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Shrewsbury a Romance
"" A Romance"" is a historical novel by Stanley J. Weyman that is set in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The story follows the adventures of a young man named Francis Cludde, who is sent to Shrewsbury by his father to learn the ways of the world. While in Shrewsbury, Francis becomes involved in a dangerous plot to overthrow the queen and put Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne. Along the way, he falls in love with a beautiful young woman named Cicely, who is also caught up in the plot. As the conspirators' plan begins to unravel, Francis must use all his wits and courage to save himself and his beloved Cicely from certain death. The novel is a thrilling tale of love, loyalty, and adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.1898. Illustrated. The classic age of the swashbuckler might well be said to have begun with Weyman, who was ordained the greatest of the yellow �������90s swashbuckling romancers. The book That the untimely death at the age of fifty-eight of that great prince, Charles, Duke of Shrewsbury, my most noble and generous patron, has afflicted me with a sorrow which I may truly call acerbus et ingens, is nothing to the world; which from one in my situation could expect no other, and, on the briefest relation of the benefits I had at his hands, might look for more. Were this all, therefore, or my task confined to such a relation, I should supererogate indeed in making this appearance. But I am informed that my lord Duke's death has revived in certain quarters those rumors to his prejudice which were so industriously put about at the time of his first retirement; and which refuted as they were at the moment by the express declaration of his Sovereign, and at leisure by his own behavior, as well as by the support which at two great crises he gave to the Protestant succession, formed always a proof of the malice, as now of the persistence, of his enemies. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
- GenresClassics
Paperback
First published May 1, 2004
About the author
Stanley J. Weyman
200 books22 followersAdmired by renowned authors such as Stevenson, Wilde, and Rafael Sabatini, Stanley John Weyman is today a forgotten literary giant of the late 19th century. While for years his best-selling historical romances enchanted thousands of readers, today his books are mostly neglected.
Stanley Weyman (pronounced Wyman) was the second of three sons born to solicitor Thomas Weyman and his wife Mary Maria Black on August 7, 1855, at 54 Broad Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Shrewsbury School (after age 16) and obtained a second class degree in Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford in 1877. As History Master at King's School, Chester, he served under his future brother-in-law, Rev'd. George Preston.
In Ludlow in 1879 he read for the Bar and was called in 1881, to begin a disappointing law career with Weyman, Weyman and Weyman, the family law firm. He has been described as nervous, shy, short in height and a poor cross-examiner and was said to have angered a judge because of these shortcomings. It is to our blessing that Weyman's law career was unsatisfactory. As a result, he was able to devote his ample spare time to writing. James Payn, editor of Cornhill Magazine, encouraged him to tackle larger literary works. The House of the Wolf was serialized in the English Illustrated Magazine in 1888/89 and was published in 1890 after Weyman contacted literary agent, A. P. Watt. This first book received no less than six rejections by publishers. Two additional books, The New Rector and The Story of Francis Cludde, were published in 1891 and these allowed him to become a full-time novelist.
Beginning his professional literary career in middle age, Weyman had a lifetime of experience to share including the insights gained from his extensive travels. On one notable vacation in the south of France in 1886, for a "weakness in the lungs" in the company of his younger brother Arthur, both were arrested as spies for sketching and crossing the border into Spain. They were detained for 24 hours until the British Ambassador helped them.
Experiences such as these are reflected in his novels. Stanley Weyman was a man of few words but those that were given were meant to be savoured. As an author, he had an uncanny way of using precisely the correct phrase. With his eloquent and extraordinary use of language, he painted a vivid picture of life and human emotion. His work is finely honed by a razor sharp mind that combines the skill of a great storyteller and an Oxford scholar's love of history.
Weyman's fame stands on the foundation of his historical, romantic fiction. The 15 novels written between 1890 and 1904 are set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. Weyman was one of the first authors to 'cast the romance of adventure' in the historical framework. He was able to resurrect the great heroes and bring them to life by his loving hand. This author claimed: "The graves of our heroes--the real heroes--move us; the doors through which the famous dead have passed are sacred to us." Stanley Weyman regarded himself as fortunate that the timing of his early novels followed closely the popular historical fiction of Alexandre Dumas in France.
Stanley Weyman (pronounced Wyman) was the second of three sons born to solicitor Thomas Weyman and his wife Mary Maria Black on August 7, 1855, at 54 Broad Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Shrewsbury School (after age 16) and obtained a second class degree in Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford in 1877. As History Master at King's School, Chester, he served under his future brother-in-law, Rev'd. George Preston.
In Ludlow in 1879 he read for the Bar and was called in 1881, to begin a disappointing law career with Weyman, Weyman and Weyman, the family law firm. He has been described as nervous, shy, short in height and a poor cross-examiner and was said to have angered a judge because of these shortcomings. It is to our blessing that Weyman's law career was unsatisfactory. As a result, he was able to devote his ample spare time to writing. James Payn, editor of Cornhill Magazine, encouraged him to tackle larger literary works. The House of the Wolf was serialized in the English Illustrated Magazine in 1888/89 and was published in 1890 after Weyman contacted literary agent, A. P. Watt. This first book received no less than six rejections by publishers. Two additional books, The New Rector and The Story of Francis Cludde, were published in 1891 and these allowed him to become a full-time novelist.
Beginning his professional literary career in middle age, Weyman had a lifetime of experience to share including the insights gained from his extensive travels. On one notable vacation in the south of France in 1886, for a "weakness in the lungs" in the company of his younger brother Arthur, both were arrested as spies for sketching and crossing the border into Spain. They were detained for 24 hours until the British Ambassador helped them.
Experiences such as these are reflected in his novels. Stanley Weyman was a man of few words but those that were given were meant to be savoured. As an author, he had an uncanny way of using precisely the correct phrase. With his eloquent and extraordinary use of language, he painted a vivid picture of life and human emotion. His work is finely honed by a razor sharp mind that combines the skill of a great storyteller and an Oxford scholar's love of history.
Weyman's fame stands on the foundation of his historical, romantic fiction. The 15 novels written between 1890 and 1904 are set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. Weyman was one of the first authors to 'cast the romance of adventure' in the historical framework. He was able to resurrect the great heroes and bring them to life by his loving hand. This author claimed: "The graves of our heroes--the real heroes--move us; the doors through which the famous dead have passed are sacred to us." Stanley Weyman regarded himself as fortunate that the timing of his early novels followed closely the popular historical fiction of Alexandre Dumas in France.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 11, 2021
Shrewsbury is another superb book by Weyman, though unlike the majority of his books this is not exactly a tale of swashbuckling romance. No, the main character who makes up our tale is hardly swashbuckling, albeit there is romance but romance of the desperate kind.
Instead, in Shrewsbury, we follow the tale of a man who has the most unfortunate luck. At times the book is almost torturous to read, not that the tale isn't wholly addictive but it's hard to read about this cowardly man who again and again is dealt a bad hand.
Eventually, our character, who is a nice fellow but a coward nonetheless comes out on top with the help of the aptly named Shrewsbury. Its a nail biting 400 pages, but again one that is wholly edible thanks to the wonderful words of Stanley J. Weyman.
Instead, in Shrewsbury, we follow the tale of a man who has the most unfortunate luck. At times the book is almost torturous to read, not that the tale isn't wholly addictive but it's hard to read about this cowardly man who again and again is dealt a bad hand.
Eventually, our character, who is a nice fellow but a coward nonetheless comes out on top with the help of the aptly named Shrewsbury. Its a nail biting 400 pages, but again one that is wholly edible thanks to the wonderful words of Stanley J. Weyman.
January 25, 2021
Too small
It was a scanned copy of the book. I couldn’t read it because it was too small. Don’t even bother.
It was a scanned copy of the book. I couldn’t read it because it was too small. Don’t even bother.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews