a Case for the Misses Leavenworth

.

detective novels, mysteries- I love them. I've read some or all of titles of Poe, Wilkie Collins , Arthur Conan Doyle Gaston Leroux and of course Agatha Christie & Dorothy Sayers.  To think I had until just this moment missed "the Mother of the Detective Story," Anna Katharine Green- pains me. I have remedied that and if you have had the same fate I suggest The Leavenworth Case.

It seems Anna Katharine introduced her ongoing series of  stories with Detective Ebenezer Gryce solving murders a full nine years be for Conan Doyle did his Sherlock novels.  Fortunately Detective Gryce has help from a gentleman-Raymond- who can traverse the intrigues of New York society where Gryce can not. Gouty Gryce is likeable, but Raymond is more intriguing and it is from his point of view the murder of a distinguished Mr. Leavenworth and the subsequent evidence that is piling up at the door of one of his two nieces. Both Mary & Eleanore are great beauties & the deeper Mr, Raymond delves into the crime the more he becomes emotionally entangled with both the women.

I can't fault  Green's style-a bit stilted- but some how suggestive of Edith Wharton, I was caught up in the plot rather quickly . Perhaps it is the era Green sets her Case in but I couldn't help think of Wharton & the heroines in her novels-trapped by society's dictates with little to recourse but a successful marriage. Green, a Brooklyn native and the daughter of a criminal attorney, published The Leavenworth Case in 1878.  Green married Charles Rohlfs,  an internationally known furniture designer in 1884.  She went on to publish mysteries with female sleuths-a  society spinster Amelia Butterworth, said to be the prototype for Miss Marple & Violet Strange, debutante leading a secret life as a sleuth.
I have to read these of course- I've got a case.

the romantic langour of Albert Joseph Moore's paintings seem to capture the mood of Mr. Raymond as he falls deeper and deeper under the spell of the two cousins.

.

playing Miss Marple

 tonight on pbs Miss Marple returns in the Secret of Chimneys

 prior to her triumphant return, I have been amusing myself with these. Designed by Andrea Kett, our Jane takes on various roles in : Tantalising Tweeds, Naughty Knitwear, Unsensible Shoes and much more. View Ms Kett's Portfolio Here. Her illustrations conjur up other novel characters GIGI & her Aunt Alicia & Cheri's Léa de Lonval.

Read all about Ms. Kett Here
all images are copyright and used with Ms. Kett's kind permission.
visit Agatha Christie's official site Here


.

the Mysteries of UDOLPHO : the Castle Part II

.

Emily's chamber at UDOLPHO

Even in light of day Emily's bed chamber has dark hidden corners, with light flooding into the room just above its walking inhabitants-all is dusk and glooming. The cavernous chamber holds a carved gilt Renaissance bed and a VASARI painting that hangs over the fireplace in a Vasari decorated frame. "She now retired to her bed, leaving the lamp burning on the table; but its gloomy light instead of dispelling her fear, assisted it; for, by its uncertain rays, she almost fancied she saw shapes flit past her curtains and glide into the remote obscurity of her chamber-The castle clock struck one before she closed her eyes to sleep."

When one can hear people moving, 

one does not so much mind, 

about one's fears.

 Lady Emily, Our Heroine

painted by Bronzino

Destination Udolpho

 Gondola image from here

 The destination of the Count's entourage, with heroine Emily in tow-an unwitting traveler, indeed hostage is UDOLPHO. Envisioning UDOLPHO is essential when reading the Radcliffe novel. Her descriptions are fine ones-
but in all- there is unspoken dread. Traveling to Count Morano's castle fortress, the entourage sets off in gondola- including Morano, Emily's aunt, now married to Morano, a number of servants, retainers and armed guards. Later the entourage would travel the wild terrain of the Appenines by coach. As the travelers plunged deeper along the intrepid way-Emily's sense of dread increases, and her thoughts of Valancourt overwhelm her.

the landscape in an around Udolpho

painted by Salvator Rosa

the Central Hall of Udolpho

The Central Hall of UDOLPHO, with a cantilevered staircase, where Emily ascended amidst Morlaiter frescoes and Renaissance tapestries to her chamber. "Daylight dispelled from Emily's mind the glooms of Superstition, but not those of Apprehension"

painting by Veronese

Much of Countess Morino's stay at UDOLPHO is confined to her chambers. Emily and her aunt resolve their tumultuous relationship as the Countess's health rapidly declines under the oppressive atmosphere of UDOLPHO. Her refusal to sign her name to documents releasing her property and possessions to her devious husband-further constraining their relationship as it strengthens her relationship with Emily.

the UDOLPHO vaulted dining room

Like Austen's heroine Catherine Morland, in Northanger Abbey, Mrs. Radcliffe's Emily's fertile imagination conjures fearful imaginings and horrors, giving Emily pause to doubt her own sanity. Her wanderings about the castle only multiply her sense of dread. With her Aunt's health deteriorating and Count's continued pressure for Emily to submit to his control- the young Emily sinks deeper into melancholy.

 the imaginings of  our Emily

 Bronzino

Vanitas with Death and a Maiden, Engraving made by Andries Jacobsz

what lies behind the black draped painting? 

who is the mysterious lady that once claimed ownership of the castle?

what did Count Morano have to do with her disappearance?

Bronzino

& what of Emily's fate?

The Death as a nobleman leading away a woman, Engraving made by Allaert Claesz.

at the moment ,in which they let down the body into the earth,

the scene was such as only the dark pencil of a Domenichino,

perhaps,could have done justice to.

The fierce features and wild dress of the condottieri,

bending with their torches over the grave, into which the corpse was 

descending, were contrasted by the venerable figure of the monk,

wrapt in long black garments, his cowl thrown back from his pale face,

on which the light gleaming strongly shewed the lines of affliction 

softened by piety,and the few grey locks, 

which time had spared on his temples: while,

beside him, stood...a softer form who leaned on support upon Annette; 

her face half averted, and shaded by a thin veil, that fell over her figure;

and her mild and beautiful countenance fixed in grief so solemn

as admitted not of tears, while she thus saw committed untimely

to earth her last relative and friend.

 Engraving by  Matham, After Karel van Mander I

& so~

If the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, 

has, by its scenes, beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, 

by its moral, taught him to sustain it - 

the effort, however humble, has not been vain, 

nor is the writer unrewarded.

engravings from bibliodyssey
start the Mysteries of Udolpho here
all interior images are of La Pietra-Harold Acton's 15th century Florentine Villa photographed by Massino Listri
.

the Mysteries of UDOLPHO, The Players Part I

.

Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, written in 1794, is an integral part of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Austen's blurring of the lines in her mock Gothic novel with Udolpho's plot is one of the many devices Austen calls upon in her novels to lure her devoted readers into the Austen web of literature.

I was lured. The Mysteries of Udolpho is a must read for any curious student of Austen.You will not be treading lightly though-dearest, but your efforts will be rewarded. Poe and Sade read Udolpho too, so there are a multitude insights  and influences to be discovered. The beautiful orphaned Emily St Aubert is imprisoned by her guardian Count Montoni. The Count schemes to sell the lady to the highest bidder. The Count's remote castle in the Apennines is the setting for much of the novel and darling Emily finds 'her present life...like the dream of a distempered imagination, or like one of those frightful fictions, in which the wild genius of the poets sometimes delighted. Reflection brought only regret, and anticipation terror.

'

Kazakh model, Ruslana Korshunova ,

who fell to her death a few years ago.

image from here

the players

 

EMILY

a well read and Virtuous Beauty

The death of Emily's beloved father, triggers a series of events that destroy the Emily's cloistered world.

Manchon came running, and barking before her...

The dog still fawned and ran around her,

and then flew towards the carriage...

'Manchon's gone to look for him,' Emily sobbed aloud;

and, on looking towards the carriage,

which still stood with the door open,

saw the animal spring into it.

The dog now came running to Emily, 

then to the carriage, and then back again to her,

whining an discontented.

'Poor rogue!... thou hast lost thy master,

thou mayst well cry!'

"Lady Emily" by Sofonisba

Saint Aubert

 Bronzino here

 Madame Chevron: 

Emily's vain and selfish aunt is seduced by and marries Count Montini.

by Sofonisba Anguissola

Count Monrano

Emily's Venetian suitor

Titian

Count Montini

Radcliffe's Gothic Villian

by Sofonisba

Valancourt

dashing suitor to Emily, friend to Emily's deceased father Saint Aubert.

Her heart, as it gave her back the image of Valancourt, 

mourned in vain regret, but reason soon came with a consolation,
which, though feeble at first,acquired vigour from reflection. 
She considered, that, whatever might be her sufferings, 
she had withheld from involving him in misfortune, 
and that, whatever her future sorrows could be, 

she was, at least, free from self-reproach.

Giovanni Morini here

UDOLPHO, The Castle, Part II, next week

more about SOFONISBA here
image 1 from raucousroyals here
image 2 the Appinines from wikipedia
all Sofonisba images from here

.
.

what I'm reading now : wilde cromwell

.
What would Little Augury be without a book posting now and again? I am coming off a WOLF HALL- Hilary Mantel- loving Thomas Cromwell moment. Not laborious, but maybe a bit too long, OK-I am convinced Cromwell was a dear-an aesthete even. I suppose I will be obliged to read the next Mantel book a continuation of the very man.
See the prettiest cast of TUDORS ever you'd want to see Here.  I don't think Booker Prize winner Mantel was tuned in.

Along with WOLF I am reading Joan DeJean's THE AGE OF COMFORT: WHEN PARIS DISCOVERED CASUAL--AND THE MODERN HOME BEGAN. Witty writing and chock full of dainties about all things pertaining on the topic-recommended by An Aesthete's Lament.

I will be finishing at least one when Oscar Wilde arrives.

'murder is always a mistake-one should never do anything one cannot talk about after dinner.'

That's Oscar Wilde- the detective.
You didn't know he was a sleuth?
Ah, not surprising-I think there is still much to be learned about this great aesthete. I caught up on the trail of OW detective from le style et la matiere this summer. The OSCAR WILDE MYSTERIES are by Gyles Brandreth.* His latest is the Dead Man's Smile.
I started reading the mystery genre in my teens-with I think- one of the best- Agatha Christie. Surely-haven't read them all, but many- Hercule Poirot is my favourite. No, I never read Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys-no offense to either. Of course Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle are quintessential reading for sleuth lovers- and Conan Doyle works through ideas with our Oscar in Brandreth's books, as does Bram Stoker and Robert Sherard-Oscar Wilde's loyal friend who plays "Watson" to WILDE"S "Sherlock."
The result of my loving a mystery is such that any historical figure attempting the noble profession in fiction- I am fascinated by.
No they are not all exceptional- but still, I am greatly diverted.
I would have been a detective if interior design-another mystery-had not beckoned.

Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile

Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder

Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance

The second book ...a Game Called Murder finds Oscar Wilde coming off the success of Lady Windmere's Fan  and hosting a dinner party where he proposes a game called “Murder.”
Murder poses the question:

Who would you kill, if you had no chance of being caught?

no,no-Don't answer that! Unless you are compelled beyond reason-
Rather answer this age old question:

If you had to dine with one famous historical figure who would that be?

Isn't my answer obvious?

See Gyles Brandreth take a walk on the Wilde side:

 

*Gyles Brandreth is a former Oxford Scholar and President of the Oxford Union and worked in theatre, television and publishing before becoming MP for the City of Chester in 1992. He held a number of junior ministerial appointments before becoming a Government Whip. In the run-up to the 1997 General Election he was Lord Commissionar of the Treasury with special responsibility for the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Kenneth Clarke), the Cabinet Office, and the Deputy Minister (Michael Heseltine).

.

the mystery of the yellow room by gaston leroux

.



if you like a mystery a must read is The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux. Leroux wrote The Phantom of the Opera. the Yellow Room, originally published in French Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune in the 1907 periodical L'illustration.






Detective Joseph Rouletabille makes his first appearance in the Yellow Room- and has an impossible crime to unravel. Leroux holds nothing back -reader is given each detail found by Rouletabille along with floor plans of the crime scene.

read it online here

stairs to the attic

the laboratory

Boldini

Glandier
Professor Stangerson's Chateau

the Park

Mlle Stangerson's Bedroom

Mlle Stangerson's Drawing Room

Great Hall of Glandier

Long Gallery of the Chateau

characters illustrated by Boldini

Joseph Rouletabille 
the young journalist and detective
 

 

Frederic Larsan – distinguished police detective

 

Sinclair-the narrator & friend to Rouletabille

Professor Stangerson 
the scientist, owner of "Chateau du Glandier"

Mathile Stangerson 
daughter of the famous scientist & his assistant 

M.Robert Darzac- Mathile Stangerson's fiance

Jacques the caretaker

happier times
Mlle Stangerson & Darzac

Mlle Stangerson- the victim

the painful interrogation of Mlle Stangerson

the mysterious correspondence of Mlle

The novel finds its continuation in The Perfume of the Lady in Black where a number of the characters familiar from this story reappear.




all exterior and interior views from (here)


.