The Merciful Women

Set during the legendary period that inspired Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley to write "Frankenstein", Federico Andahazi's "The Merciful Women" uses as its central character John Polidori, the neurotic, despised secretary and personal physician to Lord Byron. One dark and stormy night a challenge is issued by Byron to his three guests, Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Claire Clairmont: write an effective supernatural tale. Though he is not invited to participate, the despised Polidori, longing to belong to the group, takes up the challenge. This challenge is made easier when Annette Legrand, the hideous and secret third member of the theatrical Legrand Sisters, offers to provide Polidori with an original manuscript she guarantees will ensure his literary immortality. But, of course, Polidori must provide something in return. "The Merciful Women" is a fun book for those who enjoy mock-Gothic writing and literary mysteries. It has moments of true horror (some not for the squeamish), but it all leads up to an ironic ending.

andahazi's delightfully quirky novel about the birth of the gothic novel, the authors involved and thier dark muse has not surprisingly cut readers down teh middle. a quick look at teh earlier ratings suggests that readers have either loved or hated it. i, thankfully, belong to the former group and must admit that i thoroughly enjoyed this devious tale written with sublime black humour. this book is clearly not for the faint or heart or the squeamish but if you are willing to be led down some sleazy alleys andahazi delivers his goods. the translation by alberto manguel is top class and it is hard to imagine this was not written in english.the book does no offer much breadth of scope but what it promises it delivers.

On a dark stormy night, a group of people holidaying by Lake Geneva gather to read out their stories. It is a competition devised by the dashing Lord Byron, to see who can write the most horrific and terrifying story... one of these people is Mary Shelley....This book is a fantastic parody of the Gothic genre; the dark stormy nights, the mysterious castle and the heaving,storm-tossed lake... all in all, a tremendous read for anyone who enjoys Gothic tales or their parodies. Although sometimes graphic, the story is gripping and the elements of historical truth are enough to keep you interested right up to the thrilling and unexpected end. The book is filled with dark irony, and the intertextual references to the Gothic genre and the creation of that monstrous, classic tale Frankenstien, are witty and clever, but the book can be enjoyed on many levels. I would highly recommend this book, and have bought multiple copies for all of my friends.

Inspired in the narrative of the Romanticisme, this novel is, at the same time , ironic , intelligent and plenty of humour , is one of the most creative book I ever read.

Las Piadosas es una novela apasionante, que se desarrolla durante el año 1916 en una villa de Ginebra. Andahazi logra una brillante recreación de algunos momentos en la vida de un conocido grupo de la elite intelectual europea, su estilo de vida, sus pasiones y envidias, en una atmósfera a al vez opresiva y rodeada de erotismo. Es un logro del autor el tratamiento psicológico que le da a conocidos personajes como Lord Byron, Mary y Percy Shelley y, especialmente, el de otros no tan conocidos como el doctor Polidori, secretario de Byron. El doctor Polidori, con su carga de envidia, su secreto y sus maquinaciones resulta fundamental en la inesperada resolución del relato. Esta es una novela es muy recomendable para todos aquellos que disfrutamos de un relato sobrio, que pone en duda toda certeza establecida y nos permite el replanteo de ciertas premisas socialmente aceptadas. Realmente este es un libro para leer y releer.