The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (book discussion)

Ever wonder about the book young Catherine Moreland and Isabella Thorpe were so in raptures with in Jane Austen's Northhanger Abbey? The book that our hero Henry Tilney himself "could not lay down" and read "in two days - his hair standing on end the whole time?"

Then come join us just in time for the Halloween season as we dive into The Mysteries of Udolpho by the queen of gothic romance herself, Ann Radcliffe.

We will start with some icebreakers and then get into a round table discussion inspired by the questions posted below, along with other observations and comments from the group. This event is virtual.

*For more information about Ann Radcliffe as an author and her influence on Austen, the chapter dedicated to Ann Radcliffe in Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney is highly recommended.

Food for thought questions:

1. What characters resonated with you and why?
2. How does Emily grow over the course of the novel?
3. How does Emily embody 18th-century ideals of sensibility and virtue? In what ways does Radcliffe critique or reinforce these ideals, and how does it compare with Austen?
4. What is Radcliffe saying to us about sensibility through Emily and her father St. Aubert? How does this compare with Austen?
5. Radcliffe leaves no supernatural-seeming phenomena without a natural explanation by the end of the novel. How does this tie in with the heroine’s endeavors to balance and command her sensibility? How do we see Emily grow in this regard as she continually experiences seemingly supernatural phenomena?
   - Why do you think Radcliffe leaves the contents of the veiled picture ambiguous for so long? What purpose does this serve in the narrative?
6. Radcliffe was compared to Shakespeare in her day: how does Radcliffe’s use of poetic verse and prose impact the story? How does Radcliffe use poetry to characterize Emily’s journey and growth?
7. How does Madame Cherone/Montoni grow over the course of the novel? Despite her villainy towards Emily, is there any room for sympathy from the reader?
8. What are Valancourt’s character flaws in the beginning of the novel and how does he grow?
9. What makes Montoni an effective (or ineffective) antagonist?