Tracey’s Comments (group member since Jul 17, 2016)

Tracey’s comments from the Sir Walter Scott Appreciation group.

If you are reading Scott poetry for these 2 months either put the exact book you are reading from in your reading list, or if like myself, you are reading from internet sources, you can use the above book to count towards your 4 Scott works in 1 year challenge.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

On the Massacre of Glencoe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_a5_...

This is Lochinvar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCqEE...

Rosemarie wrote: "These are the Scott poems found in Golden Treasury by Francis Turner Palgrave.

The Rover
A Serenade
Coronach
The Outlaw
Rosabelle
The Maid of Neidpath
Pibroch of Don..."

Several of these have been made in to folk songs. I love Jock O' Hazeldean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbzUR...

This one has the lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjfpe...

Comments here

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished this section and am enjoying the book. I really like the author's description of nature."

I believe the author loved the area and it shows in his keen eye and romantic descriptions. The area is as important as the people in the story

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the first twelve chapters and there is more action now. The highwayman makes me think of the legend of Dick Turpin, and also the poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes."

I will look into that poem. Thanks Rosemarie

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the first six chapters and was shocked at the callous attitude of the Doones to the murder of John Ridd's father by one of their gang."

The Doones are indeed portrayed as a dark and morally degenerate family and as I understand, at this time period, there were some very villainous groups preying upon the ordinary people. This is after the Civil War and when brother fights brother, it can bring out the worst in a society. I believe Blackmore did not invent much but used a lot of the stories that were in circulation at the time.

Another is Pibroch Of Donail Dhu :

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pibroc...

How about 'Lochinvar' and 'Macgregor's Gathering'

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem...

http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/...

Both short poems

Comments to be posted

Just thought I would add; did anyone else note how the author refers to women and their temperaments/roles etc?

In these chapters we learn more about Lorna and John Ridd has some learning experiences.

Blackmore has several real life characters in the story, one of which is Judge Jeffries, and historical incidents, such as the Monmouth Rebellion. For those who read Waverley, this book is set just prior to that time period. Charles II is on the throne and is without legitimate children. His illegitimate son by Lucy Walter was courted by some to become the next king as he was raised Protestant whereas Charles II was leaning back towards Catholicism and James, his brother (father of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Waverley) was an admitted Catholic. Judge Jeffries was responsible for sentencing many involved in the Monmouth Rebellion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...

1. What did you think of the lawyer who listened to John's 'rigmarole?'

2. How well do you think John acquitted himself in London?

3. How was London portrayed in this time period within the novel?

4. Who do you think Lorna really is or related to?

5. Have you noticed Blackmore's humour throughout the story?

In these 12 chapters, the background is set. We come to know of the Doone family and meet John Ridd (Jr) and his family.

We meet a cousin of the Ridd family, Tom Faggus, who is a highway man in the fashion of Dick Turpin and his horse Black Bess, whose exploits were romanticised after he was captured and hung. I am wondering if Blackmore used this as the basis for Tom. I will be watching to see if the story of this character follows what happened to Turpin.

Some of the narrative is in the West Country dialect. I can read most English dialects so if anyone is having trouble I will try to decipher for you.

I am enjoying the story but do not find Blackmore is as good an author as Hardy who also wrote stories in the West country.

This book is set in Exmoor which is beautiful but can be bleak in winter and at night.
http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/exmoor-...

Rosemarie wrote: "I have read 2 authors from France, 2 from the United States, 2 from England, 1 from Italy and 1 from Scotland."

You have almost completed the challenge :)

FYI the name Lorna was invented by R D Blackmore.

I had to change some of my original choices as I wanted to do some authors from countries other than England.

I have started reading this book and am enjoying it.

The illegal activities of a family with the surname Doone was a legend in Exmoor which Blackmore used this to build his book upon.

In the story, the author tells us the these troubles began in 1640 when England was in chaos; this is the time period of Charles I and then the Civil War and Commonwealth under Cromwell. Those loyal to Charles, called Royalists, and usually Catholic, lost their property and it is this that happened to Sir Ensor Doone, the patriarch of the story. He then took his family off to the West Country and there his sons and grandsons 'grew up in foul liberty and haughtiness and hatred, to utter scorn to God and man, and brutality towards dumb animals.'

Is anyone else reading along?

Lori wrote: "I was wondering how likely it was that someone like Waverley would have been pardoned. Were these kings known to be clement?

There was another book of Scott's (probably more than one actually) wh..."

Pardon's were given more on political reasons than anything. I think Waverley would have been pardoned in this case because of his worth to the crown as a loyal subject from then onwards.

I finished it and here is my review:
It took me awhile to get into this book as I had so many others easier to read on the go. However, once I got half way I really got into the story and started to enjoy the story and the historical content.
Set during the 1745 final Jacobite uprising, Scott relates this time period and the manners and traditions of the Scottish people, with a keen eye to description and narrative. Some say too much so but I enjoyed immersing myself in his winding ways.
The ending for some was a little too sweet and yet for others, it was all too realistic of those who were charged with High Treason.
I think the book deserves 4 stars