Charles Reade
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Language
English
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Description
Two parallel romances feature in this 1853 novel. The first is between a bored aristocrat, Lord Ipsden, who, disappointed in love, retreats to bucolic Scotland, and Lady Barbara, who harbors certain Romantic illusions. The second concerns a beautiful Scottish fishwife, the eponymous heroine, and Charles Gatty, a talented but unsuccessful painter.
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Language
English
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Description
This 1876-7 novel continued the author's focus on trade unionism from his 1870 Put Yourself in His Place, while adding the element of a female physician named Rhoda Gould to the mix in order to express support for women's rights. Rhoda must overcome the prejudices of the misogynistic Vizard before she can pursue her dream.
Author
Language
English
Description
The story begins with a young father, William Hope, who travels with his daughter, his "one remaining joy," since his wife's recent death by consumption. He hopes his love for his little girl-and his many talents-will be enough to keep them safe through their travels, but Hope has had trouble keeping his money in the past. . .
5) Hard Cash
Author
Language
English
Description
Originally published in 1863, Hard Cash was Reade's polemical exposé of the horrors routinely perpetrated against the inmates of England's insane asylums. Alfred Hardie, victim of an embezzlement perpetrated by his father, is tricked into entering an asylum; once there, he finds it almost impossible to prove himself sane.
Author
Language
English
Description
Originally published in 1870, this novel focused on trade-union terrorism while following the star-crossed romance of Henry Little and Grace Carden. "It is impossible to deny to Mr. Reade the possession of rare and admirable powers," wrote the New York Times in its review.
Author
Language
English
Description
This 1859 novel is a kind of prequel to the later Hard Cash (1863)-focusing on the banking industry instead of mental institutions. It features a romance between David Dodd, a sailor, and Lucy Fountain. Though Lucy is an independent woman who would rather be alone, David's sincerity eventually wins her heart.
8) Foul Play
Author
Language
English
Description
This 1869 novel was an exposé of ship-knackers-merchants who made their money from the foundering of ships, with no regard for their crews. Robert Penfold, a young clergyman convicted of forgery, is shipwrecked while on his way to Australia and cast up, with the heroine, upon a desert island.
Author
Language
English
Description
Richard Basset believes his cousin, Sir Charles, has stolen his inheritance. Reade describes insane asylums, the heartless upper class, and scandalously details a sexual relationship between Charles and Rhoda. A review in the London Times suggested to mothers that they should hide such a book from their daughters. Reade riposted with a long and impassioned letter defending his work.
Author
Language
English
Description
The title novella was originally written for inclusion in the novel It is Never too Late to Mend (1856) but omitted for artistic considerations, as he believed "a story within a story is a frightful flaw in art." This 1858 collection also contains the short novels Jack of All Trades and A Hero and a Martyr.
Author
Language
English
Description
Originally published in 1861, this early work by Charles Reade is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. It tells the story of a young scribe's travels through Europe and deals with conflicts between family life and the church. This is a fascinating work and thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in historical English literature.
Author
Language
English
Description
Ships at anchor reared their tall masts, here and there; and the broad stream was enlivened and colored by junks and boats of all sizes and vivid hues, propelled on the screw principle by a great scull at the stern, with projecting handles for the crew to work; and at times a gorgeous mandarin boat, with two great glaring eyes set in the bows, came flying, rowed with forty paddles by an armed crew, whose shields hung on the gunwale and flashed fire...
Author
Language
English
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Description
Griffith Gaunt, first published in 1866, was termed "Reade's masterpiece" by the Forthnightly Review-an opinion which Reade himself shared. His descriptions of the psychology and sexuality of unconventional women are powerful in this novel about love and jealousy.
Author
Series
Everyman's library. Fiction volume 29
Language
English
Formats
Description
The Cloister and the Hearth by Charles Reade.
A small portion of this tale appeared in Once a Week, July-September, 1859, under the title of "A Good Fight".)
The Cloister and the Hearth is a historical novel by the English author Charles Reade. Set in the 15th century, it relates the story revolving about the travels of a young scribe and illuminator, Gerard Eliassoen, through several European countries.