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Ada the Betrayed
The innocent Ada's entanglements with an evil aristocrat who has stolen her birthright.
ebook
First published January 1, 1847
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About the author
James Malcolm Rymer
206 books31 followersJames Malcolm Rymer was a British nineteenth century writer of penny dreadfuls, and is the probable author of Varney the Vampire, often attributed to fellow writer Thomas Peckett Prest, and co-author (with Prest) of The String of Pearls, in which the notorious villain Sweeney Todd makes his literary debut.
Information about Rymer is sketchy. In the London Directory for 1841 he is listed as a civil engineer, living at 42 Burton Street, and the British Museum catalogue mentions him in 1842 as editing the Queen's Magazine. Between 1842 to the 1867 he wrote up to 115 popular novels for the English bookseller and publisher, Edward Lloyd, including the best-sellers Ada the Betrayed, Varney the Vampyre and The String of Pearls. Rymer's novels appeared in England under his own name as well as anagrammatic pseudonyms such as Malcolm J. Errym and Malcolm J. Merry.
He died on 11 August 1884 and is buried in Kensal Green cemetery, west London.
Information about Rymer is sketchy. In the London Directory for 1841 he is listed as a civil engineer, living at 42 Burton Street, and the British Museum catalogue mentions him in 1842 as editing the Queen's Magazine. Between 1842 to the 1867 he wrote up to 115 popular novels for the English bookseller and publisher, Edward Lloyd, including the best-sellers Ada the Betrayed, Varney the Vampyre and The String of Pearls. Rymer's novels appeared in England under his own name as well as anagrammatic pseudonyms such as Malcolm J. Errym and Malcolm J. Merry.
He died on 11 August 1884 and is buried in Kensal Green cemetery, west London.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Want to read
May 12, 2015Ada, the Betrayed
Or, The Murder at the Old Smithy
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48938
Opening: It was towards the close of the year 1795 that a storm, unequalled in duration and fury, swept over one of the most fertile districts of England, spreading consternation and dismay among the inhabitants of several villages, and destroying in a few short hours the hopes of many an industrious family, who looked to the nearly ripened grain of the fertile fields for their means of subsistence through the coming winter.
The day had been lowering and overcast. An unusual sultriness had pervaded the air, and although more than sixty miles of hill and dale laid between the spot to which we allude and the Northern Ocean, which washes the eastern shore of England, several sea birds (a most unwonted sight) had flown, screeching and wailing, over the rich corn-fields and promising orchards.
Or, The Murder at the Old Smithy
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48938
Opening: It was towards the close of the year 1795 that a storm, unequalled in duration and fury, swept over one of the most fertile districts of England, spreading consternation and dismay among the inhabitants of several villages, and destroying in a few short hours the hopes of many an industrious family, who looked to the nearly ripened grain of the fertile fields for their means of subsistence through the coming winter.
The day had been lowering and overcast. An unusual sultriness had pervaded the air, and although more than sixty miles of hill and dale laid between the spot to which we allude and the Northern Ocean, which washes the eastern shore of England, several sea birds (a most unwonted sight) had flown, screeching and wailing, over the rich corn-fields and promising orchards.
November 24, 2013
Taking into consideration that penny bloods were aimed at the lower-classes, and where notably less "well written" when compared with the literature aimed at the middle- and upper-classes, I was very much surprised at Rymer's writing style. Although the story at some points does gets a little tiresome because of the repetitive descriptions given of the mind set of notably Ada and Squire Learmont at several points in the story, it nevertheless shows much promise.
As the title indicates the story revolves around the unfortunate Ada, who is held captive by the cunning Jacob Gray. Both Gray and the brutish smith Andrew Britton, are blackmailing the sneaky Squire Learmont with regard to a murder that was committed in the Old Smithy in Learmont in which they all three had a hand. What follows is a story filled with deceit, intrigue and a (healthy?) dose of murder.
As the title indicates the story revolves around the unfortunate Ada, who is held captive by the cunning Jacob Gray. Both Gray and the brutish smith Andrew Britton, are blackmailing the sneaky Squire Learmont with regard to a murder that was committed in the Old Smithy in Learmont in which they all three had a hand. What follows is a story filled with deceit, intrigue and a (healthy?) dose of murder.
September 6, 2025
Another penny dreadful, which has all the markings of being written in serialised form before being published as a novel, that being somewhat repetitive and drawn out.
But if you are willing to put the time into this slow burn of a novel, it reveals lies, deceit and plenty of dark maneuvering.
I feel that this is a more consistently even novel than James Malcolm Rymer's more well known novel Varney the Vampire, without the lull in the middle that Varney has, but Varney at the beginning and end was a more exciting read that had me turning the pages wondering what would happen next more so than Ada the Betrayed.
But if you are willing to put the time into this slow burn of a novel, it reveals lies, deceit and plenty of dark maneuvering.
I feel that this is a more consistently even novel than James Malcolm Rymer's more well known novel Varney the Vampire, without the lull in the middle that Varney has, but Varney at the beginning and end was a more exciting read that had me turning the pages wondering what would happen next more so than Ada the Betrayed.
November 3, 2017
Ah, the "penny dreadful." Sensationalized, lurid tales that spin on and on. This was no exception, but it's not badly written, just occasionally repetitive. Kidnapping, murder, possible bastardy, a little bit of everything! It's definitely entertaining and the chapters are relatively short, enabling you to read a little bit on a quick break. Obtained via Project Gutenberg at random, and actually started reading it out loud to encourage my new shy cat to come out of hiding (a trick I learned from working in shelters).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews