A Critic's Meta Review: 4/5
Dead Men Tell No Tales by E.W. Hornung (1866-1921). Published by planksip
A Critic's Meta Review: 4/5
Review
The classic story ties together themes of adventure and romance. Hornung’s traditional writing style is incredibly descriptive and can be often relaxing to read. The story of Dead Men Tell No Tales doesn’t rush but rather takes it’s time to develop characters and provide indulgent details for readers. The tale of Mr. Cole and Ms. Eva is an excellent addition to any library and showcases some of Hornung’s greatest strengths as an author.
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Overview
Originally published in 1899, E.W. Hornung’s Dead Men Tell No Tales is a classic story about mid-nineteenth century love and adventure.
After meeting failure in his search for wealth during the 1851 Australian gold rush, a dispirited Mr. Cole joins the next available ship back to England. During his voyage, he meets and falls in love with Ms. Eva Denison, who is described as a beautiful and accomplished young woman traveling with her Portuguese step-father. After experiencing a disaster at sea, Mr.Cole returns to a life of hopeful anonymity in London. However, a turn of events lead to the discovery of a shocking conspiracy that leads him on an adventure that may cost Cole his greatest love.
Plot
As E.W. Hornung famously wrote, “Nothing is so easy as falling in love on a long sea voyage, except falling out of love.” Dead Men Tell No Tales is a story of characters who saw far too much of each other, but were destined to still see more.
Below is an excerpt from the novel as Mr. Cole describes his experiences:
Our superficial attractions mutually exhausted, we lost heart and patience in the disappointing strata which lie between the surface and the bed-rock of most natures. My own experience was confined to the round voyage of the Lady Jermyn, in the year 1853. It was no common experience, as was only too well known at the time. And I may add that I for my part had not the faintest intention of falling in love on board; nay, after all these years, let me confess that I had good cause to hold myself proof against such weakness. Yet we carried a young lady, coming home, who, God knows, might have made short work of many a better man!