The Judgement House

by Gilbert Parker

The Judgement House. INTRODUCTION A VERY natural difiiculty presents itself in regard to any prepatory remarks concerning this book. In the case of all the other books for which an introduction in this series has been written, time had elapsed in some cases over twenty years between the first publication and the issuing of this subscription edition. The Judgment House, however, goes into the subscription edition almost contemporaneously with first issue in individual form, and there is little that can usefully be said now. Time is necessary to give a book its true place for whatever first impressions may be, there is only one true test of a book, and that is permanency. The popular book which dies at the end of a season requires no historians or commentators hand. and the book that is not the book of a season, but is to extend its life through years and not through weeks and months has not found its definite place either in the mind of the public or of its author certainly not in the mind of the latter soon after original publication. Something very like a reaction is set up in the mind of the author after his manuscript has ceased to be his very own, having become anybodys at the price in printed form, and a coldness in his own relation to it emerges. He needs time to adjust himself to a work on which the outer world has breathed with ban or blessing.

536 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2008

About the author

Sir Horatio Gilbert George Parker, 1st Baronet PC (1862- 1932), known as Gilbert Parker, Canadian novelist and British politician, was born at Camden East, Addington, Ontario. He was educated at Ottawa and at University of Trinity College at the University of Toronto. Parker started as a teacher at the Ontario School for the deaf and dumb (in Belleville, Ontario). From there he went on to lecture at Trinity College. In 1886 he went to Australia, and became for a while associate editor of the Sydney Morning Herald. He also traveled extensively in the Pacific, Europe, Asia, Egypt, the South Sea Islands and subsequently in northern Canada. In the early nineties he began to make a growing reputation in London as a writer of romantic fiction. The best of his novels are those in which he first took for his subject the history and life of the French Canadians; and his permanent literary reputation rests on the fine quality, descriptive and dramatic, of his Canadian stories. His works include: Mrs Falchion (1893), A Lover's Diary (1894), The Battle of the Strong (1898), The Lane That Had No Turning (1900), The Right of Way (1901), Cumner's Son (1904), The Weavers (1907), Northern Lights (1909), and The Judgment House (1913).

Reviews

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be more exact, I'd give this 4.3 stars!!

I think this book was a lot of fun to read. I am a big fan of messy relationships, and this being a love triangle is kind of that. Which is great, because I absolutely adore all of the main characters in this story.

Jasmine is just such a fascinating character to read about, because of how chaotic she is on the inside with her feelings, and how chaotic she is on the outside with the way she interacts with people around her as well. So of course, I'm torn between rooting for Rudyard (who she screwed over) and Ian (who she really loves), with is getting hurt either way. And although I know it's DEFINITELY her fault, I still can't help but really feel for Jasmine at the same time.

I'm not a history buff whatsoever, but the historical context of the story didn't confuse me whatsoever. It was easy to understand, and actually really interesting to see how the politics of their world, and how they're all involved with it, began to intermingle with their personal relationships. I think that's the biggest thing I liked about this book- they're all very intelligent characters, both with their work, and how they have so much agency to their actions and mistakes.

I really enjoyed this read, and Jasmine is probably one of my favorite characters in literature now.

[L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A best seller from 1913. While the story is mainly set in London, every character is so busy thinking and talking about South Africa and the Boer War that you never see England. But I wouldn't say this novel is about the war. No, the main message seems to be Women Ain't Nuthin' But Trouble.

Jasmine Grenfel has been compared to a china doll but don't be deceived. Within her porcelain persona beats a heart filled with ambition. That's why Jasmine dumps Ian Stafford, the man she loves, for Rudyard Byng, the man with three millions. (They kept adding the 's' which threw me off.) It doesn't take long for Jasmine to realize she made the wrong choice and she starts running wild. Well, wild for a woman in the early 1900's. There's even a slight murder mystery which she's involved in.

[Charles Cheesman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given by my Great Aunt to my father in 1960 and is inscribed on the 1st page. It was recently given to me by my sister so I decided it might be an interesting read. I was certainly not disappointed. As with most books it had a bit of a slow and confusing start but once I became acquainted with the characters I was hooked. The author must have been a fan of Charles Dickens like me as it had that feel to it. Great characters well developed and many twists and turns all coming to a climax and being resolved. An older novel written in the 1930's and revolving historically around the Boar War. I am a History buff of sorts so it turned out to be right up my ally with enough romance to be appropriate for a soft-hearted reader. A very good book.