Obviously, I was keen to read the book that Harriet Smith recommended to her Mr Martin in Emma. In many ways it is as artless and simple as Harriet. Not simple in terms of plot, that is outrageous, but simple in the sense that the virtuous are truly and utterly so, and the villain is irredeemable. The Romance of the Forest is over the top gothic, with an enormous amount of crying and fainting, extraordinary coincidences, plot twists and turns and the most beautiful scenery. I thoroughly enjoyed it.