Rating: 
Summary: The annoyance of perfection
Review: The Inheritance, by Lousia May Alcott, tells the life of an orphan who's never known her family. The beautiful and pure Edith Adelon is an Italian orphan living with the rich aristocrats the Hamilton's. This beautiful orphan is the nicest and most humble out of the characters, and is disliked by the not-so-pretty cousin, sort of like a Cinderella story. But how could such a beautiful and talented young girl be so boring?
Nineteenth century stories are all about, beautiful young girls looking for a marriage of wealth, and handsome young men (there are never any non good-looking ones). Edith lives with the beautiful Amy, her equally handsome brother Arthur, the mean but still beautiful cousin Ida, and Lady Hamiliton. Edith is the friend and governess of the beautiful Amy. But, her position quickly changes when Edith saves Amy's life when she was hanging off a cliff. The heroic event won her a true place into the Hamilton Household.
One thing that really got on my nerves was Edith. How could someone be so perfect, beautiful, talented, and loyal to even her worst enemy? Sure, it's a book of course, but how could someone be the epitome of perfection and still get the guy? She is kind-hearted to the sickly and has an amazing voice. Her personality is so perfect, and quickly becomes one of the characters that you can't stand. No wonder why Lady Ida was so jealous, I would be too! Edith then becomes the love interest of the honorable Lord Percy and makes Lady Ida incredibly envious. Even the married Lord Arlington has a crush on Edith. Lord Arlington proposes twice to Edith, but she says "No" each time.
But somehow, a mysterious stranger gives her a package that tells Edith her true heritage. She's not a poor orphan at all! The elder Arthur Hamilton, Arthur's older brother, secretly married Edith's mom, and in fact Edith is of nobility! She's a descendant of the Hamilton's! It was such a random part of the book to have such a wonderful thing play into Edith's life. It wasn't strategically or carefully placed into the book, it was like Louisa May Alcott wasn't able to find a place to put that part in her book. But of course, like in any Cinderella story, Edith's family doesn't believe her and thinks Edith is a thief. Stealing a necklace that shows Edith her true Heritage. Wow, this is so repetitive to every story I've read before. "To be so bitterly deceived in one whom we have loved and cherished from a child, one whom we thought so innocent and true." It's so weird to find that now after how much they loved her and she's so pure, they can't believe her?
Wow, one hundred and fifty years after the book was written it was finally released. I've read Little Women, and The Inheritance, is nowhere near the greatness of it. But, of course, there is always a bad book in every collection. I would prefer watching the television movie instead of reading the book anyday.
Good thing the book wasn't very long, I don't know how long I would last reading about the perfectly beautiful Edith. Sure its cute, but it has as much cuteness as a five-year-old. The dialogue was also extremely cheesy, and truthfully, I would not recommend this book to anyone except my nine-year-old cousin.
Rating: 
Summary: For one of Alcott's firsts, very good.
Review: This book was good, but it was a little TOO perfect and predictable. The main character was just so sweet and perfect and pretty, and everyone loved her so much except for one person, the family's cousin who was jealous of her. The main character is a poor Italian orphan who has been adopted by a rich family because they felt bad for her. Lord Percy, the family's friend, meets her and falls in love with her, but he knows that she will never marry a man above her rank. Towards the end, the main character realizes that her father was actually a rich man who was related to a relative of her adoptive family, which entitles her to lots of money.
Despite the unrealistic perfectness of the main character, this book is a very enjoyable read. If nothing else, check it out at the library, but I plan to buy it when I get the money.
Rating:
Summary: Louisa's First Novel: A 19th Century English Romance
Review: Written nearly 20 years before "Little Women", when Louisa May Alcott was only 17-years-old at the time, "The Inheritance" is supposedly her first novel, although it was never published until five years ago in 1997 (and was later made into a TV movie the same year). The two editors (Joel Myerson and Daniel Shealy) briefly talk about Louisa's literary accomplishments in the afterward of this book, remarking on what a rare find "The Inheritance" is, as well as it being a steppingstone in her writing career. It is notable since it is her first novel, but I wouldn't consider it her best work. However, I've only read one other book by Miss Alcott: "A Long Fatal Love Chase". That one I liked much better, because it was more adventurous and suspenseful than "The Inheritance", even though it still followed the same romantic path.This sentimental 19th century romance novel is set in the rich English countryside. It follows the Hamilton family (the stoical mother: Lady Hamilton; the obedient son: Arthur; the naive 16-year-old daughter: Amy; and the envious cousin: Lady Ida) and Lord Percy, a friend of Arthur's, as they all fawn over beautiful Edith Avelon, an orphaned Italian young woman who had been brought to England from Italy when she was ten. Ever since, Edith has been a playmate and governess for Amy, but recently she's become the love interest of Lord Percy, to Lady Ida's dismay. Already devoted to the Hamiltons, Edith will soon learn of a secret that will further bind her to the family. Probably the most unappealing thing about this book is Edith. She's so nauseatingly good, she seems unreal; she could have been a nun. She's extremely loyal to everybody, even her enemies (Lady Ida, for instance); she's kindhearted toward the sick and elderly; she's a beautiful singer; she's incredibly attractive, self-denying, gentle, pure... Gag. The one good feature about this book, though, is its brevity; it's just under 200 pages. It's worth a try if you're a Louisa May Alcott fan or really into 19th century romantic literature.
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