⭐ Catholic Review ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3/5 — Catholic Review A dark Victorian tale examining marriage, temptation, betrayal, anger, forgiveness, and the consequences of impulsive choices. The novel contains adultery, violence, revenge, and other morally troubling material, so it is better approached as a study of human weakness than as morally edifying fiction. From a Catholic perspective, one notable element is the novel's treatment of repentance and forgiveness. At Margaret's deathbed, Basil turns from anger toward forgiveness and prays for her, reflecting a distinctly Christian concern with mercy and the possibility of repentance before death.