**Morpho Eugenia**

A novel about Victorians written by our contemporary poses the question: why was the return to the past necessary? Is it a rethinking of the past or nostalgia for the glorious bygone days? After all, this is not a historical novel, not a biographical one, but a pure invention. It is written in the traditional linear form of the Victorian era but differs from Victorian novels in the absence of Victorian prudery and shyness in the intimate sphere. Critics call it postmodernist, but in what does this manifest and is it really that important?

The novel is not particularly remarkable except that I liked the excursions into entomology, especially the behavior of social insects. Here, a sharp mind that has found a connection with postmodernism will find connections and analogies with human society. Is the appearance deceiving? Yes, so what? It seemed to me to be about nothing.

**Angel of Marriage**

Spiritualism was a popular pastime for decades - throughout the second half of the nineteenth century until the First World War. The works of the Swedish spirit Swedenborg became very popular. Through spirits, people tried to learn about the past, present, and future. Spiritualism was not a spiritual search; on the contrary, it was rather an evening entertainment.

The name of the great English poet Tennyson was known to me, but I could not get acquainted with his poetic heritage. So the lines quoted in the novel allowed me to touch on it.

Without knowledge of his work, the reader may be surprised that in a novel about spiritualism, the biographical line of this poet, who was the favorite poet of Queen Victoria and appointed by her as laureate (for those who do not know, this honorary position of the court poet involves creating commemorative poems for important events in the monarch's family, it is given for life, and Tennyson held this title for more than forty years), is intertwined. His work most accurately expressed the worldview of the conservative Victorian era.

Alfred and Emily Tennyson's brother and sister had tender feelings for Arthur Hallam.

"... he was magnificent, pure and virtuous, a great future awaited him as a minister or philosopher, poet or prince." - This is how Hallam is described by Byatt. But he died of an apoplectic fit at a young age.

The heroes discuss whether Emily did badly by summoning the spirit of Hallam, with whom she was engaged as Mrs. Jessy?

Mr. Hogg presents such arguments: "Swedenborg, as you know, teaches that true conjugal love comes to a person only once and that there can be only one spouse for our soul, the only half that is ideally suited to it. The angel combines the halves into a whole, and thus conjugal love is born. For the Heavenly Marriage (and Heaven is Marriage, the Marriage of God-Man and in God-Man) combines truth with goodness, compassion with will, thought with tenderness, since truth, compassion, and thought are considered male principles, and goodness, will, and tenderness are female." As you understand, this idea is the core of the novel, and its exponent is another heroine, Mrs. Papagay.

This novel is better than Morpho Eugenia.

Angels and Insects - A.S. Byatt

(Morpho Eugenia and The Conjugial Angel)

This work is truly a combination of two books, connected by the most tenuous of links.

The first part, Morpho Eugenia, is the story that the 1995 movie 'Angels & Insects' is based on. The film follows the book's plot faithfully, which definitely had an impact on my reading. A shipwrecked naturalist, William Adamson, is befriended by a wealthy Victorian gentleman who invites him to stay at his estate. Adamson falls in lust-at-first-sight with one of the gentleman's daughters, Eugenia. To his surprise, he is given permission to marry her. They wed and have many children. However, in a rather obvious literary device, Eugenia has no personality at all. On the other hand, another woman, a children's tutor named Matty, who collaborates with Adamson on a book about ants, is full of personality, although he seems unaware of it. When a Shocking Truth is revealed, things quickly unfold as the reader expected long ago.

The Conjugial Angel, in my opinion, is not as significant a piece. Although it has some interesting themes and characters, it lacks a strong plot. It is related to mediums in Victorian England and contains a lot of fascinating and well-researched details about their place in that society. It is also about the poetry of Tennyson, as well as grief and mourning. It is only thirdarily about Mrs. Papagay, a woman whose lusty husband, whom she loved very much, has been lost at sea. She turns to being a medium both to make a living and to seek answers for herself. It's a pity because Mrs. Papagay is a great character, and I think a more conventional novel structure would have presented her story beautifully.

Morpho Eugenia 2 stars, The Conjugial Angel 4 stars.

I actually finished this a few days ago, but I wanted to wait until I had time to post a review of it.

Angels and Insects is actually two novellas, loosely linked to each other: Morpho Eugenia and The Conjugial Angel.

A. S. Byatt's writing style is as exquisite as ever. No one can write the Victorians like she can (aside from the actual Victorians). The Conjugial Angel, in particular, is a really fantastic work. It builds off of Lord Alfred Tennyson's incredible poem \\"In Memoriam A.H.H.\\". This is historical fiction at its finest. I actually had no idea that most of the characters she uses in this story were real people. I particularly loved her treatment of Tennyson himself. Byatt uses the idea of angels and spirits quite well, so that the supernatural elements actually felt quite natural within the story.

However, I really disliked Morpho Eugenia. It was very difficult to follow. I felt like Byatt was constantly torn between which storyline she wanted to follow, William's attraction to Matty Compton or the mysterious nature of the Alabaster household and their relationships. The \\"big reveal\\" near the end was incredibly predictable. I also felt that it didn't have the impact Byatt wanted because of the confusion throughout the storyline. There wasn't enough time spent on the Alabasters, and I think the novella suffered for that.

Byatt's works always require dedication and careful reading. I would say The Conjugial Angel is definitely worth reading, especially for Tennyson fans. But Morpho Eugenia should be skipped. The link between the two novellas is tenuous enough that you don't need to read one to understand the other.

No one writes about the 19th century like Byatt. Just like her magnum opus Possession, this is again a masterful mix of a postmodern fiction in a Victorian packaging that is full of erudition, but equally exciting and emotionally engaging.

The first of the two novellas that the book contains, Morpho Eugenia, works the best, and evolves in a delightful way from social realism to gothic horror that also reminds one of Roald Dahl.

Byatt's writing is so vivid and detailed that it brings the 19th century to life. The characters are well-developed and complex, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

The use of Victorian language and settings adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story, making it feel like a true historical novel. Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction or postmodern literature.

There are two Victorian tales full of magical and enchanting elements: from entomology manuals, through Tennyson's poetry to spiritualist sessions. All of it seasoned with a baroque and captivating language. I was convinced that I had to like it, but no, in my hands this beautiful work bordered on abandonment... It's like a puzzle made of wonderful pieces but that don't fit well, I couldn't see the complete picture.

That said, I understand that many people may be enthusiastic about it, as it is an original and beautiful work.

The first tale, Morpho Eugenia, is the one I liked the most. The protagonist is a young naturalist who has spent ten years in the Amazon; it is inevitable to hear echoes of Darwin's expeditions and the Victorian passion for the classification of living beings. A survivor of a shipwreck, he is welcomed by a wealthy clergyman who entrusts him with putting order in the curiosity cabinet that he treasures in his mansion. There he will meet his eldest daughter Eugenia, of a singular beauty. But the family hides dark secrets. As can be seen, the beginning is breathtaking but the development did not win me over.

The language is so beautiful and elaborate, so full of references, that at times the reading is exhausting.

In general, it must be recognized that the author has a great imagination and the ability to incorporate all kinds of information into a gothic tale and another of ghosts, seeking a renewal of two classic Victorian genres.

I gave up after 41 pages in order to avoid dying of boredom.

There is simply no plot to speak of. The characters are as flat as a pancake and lack any distinct characteristics (save for a few tired Victorian clichés) that would make it possible for the reader to actually care about them. There are copious amounts of descriptions of plants, insects, houses, ball-gowns, jungles, foreign customs, and so on. However, all of these descriptions fail to bring the story or the setting to life. Instead, there is just an interminable droning on about things that may be important in and of themselves, but are so disjointed from each other that - just like the characters - it's impossible to invest any emotional energy in them.

I truly relished "Possession" because it had an engaging and intricate plot that complemented the descriptions and literary research. Here, it seems as though Byatt has simply strung together a great deal of research without having any clear idea of where it should be leading. Reading this novel feels like being bombarded with a mountain of context that lacks any real substance.

The first story, "Morpho Eugenia", was rather interesting. Byatt was engaging, albeit in a somewhat heavy-handed manner, with concepts of whiteness, civilisation, and purity. It was quite evident that she was doing this deliberately. The wealthy English country folk that Our Hero associates with are the family of Lord and Lady Alabaster. One doesn't employ such a device accidentally. And she did succeed in crafting a tale about a Victorian-era explorer of the Amazon who is fixated on the whiteness of his white hosts. As far as I could tell, she didn't commit any actual authorial missteps. She neither demonised nor exalted the Amazon or its people. However, I'm not certain that this "oooh, look, consciousness of whiteness, and also, whiteness isn't as pure as you might think!" ploy is as ingenious as she appears to believe. The insect metaphors, on the other hand, were captivating, incredibly detailed, and well-executed. Ten points for the insect metaphors!

The second story, "The Conjugal Angel", is about a seance group. It's a kind of community drama, revolving around their personal loves, longings, and what leads them to the seances. Except they have no community with one another outside of the seances. Then the story turns out to be at least half about Alfred Lord Tennyson, his deceased friend Arthur, and his sister Emily, who was once the fiancée of said Arthur. I have less to say about this story, but that's because it's excellent, dense, and twisty. I've just finished reading it, so it hasn't yet fully settled in my mind. Broadly speaking, it's about the bonds between people - the fragile bond of the seance group versus the strong personal bonds of love. It's about what substance that might actually have - Emmanuel Sweedenborg's proclamation that the Angels unite in conjugal love, as opposed to the biblical assertion that there is neither marrying nor giving in marriage. It's about whether you can continue to love someone who has been dead for a long time, and if so, what impact that has on your life.

One thing I appreciate about Byatt's Victorian-esque writing is that she can be detailed, even excessive, even sentimental, like the literature of that period. But she is very interested in the private thoughts of her characters, in the reality of sex and how they perceive it. And... hmm, she manages to discuss that without using modern anachronisms.

I was supposed to read this book for a class during my undergrad, but unfortunately, I never managed to get around to it. However, I've finally had the opportunity to read it, and I'm truly glad that I did. To my surprise, I discovered that it was actually two short novellas combined in one book. I have to say that I really liked the first novella. The author's use of insects within the story was truly remarkable. It created such vivid imagery that it felt as if I could see the insects scurrying around right before my eyes. Moreover, it presented an interesting contrast between the insect world and human life. On the other hand, I didn't really have the same enthusiasm for the second story. I thought that the use of poetry quotes was way too excessive. It became extremely distracting and took away from the overall flow of the story. Overall, I decided to give this book three stars. While I thoroughly enjoyed the first story and found it captivating, the second one unfortunately ruined my overall opinion of the book.

This is an exquisitely written book.

The first story revolves around a man who, after being shipwrecked, discovers a new abode with a collector of specimens from far-flung places like the Amazon.

The man gets embroiled in the family, inevitably unearthing some sordid secrets, all the while striving to find his purpose.

There is some profound philosophical musing, along with several lengthy digressions on ants, as well as copious excerpts from contemporary literature, religious works, and so on.

I would have preferred fewer excerpts and more original text, which holds true for both novellas, as I truly relished A.S. Byatt's writing.

The characters possess that truly human quality of being both endearing and irritating, at times repulsive, and at times delightful.

I did suspect the twist (I believe there is supposed to be a rather shocking revelation) almost from the very beginning!

The second story is about a group of individuals interested in communicating with the dead.

There is a woman who has lost five children, a woman whose betrothed died while traveling, and her new husband also attends - and is a source of social unease, as she was expected to live and die in mourning, and a lusty itinerant preacher.

There is one medium who specializes in automatic writing and desperately misses the embrace of her husband, presumed drowned, and one medium who seems to exist almost entirely in the realm of spirits.

The story centers on Alfred Lord Tennyson and his family, as his brother was the deceased fiancee, and thus there is much quoting...

But the passages about the spirits, the delicate examinations of everyone's motives and beliefs and despair and love and hopelessness, are so gentle yet incisive, meandering yet precise.

I'd seen the film, 'Angels & Insects' a few years ago and really liked it.

So when I saw the book in a secondhand bookshop a little while ago, I picked it up and thought I'd read it instead of watching the film again.

The first thing is that the book is actually two novellas. The insects novella, 'Morpho Eugenia', comes first, and the angels novella, 'The Conjugial Angel', is next. The film is based on the first novella.

I would've given the film 4/5 but 'Morpho Eugenia' only 3/5. A.S. Byatt seems to have a real aversion to a plot and tries to interrupt the flow as much as possible with extracts from the books that three of the characters are writing. I wouldn't go as far as to suggest they're irrelevant to the story, but I don't think that they are all necessary.

The second novella was excruciating to read. The author seems to have captured all the worst attributes of Victorian writing, which may or may not have been intentional. I was tempted to abandon the book but I don't like to admit defeat. Again, the author seems to try to deliberately tease you with a plot and then throw a lot of tedious writing and poems in an apparent effort to bore the hell out of the reader - well, that was the effect it had on me, and I expect for other readers it had the opposite effect. Fans of Tennyson, however, may find it very interesting.

As such, the second novella I would give only 1/5, so overall only 2/5. I'm certainly not encouraged to read anything else by A.S. Byatt as this book has very nearly destroyed my enjoyment of reading - I hope I will recover.

It might be unfair to rate this book yet as it actually consists of 2 novellas and I have only completed the first one thus far. However, I truly relished the first novella, so I thought I might as well pen a review for it.

If anyone had informed me that I would be eager to read a book (albeit short) where a significant portion is dedicated to ants, I would have scoffed. And indeed, I did skim through some of the more intense ant-related paragraphs. Nevertheless, I really adored this book.

I was captivated by the language. I loved the intelligent inquiries regarding religion versus evolution. In fact, it assisted me in better comprehending why some individuals with strong faith encounter such difficulties with evolution, how it can undermine their beliefs and place them, and it, on unsteady ground.

Not boasting, but I did anticipate the main conflict very early in the book. And I believed it was dealt with in a highly realistic manner. Additionally, in an aside and, hopefully, without revealing anything, I adored how "the house" makes its decisions. That is, I love the fact that "the house" as an entity has the power to make choices and seemingly is the controlling entity. This won't make sense until you read the book. (Or the novella, as the case may be.)

I also cherished the couple of paragraphs that describe the cloud and Eugenia. I found the imagery in the language to be so poetic and beautiful. Once again, this won't make sense until you read the book. I don't mean to be a teaser, but I don't wish to disclose anything.

So, it's a terrible review, but a really excellent book.

Well, apparently I fell out of the appropriate mood for the second novella as I read the first 4 paragraphs and decided I didn't want to read any further. Call me a fickle reader!!

The great appeal of Byatt to me lies in her remarkable facility for scholarship and her ability to utilize it to craft outstanding and intellectually stimulating fiction.

The second novella, which focuses on Tennyson's sister, Arthur Hallam, and the individuals in 1875 who conducted seances, was truly a wonderful revelation for me.

From a rather dense combination of literary criticism and history, Byatt skillfully weaves a deeply touching story. On one hand, it explores the persistence of love, while on the other, it delves into the idea of letting go of a love formed in one's youth for the sake of a new love discovered quite unexpectedly.

This novella is not only a testament to Byatt's erudition but also to her talent for creating complex and engaging narratives that tug at the heartstrings. It is truly very impressive and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.