the witty dialogue was challenging to read at times, I enjoyed the story and learning about the regency period. Belinda, to me, seemed to be the "voice of reason" amidst the drama around her. I listened to the book on audio with the reader using different voices for the characters - some very funny. I agree with you that many of the moral lessons in the book certainly carryover to today.
Thanks for your insightful review.
I have to be honest and say I never heard of this novel or it's author 😯
I shall most certainly have to look into purchasing Belinda.
Tristan, you really got be interested in the synopsis and the style ie: aka Jane Austen and having read all of novels this sounds interesting.
Thank you.
Perfect for the Irish Readathon!
Tristan…your presentation on Belinda was outstanding! I’ve already placed a hold on the book through my local library. Many thanks for sharing yours thoughts on this book. 📚
I hope that you enjoy it, Lenora.😀❤️
I read Belinda for Febregency. While I enjoyed some of the characters-and I agree, people are people no matter what the era-I have to say Maria Edgeworth is neither a Jane Austen nor a Georgette Heyer. I thought the book lacked humor. It’s pretty heavy going without the fun of either Austen or Heyer. I next want to read The Way of All Flesh. I don’t know whether it will be dreary, but I think I might enjoy-or at least appreciate-it. Thanks for this thoughtful analysis. I’m enjoying your channel.
These reviews are really great--thank you!
Thank you so much for recommending this book Tristan. I am intrigued and love your summary. I can’t wait to read it. Lady Delacour our sounds an absolute peach! 😮
Thank you Tristan! I’m looking forward to reading this book 😊
Let me know what you thought. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Hi Tristan! This sounds interesting thanks for sharing.
I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed it.
I’ve added this book in my wishing list. Thank you, Tristan.
I hope that you enjoy it, Sherlika. 😀❤️
I’m following your advice, I’ve just downloaded ‘Belinda’ (99p Amazon Kindle version - my local library didn’t have it on the shelves). I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for recommending.
With regard to Jane E you didn’t comment upon her gaining wealth. There are two possible endings. 1. Her gaining wealth and sharing it with her new family and the independence she gets.
Or 2. With the independence she can return to Rochester with funds and equality.
This sounds like the perfect book for me! Adding it to my list to buy!
I hope you enjoy it 😀❤️
I'm reading Belinda now, although I started Febregency on the 28th.
If u r still looking, I say start with Conrad, Forster and Woolf…possibly Joyce if u know how to present on Dubliners
I had meant to read it when you mentioned it but February was too short for me. Still on my TBR though. As an aside about gossip, you may have heard of a short piece by Victor Hugo called Le mot (The word). It’s light and witty and describes how a bad word spoken about somebody in the utmost secrecy travels and finds a way to get to that somebody.
Ooo that sounds like something I'd enjoy. 😀👍
Thanks for your superb synopsis and insights, Tristan. I actually read the book a few weeks ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. An aspect I found unconvincing, however, was the resolution of the Virginia sub-plot (and, to a lesser extent, Lord Delacour's "reformation"). Your comments?
100% agree. In an online conversation, I said exactly the same thing. The Virginia resolution was horribly weak. As for Lord Delacour, I could forgive that. I think it was an expedited transformation to fit the moral of the story. Normally the overtly serendipitous ending would irk me. But I realise that we need to judge the book according to its intent and its place in time in respect to the development of the novel.😀👍❤️
Is the language easy to understand? Sounds intriguing
I wonder if Austen found inspiration for the character of Fanny Price after reading Belinda.
Love this channel. What is the name of your other channel?
Thank you. My other channel is called Tristan Talks Books. I've just uploaded a video there on a very enjoyable book. 😉
@TristanandtheClassics,
How about 50 books readers hate for whatever reason.
I know, rather polemical.but could be fun 🙂
It is often the case that we say "I hated that book" and invariably people respond with " Why continue to read it then ? ". Well, that is just it.....we try to find a loophole , a reason why we finished a book that we then say "horrible,hated it" !
Then there must be a thin line between Oscar Wilde’s famous statement on laughter…to make people laugh or they will kill u if you tell them the truth…and this novel’s trifles
Your pronunciation of mores surprises me. Is there a difference between American and British English?
Rude
I think something is wrong with your mic…
Turns out someone in the house had fiddled with the settings.