Moonstone: Schedule & Character List

[Renee, Moderator]

The Moonstone is rather a long but very exciting read. I plan on taking 9 weeks with the text broken down as follows...

Prologue & First Period
•Weeks 1-3 (8 ch each)

- Prologue: Spring of 1799
The sack of Seringapatam, India
- First Period: Ch. 1-23
The Loss of the Diamond 1848 (as related by Gabriel Betteridge, House-Steward)


Second Period: The Discovery of the Truth 1848-1849 (several narratives)

•Week 4
First Narrative Ch. 1-5 (Miss Clack)

•Week 5
Continue Miss Clack Ch. 6-8
Second Narrative Ch. 1-3 (Matthew Bruff, solicitor)

•Weeks 6 + 7
Third Narrative Ch. 1-6 (Franklin Blake)
Third Narrative Ch. 7-10 (Franklin Blake)

•Week 8
Fourth Narrative (Ezra Jennings)

•Week 9 (Final Narratives & Epilogue)
Fifth Narrative (Franklin Blake)
Sixth Narrative Ch. 1-5 (Sergeant Cuff)
Seventh Narrative (Mr. Candy)
Eighth Narrative (Gabriel Betteridge)

Epilogue. Ch. 1-3
The Finding of the Diamond
(3 narrators)

[Renee, Moderator]

Prologue & First Period
Week 1 (Feb. 7-12): Prologue + Ch. 1-7
Week 2 (Feb. 13-19): Ch. 8-15
Week 3 (Feb. 20-26): Ch. 16-23

Second Period
Week 4 (Feb. 27-Mar. 5): First Narr. Ch 1-5
Week 5 (March 6-12) First Narr. Ch 6-8
+ Second Narr. Ch. 1-3
Week 6 (March 13-19) Third Narr. Ch. 1-6
Week 7 (March 20-26) Third Narr. Ch. 7-10
Week 8 (Mar. 27-Apr. 2) Fourth Narrative
Week 9 (April 3-9) Fifth Narr. to End

[Renee, Moderator]

**Characters**

•John Herncastle- deceased. Formerly a colonel in the military.
•Gabriel Betteridge- House Steward for Lady Julia Verinder.
•Rachel Verinder- only child of Lady Verinder, she is to inherit Tge Moonstone on her 18th birthday
•Lady Julia Verinder- widow. Mother of Rachel.
•Franklin Blake- Rachel’s cousin. He has been tasked with the care of the Diamond until Rachel’s birthday.
•Matthew Bruff- Family lawyer.
•Penelope Betteridge- daughter of Gabriel and Rachel’s maid
•Roseanna Spearman- housemaid. Former thief. Does not mix much with the other staff
• Limping Lucy Yolland- Rosanna’s one close friend; her family provides some refuge/aid
•Godfrey Ablewhite- another cousin, and suitor, of Rachel; a philanthropist
•Dr. Candy- family physician
•Ezra Jennings- Dr Candy's unpopular and odd-looking assistant, uses opium to control the pain from an incurable illness.
•Mr. Murthwaite- adventurer who has travelled extensively in India
•The Indian Jugglers – three disguised Hindu Brahmins who are determined to recover the diamond
•Sergeant Seegrave- initial investigator, he bungles aspects of the investigation and angers the staff
•Sergeant Cuff- respected police officer who is brought in by the Verinders; he recognizes the importance of the paint smear and shows a knowledge of human nature; he has a deep appreciation for Rose gardens
•

[Renee, Moderator]

So sorry, Vics! I’ve had a personal emergency and completely missed the start date. I’ll get things up and running as soon as possible.

[Michaela]

Renee wrote: "So sorry, Vics! I’ve had a personal emergency and completely missed the start date. I’ll get things up and running as soon as possible."

Hugs Renee, and don´t worry. xxx

[Rosemarie]

I hope everything is okay with you now, Renee.

I read The Moonstone this past December for the second time, and will be following the discussion with interest.

[Piyangie, Moderator]

Life happens, Renee. I hope you're okay now.

I read Moonstone two years back so won't be rereading. I'm interested in what everyone thinks of it, however, so I'll follow and join in with the discussion.

[Renee, Moderator]

I am adding to the list of characters as they are introduced.