Behind a Mask, or A Woman’s Power
One of the first major publications by Louisa May Alcott, the author of “Little Women”.
Jean Muir takes a job as a governess at the luxurious Coventry House and instantly charms its aristocratic inhabitants. She educates her young charge, serves evening tea to the entire family, and delights their ears with her singing. But she desires something entirely different. Arranging delicate bouquets and reading historical books aloud, Jean Muir will merely put dust in the eyes of the owners of Coventry House, all the while secretly preparing and executing a cunning and ambitious plan.
The “Yandex Books Originals” series features this book in Russian. The English edition contains the original versions of the translated texts.
Джин Мюир поступает на работу гувернанткой в роскошный Ковентри-хаус и мгновенно очаровывает его аристократических обитателей. Она воспитывает юную подопечную, разливает вечерний чай всему семейству, услаждает их слух пением. Но ей самой хочется совсем другого. Собирая изящные букетики и читая вслух исторические книги, Джин Мюир лишь пустит хозяевам Ковентри-хауса пыль в глаза, а тайком — подготовит и реализует коварный и амбициозный план.
Публикуем повесть «Под маской, или Сила женщины» в оригинале — на английском языке.
Jean Muir takes a job as a governess at the luxurious Coventry House and instantly charms its aristocratic inhabitants. She educates her young charge, serves evening tea to the entire family, and delights their ears with her singing. But she desires something entirely different. Arranging delicate bouquets and reading historical books aloud, Jean Muir will merely put dust in the eyes of the owners of Coventry House, all the while secretly preparing and executing a cunning and ambitious plan.
The “Yandex Books Originals” series features this book in Russian. The English edition contains the original versions of the translated texts.
Джин Мюир поступает на работу гувернанткой в роскошный Ковентри-хаус и мгновенно очаровывает его аристократических обитателей. Она воспитывает юную подопечную, разливает вечерний чай всему семейству, услаждает их слух пением. Но ей самой хочется совсем другого. Собирая изящные букетики и читая вслух исторические книги, Джин Мюир лишь пустит хозяевам Ковентри-хауса пыль в глаза, а тайком — подготовит и реализует коварный и амбициозный план.
Публикуем повесть «Под маской, или Сила женщины» в оригинале — на английском языке.
Жас шектеулері: 16+
Түпнұсқа жарияланған күн: 1903
Басылым шыққан жыл: 2025
Серия: Yandex Books Originals
Қағаз беттер: 139
Бұл серияда
Кітаптың басқа нұсқалары1
Под маской, или Сила женщины
·
Пікірлер6
👍Ұсынамын
🚀Көз ала алмайсың
Behind a Mask is undoubtedly one of the most pleasurable reads I’ve had in a while. So masterfully written, that even the at times repetitive dramatic descriptions of feelings, thoughts, and actions (impetuous ones, in particular) couldn’t ruin the overall impression of Louisa May Alcott’s talent and eloquence.
The storyline sometimes seemed too fast-paced, the characters too passionate and overly sentimental, but somehow the ensemble as a whole managed to balance each other with just enough of distrust and shrewdness for the naïveté and gullibility to appear convincing to the reader. The deep insight into the complexities of the human psyche, as well as the predominance of themes like class conflict, women’s struggle for control of their own lives, and Victorian views of actresses, to my mind, saved the novella from turning into a novelette, making it a story that is not only worth reading, but which makes you forget all possible distractions in its whirlwind of deception and bewitchment.
As for the woman behind the mask, Jean Muir is a most fascinating antagonist/protagonist, and I, most certainly, would’ve enjoyed reading a novel or two about her adventures that took place before and after the events of Behind a Mask with a closer look at her (very specific) morality and hidden thoughts. While there is no excuse for her actions towards certain members of the Coventry family, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the cards that life had dealt her. Even knowing that she used Sir John’s good will to the fullest, I felt dismayed (though unsurprised) not just at how masterfully she makes a fool of him, but at how easily this noble, dignified, yet middle-aged (at best) man professes his feelings for a girl he considers to be 19 years of age and dares to believe in their reciprocity. And still, one can’t deny that it’s more pleasant or, at the very least, easier to live a lie, if it brings you joy and happiness, than to face the truth and refuse yourself a fairytale.
Oh, how I look forward to reading more by Alcott now that I’ve begun.
The storyline sometimes seemed too fast-paced, the characters too passionate and overly sentimental, but somehow the ensemble as a whole managed to balance each other with just enough of distrust and shrewdness for the naïveté and gullibility to appear convincing to the reader. The deep insight into the complexities of the human psyche, as well as the predominance of themes like class conflict, women’s struggle for control of their own lives, and Victorian views of actresses, to my mind, saved the novella from turning into a novelette, making it a story that is not only worth reading, but which makes you forget all possible distractions in its whirlwind of deception and bewitchment.
As for the woman behind the mask, Jean Muir is a most fascinating antagonist/protagonist, and I, most certainly, would’ve enjoyed reading a novel or two about her adventures that took place before and after the events of Behind a Mask with a closer look at her (very specific) morality and hidden thoughts. While there is no excuse for her actions towards certain members of the Coventry family, I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the cards that life had dealt her. Even knowing that she used Sir John’s good will to the fullest, I felt dismayed (though unsurprised) not just at how masterfully she makes a fool of him, but at how easily this noble, dignified, yet middle-aged (at best) man professes his feelings for a girl he considers to be 19 years of age and dares to believe in their reciprocity. And still, one can’t deny that it’s more pleasant or, at the very least, easier to live a lie, if it brings you joy and happiness, than to face the truth and refuse yourself a fairytale.
Oh, how I look forward to reading more by Alcott now that I’ve begun.
👍Ұсынамын
🔮Қазыналы
🚀Көз ала алмайсың
After finishing Little Women and Good wives (which I adore!), I decided to try another one, not so famous Alcott’s novel. And I liked it too.
It’s a pretty little book about young woman who knows what she wants and slowly orchestrates her grand plan. It was a pleasure to read about woman’s power and I was really amazed that L.M. Alcott wrote not only kind and sweet stories, but the tricky ones too where the main character is up to no good!)
It’s a pretty little book about young woman who knows what she wants and slowly orchestrates her grand plan. It was a pleasure to read about woman’s power and I was really amazed that L.M. Alcott wrote not only kind and sweet stories, but the tricky ones too where the main character is up to no good!)
Дәйексөздер204
But presently he wearied of her society, for she was not a brilliant girl, and possessed few of those winning arts which charm a man and steal into his heart.
and he too lazy to care what went on about him
She made Lucia respect and envy her for her accomplishments,
