Matthew pearl blends the blood and guts of the middle ages with the making of america in his bestselling debut, the dante club. The last dickens is a tale filled with the dazzling twists and turns, the unerring period details, and the meticulous research that thrilled readers of the best sellers the dante club and the poe shadow. Matthew pearl keeps this mystery sparkling with erudition. Not since umberto ecos the name of the rose has a literary novel of such scholarly density enjoyed international success on. The first edition of the novel was published in 2003, and was written by matthew pearl. Ingenious use of details and motifs from the divine comedy, and a lively picture of the literary culture of postbellum new england, distinguish this juicy debut historical mystery the year is 1865.
Pearl s masterful novels the dante club and the poe shadow bridge the gap between literature and popular fiction, winning him international praise from. A series of murders, all of them inspired by scenes. Free download or read online the dante club pdf epub book. Matthew pearl books list of books by author matthew pearl. Matthew pearl, 26, a recent yale law school grad, became fascinated with dantes work while at. Some called it a modern athens, but at least one character in matthew pearls the dante club thinks it bears a closer resemblance to hell. Historical mystery 1st paperback dtion by pearl, matthew isbn. It swings from an account of exotic maggots eating a man alive to a discussion of the finer points of dantes artistic and political vision. He is also the editor of the new modern library edition ofdante s inferno, translated by.
The dante club brings you into mid 19th century boston, where a brutal series of murders can only be stopped by americas first scholars of dante. David lazarus, the san francisco chronicle the dante club is a thoroughly accomplished first novel. In 1865, the long american civil war had drawn to an end, and boston crawled with intellectuals. Kimberley strassel,the wall street journal pearl, a graduate of harvard and yale law school and a dante scholar, ably meshes the literary analysis with a suspenseful plot and in the process humanizes the historical. Pearl is a graduate of harvard university and yale law school and has taught literature at harvard and at emerson college. This highly anticipated novel by matthew pearl combines a richly researched world with a gripping dramatic narrative. The dante club by matthew pearl book club discussion. Its a followup to my debut novel, the dante club, but you do not have to read one before the other, each stands on its own two feet. Matthew pearl is the new york times bestselling author of the dante club, the poe shadow, the last dickens, the technologists, the last bookaneer, and the dante chamber, and the editor of the modern library editions of.
Matthew pearls novels have been international and new york times bestsellers translated into more than 30 languages. The powerful boston brahmins at harvard are fighting to. The literary giants of history longfellow, dante, poe become the subjects and solvers of puzzling thrillers. Only an elite group of americas first dante scholarshenry wadsworth longfellow, oliver wendell holmes, james russell lowell, and j. The dante club brings you into mid 19th century boston, where. In 1998, he won the prestigious dante prize from the dante society of. Oliver wendell holmes, and james russell lowell, along with publisher j. Inside the mind of a master procrastinator tim urban duration. It is also a work of historical fiction set during the american civil war, featuring many real historical figures as characters. Matthew pearl is the internationally bestselling author of the dante club, published in more than thirty languages and forty countries. But youd miss an entertaining and at times illuminating read. In the dante club, matthew pearl expertly combines rollicking entertainment with serious insights about civil warera america. The main characters of this mystery, fiction story are henry wadsworth longfellow, oliver wendell holmes, sr.
His other books include the poe shadow and the last dickens. I enjoyed this, but the writing style made for a somewhat difficult read. With the police baffled, more lives endangered, and dantes literary future at stake, the dante club must shed its sheltered literary. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Buy a cheap copy of the dante club book by matthew pearl. The dante club has been published in more than thirty languages and forty countries around the world. With the lives of the boston elite and dantes literary future in the new world at stake, the members of the dante club must find the killer before the authorities discover their secret. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the dante club by matthew pearl.
Matthew pearls dazzler of a debut novel, the dante club, is just what an historical thriller should bea creative combo of edgeofyourseat suspense, fully imagined characters, fictional and real, and an evocative, wellresearched, wellrealized setting. In 1998, he won the prestigious dante prize from the dante society of america for his scholarly work. Pdf the dante club book by matthew pearl free download. Fields knows what people read, he shall never quite understand why. The novel seamlessly tied fact with fiction and pearl crafted a thrilling and suspenseful novel that entertained, taught, and got me interested in reading the divine comedy in its entirety. And so it is with the dante club, a very important book. The eponymous club, whose members include oliver wendell holmes, james russell lowell, and henry wadsworth longfellow, meet regularly to plan promoting american interest in dantes masterpiece. His novels include the dante club, the poe shadow, the last dickens, the technologists, and the last bookaneer. Theres much to like about the dante club, matthew pearls homage to henry wadsworth longfellow, oliver wendell holmes, james russell. Or perhaps, try historicalfantasyfictionliterarymurdermystery. The new york times bestselling author of the international sensation, the dante clubwhich bring you to mid 19th century boston, where a brutal series of murderscan only be stopped by americas first scholars of dante. The dante club by matthew pearl 2004, paperback for sale.
David liss, edgar awardwinning author of a conspiracy of paper. Matthew pearl is the new york times bestselling author of the dante club, the poe shadow, the last dickens, the technologists, the last bookaneer, and the dante chamber, and the editor of the modern library editions of dantes inferno translated. And, perhaps not coincidentally, hell has been occupying the thoughts of bostons leading scholars. Matthew pearl graduated from harvard university summa cum laude in english and american literature in 1997, and in 2000 from yale law school, where he wrote the first draft of the dante club. In his most enthralling novel yet, the critically acclaimed author matthew pearl reopens one of literary historys greatest mysteries. As henry wadsworth longfellow works on the first american. While the literati grow concerned that gabriel is involved in the deaths, an expinkerton operative arrives in england to try to capitalize on the crimes the way he did with those in boston that pearl the last bookaneer, 2015, etc.
The book is set in the 1860s, and focuses around a group of poets. The death of fanny longfellow leads henry wadsworth longfellow to take. With this story of the dante clubs own descent into hell, mr. Matthew pearl, 26, a recent yale law school grad, became fascinated with dantes work while at harvard, where he earned the dante society of americas. It is the story of the fireside poets henry longfellow, oliver wendell holmes and james. Hope youll enjoy any of books you choose to pick up. A series of murders, all of them inspired by scenes in dantes inferno. Displaying extensive knowledge of the period and the writers, pearl builds an. The dante club is a wonderful debut novel from matthew pearl.
Pearl was born in new york city and grew up in fort. If 20something polymaths put you off, better pass on this clever, erudite murder mystery set in the literary boston of the mid19th century. Matthew pearl does a marvelous job of evoking the period and making it come alive with finely drawn characters and an ingenious story. Matthew pearl is the new york times bestselling author of the dante club and the editor of the modern library editions of dantes inferno translated by henry wadsworth longfellow and edgar allen poes the murder in the rue morgue.
The dante club audiobooks listen to the full series. And though a man may enjoy himself in being my enemy, he cannot make me his for longer than i wish. The dante club is a mystery novel published by matthew pearl in 2003. In 1865 boston, the members of the dante club poets and harvard professors henry wadsworth longfellow, dr. Matthew pearl is the new york times bestselling author of the dante club, the poe shadow, the last dickens, the technologists, the last bookaneer, and the dante chamber, and the editor of the modern library editions of dantes inferno translated by henry wadsworth longfellow and edgar allan poes the murders in the rue morgue. In 1865 boston, the members of the dante club, poets and harvard professors henry wadsworth longfellow, dr. The dante club about a murderer who kills people with methods described by dante. If you did, please support me by giving the video a.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Matthew pearl, quote from the dante club believe that when i am at once a mans friend i am always sonor is it so very hard to bring me to it. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 424 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. He has the ability and intellectual dexterity to bring forth the kinds of large fictions nineteenth century readers were accustomed to books in which an individual could immerse herhimself and come away stimulated with new ideas. It is the story of the fireside poets henry longfellow, oliver wendell holmes and james russell who initially form the dante club to assist longfellow in finishing the first american translation of dante alighieris commedia divina. Review by vesna mcmaster jun 30, 2011 you could classify the dante club loosely as historical fiction. Compare the dynamic of the dante club to your own book club or reading group. None of the characters are particularly moving or endearing. The official site for the dante club, a dazzling new work of historical fiction from random house. Matthew pearl graduated from harvard university summa cum laude in english and american literature in 1997, and in 2000 from yale law school, where he wrote the first draft ofthe dante club. Fields, are finishing americas first translation of the divine comedy and preparing to unveil dantes remarkable visions to the new world. Read free book excerpt from the dante club by matthew pearl, page 1 of 4. Pearls book will delight the dante novice and expert alike. The official site for matthew pearl, author of the dante chamber, dante club, the poe shadow, the last dickens, the technologists, company eight, and the last bookaneer.