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Liked It “A little to much romance, but the betrayal is awesome!!” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Seeing as "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde" is one of my all time favourite books and most fascinating themes ever, I always wanted to try some of Robert Louis Stevenson’s other works. |
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“A little to much romance, but the betrayal is awesome!!”
Moggy the Reader wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Not as gripping as Treasure Island or Kidnapped, but still an entertaining story.”
Cathy E wrote this review Saturday, October 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Robert Louis Stevenson is a great nineteenth century writer. The Black Arrow is a story about a young man, Dick Shelton, who is in the high favor of his guardian, his late father's companion, when a wild accusation against three honorable men, incuding Dick's guardian, that they had connections with three tragedies. One such tragedy is the murder of Dick's father Harry Shelton. Of course, Dick doesn't believe that his generous protecter could have killed his father, until he overhears a plot to have him killed himself! He runs away and joins the resistance against this seemingly benevolent tyrant.”
ethan k wrote this review Tuesday, June 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“My review is at http://auntb93also.multiply.com/journal/item/721/The_Black_Arrow_by_Robert_Louis_Stevenson_1888”
AuntB93 wrote this review Tuesday, May 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Seeing as "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde" is one of my all time favourite books and most fascinating themes ever, I always wanted to try some of Robert Louis Stevenson’s other works.
Laila wrote this review Saturday, May 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
When I saw this one in a charity shop, I thought – why not give this a try. But really… no comparison.
The Black Arrow is a story taking place in England during the war of the roses between the Houses of Lancaster and York. It is about a young lad who is betrayed by his guardian, goes into hiding and in the end wins his fair maid. Its not only incredibly difficult to get into because of the old English employed to set the stage and tone, its also rather boring and predictable. Its just the story of a young lad, growing up, going through adventures and winning in the end. No real emotional depth or psychological intricacies at all.
Nothing at all like lovely Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde unfortunately.
To be perfectly honest I skipped a lot, paragraphs, sometimes whole chapters because it was so obvious what was going on and the dialogues to predictable and dull that, really I saw no point in reading every word. Yes, he isn’t a contemporary writer and doesn’t have to adhere to my maybe slightly modern taste – but he does have to be comparable to his other works and Jeckyll and Hyde is in my eyes a stroke of genious, which The black arrow utterly lacks.
Maybe it’s a boy’s story. All the fighting and the secrets and the honour and the winning back his maid – but in terms of my enjoyment, I would rate it very, very low. Sure, there were a few moments where I was swept up in the idea of adventure… but it never lasted, and I’m not predisposed to like adventure books to begin with.
Give it a try if you want to but I’m just happy I’m done with it.”
“Another great adventure book by Stevenson. A fantastic fast paced action story. Mr. Stevenson has become my favorite 19th century adventure writer. Highly recommended”
Little Timmy B wrote this review Sunday, December 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"...and how a thing once done is not to be changed or remedied by any penitence"...true words from RLS, sadly maligned by the woolfs...”
muque and shylock tomes wrote this review Friday, May 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"...The words died in Richard's throat. He saw, through tears, the poor old man, bemused with liquorand sorrow, go shambling away, with bowed head, across the snow, and the unnoticed dog whimpered at his heels; and for the first time began to understand the desperate game that we play in life, and how a thing once done is not to be changed or remedied by any penitence" just a classic novel!!!”
amir servati wrote this review Saturday, October 20 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
