Book Review: The Charwoman's Shadow by Lord Dunsany

[kilroy]

This one I picked up a long time ago because it was recommended by a lot of authors I respect. Historically it's probably interesting, but as an actual story it's a bit lacking.

It's a classically told fairy tale, which means it has all the usual problems: extremely elliptical language bursting at the seams with asides, overburdened metaphors, predictable plot, and characters that don't really have any characterization. The wording of it alone made reading this actual work.

I mean, it's not a bad story per se. It's just one that I can imagine about six different ways of telling more interestingly.


Print date: 1926 (20s: 1, 60s: 1, 80s: 1, 00s: 2)
Page count: 241 (2447 total)

Verdict: Give away. (1.5/5 keepers)

Next book due: A Spaceship for the King by Jerry Pournelle, 3/14/10