Reviews for Would You Blame Me?

The average rating for Would You Blame Me? based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-05-07 00:00:00 Remi Juillin My advice is not to start reading this unless you know you have a great deal of spare time ahead. Oh, and you must have read all of Thackeray's other novels first, or you'll miss many of the references. And then you're in for a real treat....this novel, as with all his others apart from Vanity Fair, starts interminably slowly, but then grows and grows till by the end you are engrossed in the world he creates. I love the way he seamlessly mixes fact and fiction, and the central theme, the contrast between the twin brothers, is beautifully developed. It's fascinating to see how Bad Beatrix grew old, and his younger women, Fanny, Theo and Hetty, are a delight. Thackeray is much the best Victorian novelist at portraying real women. Another aspect of this novel which interested me is his commentary on the novels that his characters were reading - the works of Richardson and Fielding (who appear, along with snuffy old Dr Johnson) - and how he contrasts the attitudes to morals then (18th century) and his time, a century later. Really, if you have time, read Thackeray - he's unfairly neglected nowadays but well worth the investment.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-06-16 00:00:00 Cheryl Murphy This is a lovely, leisurely read with a sly sense of humor and well-drawn characters. It chronicles the lives of twin brothers born in Virginia before the revolutionary war to an aristocratic British family as they participate in colonial and homeland society, fight in historical battles, and make their way through the political drama of the day. The historical setting is vibrantly lifelike, and Thackeray introduces figures such as General George Washington and King George III seamlessly into the story. This is not the book to read if you are looking for a lot of drama and tension. But if you want interesting characters and a story well-told at an unhurried pace, this is exactly right.