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Anna Lombard
Excerpt from Anna Lombard
A flood of glaring yellow light fell from the chandeliers overhead, a. Sheen of light seemed to be ung back from the polished, slippery, glittering oor which mirrored a thousand lights above and a hundred lesser lights fixed to the walls, dazzling in white and gold. There was so much light, so much glitter, that it seemed to hurt the eyes coming directly from the soft dark night outside. It seemed to wound mine as I stepped through the long window open to the marble piazza where I had been sitting, silent, by a pillar, alone with the gorgeous Eastern night.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."
A flood of glaring yellow light fell from the chandeliers overhead, a. Sheen of light seemed to be ung back from the polished, slippery, glittering oor which mirrored a thousand lights above and a hundred lesser lights fixed to the walls, dazzling in white and gold. There was so much light, so much glitter, that it seemed to hurt the eyes coming directly from the soft dark night outside. It seemed to wound mine as I stepped through the long window open to the marble piazza where I had been sitting, silent, by a pillar, alone with the gorgeous Eastern night.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."
332 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1901
2 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Cross
104 books5 followersAnnie Sophie Cory was the author of popular, racy, exotic novels under the pseudonyms Victoria Cross(e), Vivian Cory and V.C. Griffin.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 15, 2018
In giving Victoria Cross’ Anna Lombard four stars, I am faced with at least two problems. The reader will be handed a major dilemma in the form of a horrendous crime and left to decide how that crime colors everything they have read. The author, Annie Sophie Cory, Victoria Cross is one of her pen names, leaves the reader sole responsibility for figuring out how to deal with a lot of things. She writes her story, you deal. And the second problem is that one can admire the twists and turns of the plot, but stylistically she is not an author of great literature. Without going into specifics, this is not family friendly and not for the pre-teen. Not because of four letter words or on-the-page sweaty sex, but … take my word for it.
Ms Cory was the daughter of a British Officer from the Raj in India. She would have seen the racial prejudices of imperial colonialism. The book she produced is a huge contrast from others from this generation and experience.
Beginning with a very well-worn colonial romance, we are taken, in jarring steps away from expectations. Initially this could have been any number of White Man’s world colonial romances. Kipling among others wrote them by the volume. The one that goes: Colonial officer goes native and losses himself ‘consorting’ with native/half caste wives of convenience. Victoria Cross refuses to write to this expectation.
Female sexuality, done absent pornography, is just one part of where and what the reader will navigate..
This review already edges into spoiler territory. The four stars is for what was at the time almost an unprecedented plot. Note that when published, in 1901, Anna Lombard (the female protagonist and the general’s daughter) was considered a ‘New Woman’ and that is only one part of Ms Cross’ invention. It was also very widely read and a critical success. Recommended if only because I would like to hear from others about their take.
Ms Cory was the daughter of a British Officer from the Raj in India. She would have seen the racial prejudices of imperial colonialism. The book she produced is a huge contrast from others from this generation and experience.
Beginning with a very well-worn colonial romance, we are taken, in jarring steps away from expectations. Initially this could have been any number of White Man’s world colonial romances. Kipling among others wrote them by the volume. The one that goes: Colonial officer goes native and losses himself ‘consorting’ with native/half caste wives of convenience. Victoria Cross refuses to write to this expectation.
Female sexuality, done absent pornography, is just one part of where and what the reader will navigate..
This review already edges into spoiler territory. The four stars is for what was at the time almost an unprecedented plot. Note that when published, in 1901, Anna Lombard (the female protagonist and the general’s daughter) was considered a ‘New Woman’ and that is only one part of Ms Cross’ invention. It was also very widely read and a critical success. Recommended if only because I would like to hear from others about their take.
March 13, 2017
This book was an assignment for a graduate class on gender & literature. It was my favorite so far from the class. There are a lot of similarities to Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" (one of my favorite novels) but there is an added context of colonialism. The Victorian time period is very intriguing to me, especially after reading this novel. For readers who are interested in concepts of intersectionality (specifically race, gender, and colonial power), this is a very good and quick read.
August 29, 2021
It is insane to me that this book sold SIX MILLION copies in the early 20th Century and was the most popular Victorian book and now hardly anyone reads it/knows it.
Then again, how many people are going to have read/know of 'Fifty Shades of Gray' in 100 years time? Having read it, I can see why it was so popular among the late Victorians, and also why it absolutely has not stood the test of time.
I was expecting it to be racier than it actually was; I guess the scandal comes from the affair/love triangle, which just feels pretty bog-standard in the 21st Century. The exoticism and Othering of the Far East was instead what I found particularly interesting, along with Cross' attempt to define a New Masculinity, or a New Man to accompany the New Woman of the late 19th Century. The relationship between Gaida and Gerald was interesting with regards to both of these facets, with his disgust at the baby but his appreciation of Gaida as almost 'superhuman' due to his physical build.
However, I feel like Cross' attempt at defining a New Masculinity was so hindered by Gerald being wetter than a soggy flannel; his character was almost embarrassing - particularly his jealousy at being replaced by a baby.
The reputation 'Anna Lombard' has as the 'Fifty Shades of Gray' of the Victorian era might leave you disappointed if you read it for sex, but it's interesting as a historical artefact of popular fiction nonetheless.
Then again, how many people are going to have read/know of 'Fifty Shades of Gray' in 100 years time? Having read it, I can see why it was so popular among the late Victorians, and also why it absolutely has not stood the test of time.
I was expecting it to be racier than it actually was; I guess the scandal comes from the affair/love triangle, which just feels pretty bog-standard in the 21st Century. The exoticism and Othering of the Far East was instead what I found particularly interesting, along with Cross' attempt to define a New Masculinity, or a New Man to accompany the New Woman of the late 19th Century. The relationship between Gaida and Gerald was interesting with regards to both of these facets, with his disgust at the baby but his appreciation of Gaida as almost 'superhuman' due to his physical build.
However, I feel like Cross' attempt at defining a New Masculinity was so hindered by Gerald being wetter than a soggy flannel; his character was almost embarrassing - particularly his jealousy at being replaced by a baby.
The reputation 'Anna Lombard' has as the 'Fifty Shades of Gray' of the Victorian era might leave you disappointed if you read it for sex, but it's interesting as a historical artefact of popular fiction nonetheless.
June 23, 2021
Wanted to be seduced by this Victorian 50
Shades of it’s day. Was disappointed whole
Book written from male protagonist’s viewpoint.
Twist at the end was DARK
Shades of it’s day. Was disappointed whole
Book written from male protagonist’s viewpoint.
Twist at the end was DARK
March 27, 2024
This was very good and very thought-provoking. I highly recommend this, especially if you are studying post-colonialism and women and gender studies.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews