Reviews for The History Of David Grieve

The average rating for The History Of David Grieve based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-12-12 00:00:00 Kevin Pruitt It has taken me a long time to get through this long novel by Mary Ward, but I'm glad to have read it, though I don't think it is as good as her better-known novels such as 'Robert Elsmere' and 'Helbeck of Bannisdale'. Ranging from the wilds of the Peak District to bohemian Manchester and even more bohemian Paris, the book feels very patchy, brilliant at times, almost unreadable at others. Some parts are wildly romantic and reminiscent of the Brontes or George Sand, while other long sections are full of laborious realistic detail about everything from second-hand bookshops to vegetarian restaurants. There are also pages on end of theological and philosophical discussion. Some of the material is daring for the period, as the hero, David, lives "in sin" with a young French artist who believes in free love, in a passionate central section which is probably the finest part of the novel. I was also surprised to find that the plot keeps taking abrupt twists which aren't what you would expect to happen next at all, and going off at tangents, as in real life. All in all, I'd say this isn't the best of Ward's novels, but, if you are interested in her work, you will find it fascinating. I'd really like to give five stars to some chapters, two to others!

Review # 2 was written on 2012-07-24 00:00:00 David Wnorowski I enjoy a bit of Victorian literature and this really did not disappoint. There was also the novelty value of seeing my name in print all the way through it! The story of the eponymous David Grieve is told in 4 parts. Growing up in rural Derbyshire, setting up business as a bookseller in Manchester, spending time and falling in love in Paris and finally married and living in Manchester again. The story itself is well told, interesting and descriptive. It is also a faccinating glimpse into the people and places of the day. It was written in 1892 and is set in the 1860s/70s. She writes the heavily accented speech of the Derbyshire peasantry phonetically which can be hard to read. Thankfully, David loses his accent when he moves to Manchester. The themes of the book are religion and unsatisfactory marriage. No-one seems to have a genuinely happy marriage apart from the very poorest couple, and theirs is blighted by tragedy. The best that can be hoped for is for an unsuitable marriage to be made to work at least on some level, with a degree of real love. Religion appears throughout the book with people dropping in and out of it and some with ongoing religiious fervour. This element seems to be overplayed although clearly it is reflecting the mood of the times. I had never heard of Mrs Humphry Ward until finding out about this book, and that was only because of the title, but I am very glad I have read it.