A romance of exmoor is a novel by english author richard doddridge blackmore, published in 1869. He is often known as the last victorian and is best known for his third novel lorna doone published in 1869. On the 29th day of november, in the year of our lord 1673, the very day when i was twelve years old, and had spent all my substance in sweetmeats, with which i made treat to the little boys, till the large boys ran in and took them. Lorna doone, fictional heroine of the historical romance lorna doone 1869 by r. Blackmore 18251900 wrote more than a dozen novels, five books of poetry. Introduced in march 1912, it was possibly named after the main character in r. This summary of lorna doone includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. With michael mackenzie, andrew ferguson, sean bean, claire madden. Nor is the fact that the author did not care for the book as much as his readers did that is a fate that almost every artist suffers at some time tchaikovsky hated the. The novel is set in 17thcentury exmoor, a remote area of devon, england, and concerns a virtuous and somewhat mysterious young woman who has. First published in 1869, lorna doone is the story of john ridd, a farmer who.
But as carver entered it, he turned round, and beheld me not a hundred yards behind. Seized by curiosity and a sense of adventure, he makes his way to the valley of the. As a child, john ridd watches as his father is killed by the feared clan, the doones, and swears to avenge his death. Exiled to a remote part of exmoor which is in englands west country and now a national park, they rob travellers and local farms. The savage and powerful doone family are hated throughout the land for their marauding ways, especially by john ridd, whose father they killed. I find this 1920 summary to be overly harsh, but wished to include it as an instructive example of how fickle reputations can be in the literary world. Find books like lorna doone from the worlds largest community of readers. Lorna doone by blackmore and a great selection of related books. Written in the 19th century, but telling a tale about the late 1600s during the times of charles ii and james ii. Approached along a straight track, it has three archways, above which a huge tree trunk is suspended, ready to be dropped to bar entrance to the valley. Lorna doone is a swashbuckling tale of love, rivalry and revenge. My book club ventured into new territory with lorna doone.
It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in devon and somerset. The author was contemporaneous with dickens and lorna doone has some of the same themes and gentle humor found in dickens. Laid in loosely in the book is a fine fourpage brochure printed in black and yellow, for a ballad lorna doone published by witmark, with actress madge bellamy on the cover, in the same pose as on the pastedown illustration on the book cover. Lorna doone by mike barker amelia warner, richard coyle. However, amid the dangers of the monmouth rebellion, john meets lorna and determines to rescue her. There are few narrators that are more lovable than john ridd, the protagonist of this great romance and adventure. Goodreads members who liked lorna doone also liked. I put a lot of time reading this book, yet the story is very good but i admit that its very slow. Just as the boy john ridd climbed the waterfall into an almost fairytale world of evil doones and the enchanting lorna. Page 52 lorna doone, she answered in a low voice, as if afraid of it, and hanging her head so that i could see only her forehead and eyelashes. The novel is set in 17thcentury exmoor, a remote area of devon, england, and concerns a virtuous and somewhat mysterious young woman who has been raised by bandits who abducted her when she was young.
Consider that the american author herman melville was not widely read during his lifetime and died in literary obscurity only to. We are a group of eight women of a certain age and various backgrounds. Lorna doone, a romance in exmoor is a beautiful romance and adventure story set in the south west of england during the monmouth rebellion. The novel pioneered a new romantic movement in english fiction and remains in print to this day. Amelia warner quills stars as lorna, an independent and beautiful member. Blackmores novel about forbidden love in 17th century england. If you use the add to want list tab to add this issue to your want list, we will email you when it becomes available.
Cover pastedown illustration on the book still unworn and brilliantly colored. One of the great works of its kind, lorna doone is a romance that compellingly presents a strong, courageous hero and a pure, languishing heroine. Lorna doone was said to be the favourite book of australian bushranger and outlaw ned kelly, who may have thought of the idea of his armour by reading. John ridd was just a boy when the villainous carver doone callously murdered his father. It is all very straightforward, with the doones cast as upper class robbers, thieves and cut throat murderers one of them having killed johns father while he was still a child and the ordinary people the heroes and heroines with john chosen by. First published in 1869, lorna doone is the story of john ridd, a farmer who finds love amid the religious and social turmoil of seventeenthcentury england. Blackmore, a free text and ebook for easy online reading, study, and reference. Lorna doone is the tale of a young boy, john ridd, whose father is killed by scottish outlaws the doones. It also displays power during the gun battles, where the piercing shots jump from the. Intertwining tales of love, greed, and secret identities in charles dickenss 1860s london. Blackmore 18251900 was one of the most famous english novelists of the second half of the 19th century. Sampson low, marston and company 19 vintage book covers vintage books cool books my books 100 best books beautiful book covers classic books antique books book design. Much of the success of lorna doone stems from its melodic score, and the 2. Set against this historical background, this beautiful novel tells the story of young john ridd who as he grows into manhood and rights the wrong done to his family and parish by a group of noble outlaws and at the same time winning.
Blackmore evokes the landscape of exmoor with descriptions of natural beauty that rank among the finest in nineteenthcentury english literature. And they who light upon this book should bear in mind not only that i write for the clearing of our parish from ill fame and calumny, but also a thing which will, i trow. I still rooted for lorna despite her annoying flawlessness. Lorna doone, the character, is a little too good to be truetolife. A romantic adventure story set in southwest england in the 1600s. As a child, john ridd watches as his father is killed by the feared clan, the. Lorna doone is a classic that deserves five stars because of its beauty beauty of characterization, beauty of depiction of an era, beauty of description of love of place. The major theme in this famous novel is of course the muchused theme of thwarted love.
Our hero, john ridd is a simple, albeit wise and honorable farmer who as a young lad meets lorna doone of the dreaded, evil outlaw family of higher born doones. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Set in the wilds of exmoor northern devonshire, eng. He is just a boy when his father is slain by the doones, a lawless clan inhabiting wild exmoor on the border of somerset and devon. Books for mks is a charity organization that donates books to missionary kids on the foreign mission field all over the world. Our hero, john ridd is a simple, albeit wise and honorable farmer who as a young lad meets lorna doone of the dreaded, evil outlaw family of higher born doones, and its love at first sight.
Join facebook to connect with lorna doone and others you may know. But john ridd, the narratorsuitor is well aware of his own faults and more than makes up for lornas perfection. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Lorna doone isnt a book with a blurred dividing line between good and evil and shades of grey. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Lorna doone is a golden, squareshaped shortbread cookie produced by nabisco. Blackmore with an introduction and notes by pam knights, department of english studies, university of durham lorna doone, a romance of exmoor is an historical novel of high adventure set in the south west of england during the turbulent time of monmouths rebellion 1685. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
No marks or damage from past owners, not a former library book, not a remainder or book club, not clipped, hardcover. It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in devon and somerset, particularly around the east lyn valley area of exmoor. The language is beautiful and the story flows well. Overall, lorna doone is a beautiful story that is worth the effort. As the lorna doone cookie is insipid but traditional, this book is dated but still worth a read. On the one hand, because the choice of characters is quite small and the other part it is a great big. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. A romance of exmoor is a novel by english author richard doddridge. A romance of exmoor is a novel by richard doddridge blackmore. Buy lorna doone wordsworth classics new edition by r. Now the cause of my leaving tiverton school, and the way of it, were as follows. Living amongst them is the pretty lorna doone, kidnapped by.
The epic qualities of lorna doone seen both in its extreme archetypal characters as well as in the action and language itself are what makes it such a riveting adventure throughout. Blackmores 1869 novel, lorna doone, but no record exists as to the exact motivation behind the name. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Blackmore and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Classics illustrated 032 lorna doone 1946 comic books.
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