3-2-1
Chapter Review for The
Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas.
The story of Cornelius van Baerle, a simple
member of the Dutch gentry whose only passion is to grow the perfect specimen
of a black tulip. Set in 17th
Century Holland, Cornelius is the closest thing they had to a geek. He gets caught up in his godfather’s
political minefield and ends up being sentenced to death. It is while he’s in prison that Rosa, the
jailor’s daughter, winds up holding the key to his survival and the fulfilment
of his desire. In spite of time’s
transition I found The Black Tulip a very exciting, insightful and humorous
read. Here’s my 3-2-1 Chapter One
Review.
The Good – Dumas
built the tension extremely well with a magnificent comic timing.
The Good – Count Tilly, the Captain of the
mounted troops, was my favourite character and loved his gentle taunting of the
angry crowds.
The Good – The first chapter (and proceeding) is
written with such an easy style you feel like you’ve been friends forever and
he’s filling you in on a rather exciting day.
The Bad – Even though he explains it’s necessary
to give the history I think the main protagonist should have been introduced in
the first chapter as well as Rosa.
The Bad – The brothers are portrayed as perfect
in every way, which is hardly possible.
I suppose their naivety could be counted as a failing.
The Beautiful – ‘Whereupon the jailer, a sort of
bear, trained to lock and unlock the gates of the prison…’
