I am reading now

Henry Esmond, Thackeray's personal favorite of his novels, written with loving labor, so I have heard. I have also heard from a prolific reader friend that he thought it was tedious, despite Trollope's high recommendation.

All this this made me curious. And this is coming from a guy who hasn't even read Vanity Fair, though I've read a good helping of Trollope and a little Dickens. So far I find nothing to object to, though I am only 77 pages in. I am enjoying the historical intrigue, and wondering what it is my friend found so tedious about it, as I am finding a captivating and magical, if thick and sometimes complicated delivery and writing style. I have had to do a lot of re reading of the same passages though, in this early stage of the book, and expect to reference to the beginning again as I progress, because its a historical novel and there is serious background detail that is very hard to take in at first.

So far, the Henry Esmond is a kid living in a mansion called Castlewood, and he is telling his newcomer 'kinsman'(with Thackeray's help to us readers) about his past at Castlewood before they arrived. Some of it reminds me of David Copperfield, but with an 18th century edge to it and allusions to all the political intrigue with the church and Dutch aristocracy at the time, and how it upsets his home life. I love being so immersed in another time, by a writer of another time about a time earlier than his.

But, though I am optimistic at this stage of my reading, maybe I will find things that drag on or that I don't like as I get further along. I don't know. I am determined to climb the mountain of Henry Esmond though!

I will keep you updated on my progress and see if I can't recommend people to read it when I'm finished.

So, I finished Henry Esmond last weekend. I really enjoyed it, but it was not an easy read for me. I would be curious to know if any others have read it; maybe we could have some sort of discussion.