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A group of eccentrics is gathered, each with a single monomaniacal obsession, and derives humour and social satire from their various interactions and conversations.
Thomas Love Peacock was well known for writing satires. Headlong Hall & Nightmare Abbey are two satirical novels written by him.
The first novel, Headlong Hall, was originally published in 1815. It was the first of Peacock’s ‘dialogue driven’ satirical novels.
Headlong Hall partly satirizes the social customs of that time. But mainly it discusses the benefits and disadvantages of the rapid progress of civilization at length.
A wealthy Welsh Squire, Harry Headlong, wishes to be seen as a man of taste. He gathers a large group of philosophers and artistes at his ancestral home, Headlong Hall. What follows is a typical Peacock style story with an unstructured narrative style and plenty of conversations.
There are many, many lengthy conversations that are dull and dreary. Also, there are songs woven in to the narrative, which I didn’t find interesting at all. People seem to eat and drink (especially drink) way too much.
The language of Headlong Hall is kind of difficult. Latin and Greek quotations are liberally used in the text and most of it went over my head.
The novel does have its hilarious moments. Like when the appearance of a skull causes much upheaval at the breakfast table or when the same skull becomes a part of marriage negotiations! Or when Squire Headlong decides to blow up a part of his grounds and causes an unfortunate Mr. Chromatic to fall in to the river. I also found the actions of Squire Headlong funny. Especially when towards the end he arranges no less than four marriages within the space of a few hours.
The second novel, Nightmare Abbey, is perhaps the best known among all of Peacock’s works. It was published in the year 1818.
Nightmare Abbey is a satire on the trend of writing Gothic fiction and the Romantic Movement in English literature.
It is the story of Christopher Glowry and his son Scythrop Glowry. Living in the aforementioned Nightmare Abbey, the father remains avowedly melancholy while the son dabbles with bizarre and complex philosophical ideas. His philosophical ambitions are constantly thwarted by his rather troublesome habit of falling in love and also by the constant barrage of visitors at Nightmare Abbey.
Peacock pokes fun at his contemporary poets and novelists for their obsession with everything that’s depressing.
The whole chapter in which Marionetta tries to get Mr. Flosky to divulge information about Scythrop’s mysterious behaviour is actually an example of Peacock’s criticism of contemporary philosophical thoughts. Thoughts that centred around the obscure and the complex. The round about way Mr. Flosky goes about answering (more like not answering) her questions is frustrating to say the least.
Most of the characters are said to have been based upon Peacock’s own circle of friends and acquaintances. Scythrop Glowry was apparently based on Peacock’s friend poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mr. Ferdinando Flosky is supposed to be a parody of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Mr. Cypress of Lord Byron.
Headlong Hall was published before Nightmare Abbey. Nightmare Abbey is a little better constructed than the former and also, I must say, much funnier.
Peacock’s novels (at least the ones that I’ve read) do not usually have plots and these two are no exceptions. Also, most of Peacock’s characters are mere ‘types’ who are used as mouthpieces by Peacock. The novels are too full of full of references to the ideas and philosophies of that time that they have now become outdated.
But of course, Peacock’s goal was to satirize the contemporary literary practices and philosophical ideas, not to write rollicking comedies just to entertain us. For the most part both Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey are very amusing satires.
Also, both of the novels are amazingly short.
Thomas Love Peacock is one of my favourite writers. Although his narratives are abstruse and outdated at times, his keen and sharp wit more than makes up for it.
Both Headlong Hall & Nightmare Abbey are funny novels. Nightmare Abbey is especially enjoyable. Overall, I like this book and would definitely recommend it. ( )
Dati dalle informazioni generali inglesi.Modifica per tradurlo nella tua lingua.
The ambiguous light of a December morning, peeping through the windows of the Holyhead mail, dispelled the soft visions of the four insides, who had slept, or seemed to sleep, through the first seventy miles of the road, with as much comfort as may be supposed consistent with the jolting of the vehicle, and an occasional admonition to remember the coachman, thundered through the open door, accompanied by the gentle breath of Boreas, into the ears of the drowsy traveller. (Headlong Hall)
Citazioni
Dati dalle informazioni generali inglesi.Modifica per tradurlo nella tua lingua.
When Scythrop grew up, he was sent, as usual, to a public school, where a little learning was painfully beaten into him, and from thence to the university, where it was carefully taken out of him; and he was sent home like a well-threshed ear of corn, with nothing in his head: having finished his education to the high satisfaction of the master and fellows of his college,... (Nightmare Abbey)
He had some taste for romance reading before he went to the university, where, we must confess, in justice to his college, he was cured of the love of reading in all its shapes; and the cure would have been radical, if disappointment in love, and total solitude, had not conspired to bring on a relapse. (Nightmare Abbey)
Raven: The Honourable Mr Listless is gone. He declared that, what with family quarrels in the morning, and ghosts at night, he could get neither sleep nor peace; and that the agitation was too much for his nerves: though Mr Glowry assured him that the ghost was only poor Crow walking in his sleep, and that the shroud and bloody turban were a sheet and a red nightcap. (Nightmare Abbey)
Raven: The Reverend Mr Larynx has been called off on duty, to marry or bury (I don't know which) some unfortunate person or persons, at Claydyke:... (Nightmare Abbey)
A mere wilderness, as you see, even now in December; but in summer a complete nursery of briers, a forest of thistles, a plantation of nettles, without any live stock but goats, that have eaten up all the bark of the trees. Here you see is the pedestal of a statue, with only half a leg and four toes remaining: there were many here once. When I was a boy, I used to sit every day on the shoulders of Hercules: what became of him I have never been able to ascertain. Neptune has been lying these seven years in the dust-hole; Atlas had his head knocked off to fit him for propping a shed; and only the day before yesterday we fished Bacchus out of the horse-pond. (Headlong Hall)
The Squire flew over to Mr Escot. "I told you," said he, "I would settle him: but there is a very hard condition attached to his compliance."
"I submit to it," said Mr Escot, "be it what it may."
"Nothing less," said Squire Headlong, "than the absolute and unconditional surrender of the skull of Cadwallader."
"I resign it," said Mr Escot.
"The skull is yours," said the squire, skipping over to Mr Cranium.
"I am perfectly satisfied," said Mr Cranium.
"The lady is yours," said the squire, skipping back to Mr Escot.
"I am the happiest man alive," said Mr Escot. (Headlong Hall)
Ultime parole
Dati dalle informazioni generali inglesi.Modifica per tradurlo nella tua lingua.
Scythrop looked at him very fiercely two or three minutes; and Raven, still remembering the pistol, stood quaking in mute apprehension, till Scythrop , pointing significantly towards the dining-room, said, 'Bring some Madeira.' (Nightmare Abbey)
Dati dalle informazioni generali inglesi.Modifica per tradurlo nella tua lingua.
Please do not combine with single editions of Headlong Hall or Nightmare Abbey
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▾Descrizioni del libro
A group of eccentrics is gathered, each with a single monomaniacal obsession, and derives humour and social satire from their various interactions and conversations.
)
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1
The first novel, Headlong Hall, was originally published in 1815. It was the first of Peacock’s ‘dialogue driven’ satirical novels.
Headlong Hall partly satirizes the social customs of that time. But mainly it discusses the benefits and disadvantages of the rapid progress of civilization at length.
A wealthy Welsh Squire, Harry Headlong, wishes to be seen as a man of taste. He gathers a large group of philosophers and artistes at his ancestral home, Headlong Hall. What follows is a typical Peacock style story with an unstructured narrative style and plenty of conversations.
There are many, many lengthy conversations that are dull and dreary. Also, there are songs woven in to the narrative, which I didn’t find interesting at all. People seem to eat and drink (especially drink) way too much.
The language of Headlong Hall is kind of difficult. Latin and Greek quotations are liberally used in the text and most of it went over my head.
The novel does have its hilarious moments. Like when the appearance of a skull causes much upheaval at the breakfast table or when the same skull becomes a part of marriage negotiations! Or when Squire Headlong decides to blow up a part of his grounds and causes an unfortunate Mr. Chromatic to fall in to the river. I also found the actions of Squire Headlong funny. Especially when towards the end he arranges no less than four marriages within the space of a few hours.
The second novel, Nightmare Abbey, is perhaps the best known among all of Peacock’s works. It was published in the year 1818.
Nightmare Abbey is a satire on the trend of writing Gothic fiction and the Romantic Movement in English literature.
It is the story of Christopher Glowry and his son Scythrop Glowry. Living in the aforementioned Nightmare Abbey, the father remains avowedly melancholy while the son dabbles with bizarre and complex philosophical ideas. His philosophical ambitions are constantly thwarted by his rather troublesome habit of falling in love and also by the constant barrage of visitors at Nightmare Abbey.
Peacock pokes fun at his contemporary poets and novelists for their obsession with everything that’s depressing.
The whole chapter in which Marionetta tries to get Mr. Flosky to divulge information about Scythrop’s mysterious behaviour is actually an example of Peacock’s criticism of contemporary philosophical thoughts. Thoughts that centred around the obscure and the complex. The round about way Mr. Flosky goes about answering (more like not answering) her questions is frustrating to say the least.
Most of the characters are said to have been based upon Peacock’s own circle of friends and acquaintances. Scythrop Glowry was apparently based on Peacock’s friend poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mr. Ferdinando Flosky is supposed to be a parody of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Mr. Cypress of Lord Byron.
Headlong Hall was published before Nightmare Abbey. Nightmare Abbey is a little better constructed than the former and also, I must say, much funnier.
Peacock’s novels (at least the ones that I’ve read) do not usually have plots and these two are no exceptions. Also, most of Peacock’s characters are mere ‘types’ who are used as mouthpieces by Peacock. The novels are too full of full of references to the ideas and philosophies of that time that they have now become outdated.
But of course, Peacock’s goal was to satirize the contemporary literary practices and philosophical ideas, not to write rollicking comedies just to entertain us. For the most part both Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey are very amusing satires.
Also, both of the novels are amazingly short.
Thomas Love Peacock is one of my favourite writers. Although his narratives are abstruse and outdated at times, his keen and sharp wit more than makes up for it.
Both Headlong Hall & Nightmare Abbey are funny novels. Nightmare Abbey is especially enjoyable. Overall, I like this book and would definitely recommend it. (