Recent reading
Jul. 27th, 2024 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luzulaAm on the way back from my forest surveying camp. It was intense, so I'm enjoying the time to myself on the train back.
The Pastor's Fire-side, Vol 4 by Jane Porter (1817)
In volume three, Louis's father Duke Ripperda fell from power through the machinations of his enemies and escaped from prison. Louis chases after him and finally catches up with him among the Moors in northern Africa. All of Christendom has turned on him, and all of Christendom will now suffer, because Ripperda has converted to Islam in order to lead the Muslims with fire and sword on Spain! Whoa. Louis fails to convince him otherwise. Ripperda becomes a general of the Moors and leads an attack on Ceuta (the Spanish foothold in Africa). In the battle for Ceuta, Louis is wounded when he leaps in front of a stroke meant for his father! Ripperda still does not relent. Louis is heart-broken but is nursed by Marcella, the young woman obviously meant to be his love interest in the previous volume.
In a second battle, Louis distinguishes himself again and Ripperda is defeated. The wounded Ripperda falls from power among the Moors and hides himself away in a place where Louis nevertheless finds him. Ripperda, convinced he has killed his son and overcome with remorse, receives him; Louis convinces him to convert to Christianity again and he dies. I don't know if this is coming through, but Louis is a very pious man.
Meanwhile in Spain, Ripperda was stripped of his titles and vast estates, and Louis is promised to get them if he will only become a Catholic. No, he is a Protestant and refuses, and decides to return to England (insert encomiums on England, the land of liberty). He has just returned thence and is travelling with his cousin Cornelia, whom I have not mentioned yet, when a storm forces them to stop in a hovel, where who should be lying bleeding to death but Wharton, who has been sent there to do Jacobite plotting! Louis is still convinced Wharton betrayed him, but with many anguished pangs he brings the insensible Wharton home and Cornelia nurses him. It is obvious that Wharton and Cornelia will be matched up.
Marcella and her family (which include her brother Ferdinand who is going to marry Louis's other cousin Alice) arrive in Britain, and Marcella's father reveals that Wharton in fact has been Louis's secret ally, though he was Ripperda's political enemy (sorry, can't sum up all the plotting). Louis's reunion with Wharton does not disappoint: When he was told he might approach the chamber; the permission, and the clasp of Wharton's arms around his body, seemed the action of one instant. [...] The gallant heart of the Duke, and the soul of Louis melted at once into one stream of mingling tenderness, and sweet were those manly tears.
The book then wraps up with Louis/Marcella and Wharton/Cornelia. But however, I do not resent this, because they make a perfect sedoretu! Louis/Wharton obviously, but here is Marcella and Cornelia's first meeting: Cornelia dared hardly venture to clasp the beautiful phantom to her bosom; but tenderly supported her tremulous frame to a sofa, where she gently seated her; and, pressing her soft hand in her's, gazed at her through her crowding tears. Was this fragile being, just hanging like a broken lilly, between the next breeze and the cold earth; was it she who had stood the fearful thunders of Ceuta? who had raised her head amidst the storm of war, to staunch the bleeding wounds of Louis de Montemar? to cherish his life at the expence of her own?
"It was!" cried the full heart of Cornelia to herself; and, in inarticulate, but ardent, language, she uttered her welcome. The kindness of her voice drew the last sting of jealousy from the bosom of Marcella. She looked up, and thanked her with her eyes. There was something which passed from them, so powerful to the heart of Cornelia, that she gave way to the impulse of the impression; and, clasping the interesting Spaniard to her bosom, imprinted on her cheek a sister's kiss.
The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones (1981)
It's been a while since I read a new DWJ. I spent a lot of this one being confused, but in retrospect, I think it makes sense? Whoa, those are some dysfunctional parents. Also, I like how just plain weird all the kids are, it makes them such vivid characters, and the four sisters have such complicated relationships. Still, probably not my favorite DWJ.
The Pastor's Fire-side, Vol 4 by Jane Porter (1817)
In volume three, Louis's father Duke Ripperda fell from power through the machinations of his enemies and escaped from prison. Louis chases after him and finally catches up with him among the Moors in northern Africa. All of Christendom has turned on him, and all of Christendom will now suffer, because Ripperda has converted to Islam in order to lead the Muslims with fire and sword on Spain! Whoa. Louis fails to convince him otherwise. Ripperda becomes a general of the Moors and leads an attack on Ceuta (the Spanish foothold in Africa). In the battle for Ceuta, Louis is wounded when he leaps in front of a stroke meant for his father! Ripperda still does not relent. Louis is heart-broken but is nursed by Marcella, the young woman obviously meant to be his love interest in the previous volume.
In a second battle, Louis distinguishes himself again and Ripperda is defeated. The wounded Ripperda falls from power among the Moors and hides himself away in a place where Louis nevertheless finds him. Ripperda, convinced he has killed his son and overcome with remorse, receives him; Louis convinces him to convert to Christianity again and he dies. I don't know if this is coming through, but Louis is a very pious man.
Meanwhile in Spain, Ripperda was stripped of his titles and vast estates, and Louis is promised to get them if he will only become a Catholic. No, he is a Protestant and refuses, and decides to return to England (insert encomiums on England, the land of liberty). He has just returned thence and is travelling with his cousin Cornelia, whom I have not mentioned yet, when a storm forces them to stop in a hovel, where who should be lying bleeding to death but Wharton, who has been sent there to do Jacobite plotting! Louis is still convinced Wharton betrayed him, but with many anguished pangs he brings the insensible Wharton home and Cornelia nurses him. It is obvious that Wharton and Cornelia will be matched up.
Marcella and her family (which include her brother Ferdinand who is going to marry Louis's other cousin Alice) arrive in Britain, and Marcella's father reveals that Wharton in fact has been Louis's secret ally, though he was Ripperda's political enemy (sorry, can't sum up all the plotting). Louis's reunion with Wharton does not disappoint: When he was told he might approach the chamber; the permission, and the clasp of Wharton's arms around his body, seemed the action of one instant. [...] The gallant heart of the Duke, and the soul of Louis melted at once into one stream of mingling tenderness, and sweet were those manly tears.
The book then wraps up with Louis/Marcella and Wharton/Cornelia. But however, I do not resent this, because they make a perfect sedoretu! Louis/Wharton obviously, but here is Marcella and Cornelia's first meeting: Cornelia dared hardly venture to clasp the beautiful phantom to her bosom; but tenderly supported her tremulous frame to a sofa, where she gently seated her; and, pressing her soft hand in her's, gazed at her through her crowding tears. Was this fragile being, just hanging like a broken lilly, between the next breeze and the cold earth; was it she who had stood the fearful thunders of Ceuta? who had raised her head amidst the storm of war, to staunch the bleeding wounds of Louis de Montemar? to cherish his life at the expence of her own?
"It was!" cried the full heart of Cornelia to herself; and, in inarticulate, but ardent, language, she uttered her welcome. The kindness of her voice drew the last sting of jealousy from the bosom of Marcella. She looked up, and thanked her with her eyes. There was something which passed from them, so powerful to the heart of Cornelia, that she gave way to the impulse of the impression; and, clasping the interesting Spaniard to her bosom, imprinted on her cheek a sister's kiss.
The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones (1981)
It's been a while since I read a new DWJ. I spent a lot of this one being confused, but in retrospect, I think it makes sense? Whoa, those are some dysfunctional parents. Also, I like how just plain weird all the kids are, it makes them such vivid characters, and the four sisters have such complicated relationships. Still, probably not my favorite DWJ.
