their confrontations and sufferings change them in a believable way.
　　
　　Even the unlikely is made plausible, with a unique blend of high drama and perceptive low comedy （the attack on Mason, for instance）
　　
　　The more fantastic romantic aspects; (www.eduche.com)the coincidences; the secrets; the supernatural occurrences, are balanced by the realism, and this is of course a major strength.
　　
　　The Gothic influence cannot be ignored, although CB has refined the technique considerably from the “authentic” Gothic of the 1790's. In the original genre, the heroine would typically be abducted and threatened with seduction, or worse!. There would be a lover - a respectable, well-bred young man - who would endeavor to rescue the heroine and would succeed after many trial. the seducer would be a brigand “Know that I adore Corsairs!” and he would lock the girl up in a remote castle.
　　
　　There was little freedom for middle class women during the period of the Gothic no