MBaldelli

Without taking the knee-jerk politically correct reaction to sexism and racism of the time the book was written, the book itself starts out rather well and then takes a 90 degree turn to nonsensical. At first the story seems to go rather well as it follows the protagonist in his journey from being an Outbacker in Australia to the more rigidly structured life in England, and even tries it's hand at explaining the legends of the Lambton Worm... But then the story changes so badly I gave up when… (more)

Without taking the knee-jerk politically correct reaction to sexism and racism of the time the book was written, the book itself starts out rather well and then takes a 90 degree turn to nonsensical. At first the story seems to go rather well as it follows the protagonist in his journey from being an Outbacker in Australia to the more rigidly structured life in England, and even tries it's hand at explaining the legends of the Lambton Worm... But then the story changes so badly I gave up when the focus went from protagonist to villainous stooge. Stoker's understanding of mesmerism and hypnotism is ignorant at best and detracts from the suspense being built around Lady Arabella. It's said that at the point this book was written Stoker was suffering from Bright's Disease as the original book was published the year before Stoker's death; and it's apparent that it had taken its toll on his coherence. Pity too, as I was entertained by Ken Russell's rendition of the movie.