A Romance of Exmoor. In Two Volumes. Vol. II - Lorna Doone

It's a love story, and it has everything: bandits, highwaymen, corrupt judges, criminal masterminds, heroes, villains, faithful friends, lovers, betrayals, robbery, murder, mines, runaway carriages, and beer for breakfast. It's written in classic 19th-century prose style, so don't be put off by the slow start. Slog through it, tough it out, fall it love with the great John Ridd and the beautiful robber's child, Lorna Doone. Set in Exmoor, it's based on historical events. The Ridd farmhouse exists to this day. Lorna Doone is a must read for everyone, at least once in a lifetime.

After reading the book several times, I was curious as to how the movie would be. It followed the novel quite well and was enjoyable to watch, but it didn't allow the imagination to wander like the book. I still prefer the book, but have watched the movie several times, and I DO enjoy it...'really quite well done!

This story would probably be an excellent one with a LOT of abridging...there is too much commentary in the story. I got bogged down in all the "fluff" and got frustrated and just quit reading it. Maybe I'll watch the movie.

This book has a fantastic plotline, I Love historical novels. The only boring character was the one who narrates it. I wish the author had chosen any other character, as he comes off as a dolt and there are so many interesting plotlines, and other characters. As something considered an early 19th century publication, it is easy to read but I was frustrated by the narrators limited and naive world view. I skipped over many parts having to do with the minutae of the narrators life. Worth reading for insights into late 18th century life in rural England. Would buy paperback, and used.

When John Ridd's father is robbed and murdered by the infamous Doone clan, this should make young John their blood enemy. Instead, he falls in love with Lorna, the beautiful young granddaughter of Sir Ensor, the head of the Doones. Because, massive though he is and with a reputation throughout Devon and Somerset as a great wrestler, at heart John is a lover, not a fighter. Unless you threaten the people he loves...

After an exceptionally tedious first quarter, during which I many times considered abandoning the book, I gradually grew to quite enjoy it. Biographical fiction of this era tends to include the early years of the subject, meaning it's often a long time before the story gets properly underway. Sometimes this works, if the writer fills it with interesting stuff – witness David Copperfield and his time living with the Micawbers. Other times it's less successful, and I found John's early life dragged, with very little incident to break up the admittedly excellent descriptions of rural life. The only real event of note is his accidental meeting with the child Lorna, whose infant beauty even then arouses his boyish fancy.

Eventually, however, John reaches manhood and, remembering the little girl, sets out to sneak into the Doone stronghold to find her again. The Doones are a gang of robbers and murderers living in a nearby valley, headed by Sir Ensor, a nobleman dispossessed of his land and fortune over a dispute between his family and the King. Although they terrorise the countryside, the locals seem to feel some strange kind of pride over them, as if they lend an air almost of glamour to the area. Which seems a little odd, since apart from murdering and robbing the men, they have an unfortunate habit of raping girls and women, and stealing them away from their families to force them into marrying the Doone men, who are not averse to a bit of polygamy. Call me old-fashioned, but the glamour escaped me...

Having now fallen hopelessly in love with the lovely Lorna, John is conflicted about the Doones – he sees that they are bad, but doesn't want to go against them for love of Lorna. Though remarkably, having been brought up by this horrid crew, Lorna has turned out sweet and moral and pure, and apart from old Sir Ensor whom she loves, has no high opinion of them; especially since she is being put under pressure to marry the nastiest of them all – the evil Carver Doone. (Cue booing and hissing...) Eventually, there will have to be a showdown, between the men of Exmoor and the Doones, and between John and Carver.

The major problem with the book is that it is incredibly slow. The actual plot is pretty underdeveloped – we are told about how horrible the Doones are rather than seeing it for ourselves. In fact, considering their central role, they appear very rarely. There's a sort of detour into the politics of the time – the anti-monarchist plots and the Monmouth rebellion – but Blackmore assumes the reader's familiarity with these events so doesn't explain them, which left me heading off to wikipedia on more than one occasion. I don't blame him for my ignorance, but nonetheless I always feel historical fiction should give enough background to allow the reader to understand what's going on. There's also a lengthy section where John is in London, where I swear nothing at all happens – nothing! John mentions afterwards that he met the King three times, but clearly this wasn't important enough to show us as it occurred. Blackmore gives no feeling of what London may have been like in the period, beyond some discussion of bedbugs in various rooming-houses where John stayed.

Where the book does shine, though, is in its depiction of rural life. John loves his life as a farmer and through his eyes we see nature in all her kindness and cruelty. The harsh and bitter winter of 1683 is brilliantly depicted: weeks of deep snow and freezing fog followed by flooding when the thaw finally arrives. We are shown the hardships undergone by the men trying to save the farm animals stranded in the snow-covered fields, and learn of the toll, emotional and financial, as so many of the animals are lost. The strange (to urban eyes) mix of affection and pragmatism the farmers have for their animals is beautifully described, making me long for those earlier times when farming seemed somehow less cruel, more natural, than our soulless meat production factories of today. We are shown the dependence of the community on abundant harvests and the way they come together first to bring in the crops and then to celebrate. The description of the harvest itself is wonderfully done, full of warmth as Blackmore describes the age-old rituals that surround this most important point of the rural year. For this picture of farming life alone, the book is well worth reading.

There is also a good deal of stuff about the place of women in this society, which I'm fairly sure is meant to be tongue-in-cheek humorous rather than hideously sexist, though sometimes the dividing line is so faint as to be invisible. Certainly John is transparent enough to let us see that Lorna's beauty of face and figure is as important to him as any loveliness of soul she may possess...

" 'What are you doing here, Annie?' I inquired rather sternly, being vexed with her for having gone so very near to frighten me.
'Nothing at all,' said our Annie shortly. And indeed it was truth enough for a woman. Not that I dare to believe that women are such liars as men say: only that I mean they often see things round the corner, and know not which is which of it. And indeed I never have known a woman (though right enough in their meaning) purely and perfectly true and transparent, except only my Lorna; and even so, I might not have loved her, if she had been ugly."

But there are also lovely sections, especially between John and his sister Annie, where John thinks he is showing his masculine superiority while in fact Annie is quietly guiding him and winding him round her feminine little finger. Much of John's interactions with the many females in his life left me quietly chuckling, and suspecting that the women were chuckling too behind his back, but affectionately.

As the book nears its conclusion, the pace thankfully picks up and there are some fine dramatic scenes to end on. Is it a happy-ever-after or a tear-jerking tragedy though? Well, if you want to know the answer to that question, I guess you'll just have to read it for yourself...

Many of you have read Lorna Doone in abridged form or seen a TV presentation of this largely forgotten masterpiece of British literature. That is unfortunate because such versions omit much that is of value and hopefully you will avail yourself of the chance to read this beautiful, emotionally charged, novel in full.

R. D. Blackmore's Lorna Doone is described as a "Romance" novel. Curious as to the meaning of this term I searched the Internet and came up with the following composite definition: an action, adventure story with the added focus of a loving, passionate relationship. A central conflict divides the lovers, there is character growth and a resolution, usually with an HEA (happily ever after) ending.

The book is also an historical novel centering around an event now termed "Manmouth's Rebellion." James II, who succeeded Charles II on the English throne, was unpopular because he was a Roman Catholic and much of the country was Protestant. James Scott, the first Duke of Manmouth, the illigimate son of Charles II, was a Protestant and lay claim to the throne. He raised an army, mostly consisting of farmers, but was defeated in the Battle of Sedgemoor on July 6, 1865. Following this battle some 1.400 rebels were tired in a series of trials presided over by Chief Justice Charles Jefferys, that have been termed the "Bloody Assize," in that some 300 were executed, more than 1,000 sent to the West Indies and the rest remained in prison.

The book may also be described as a "coming-of-age" novel in that it traces the life of the protagonist, John Ridd, from his youth to his mature years. Finally, it can also be called a pastoral in that Blackmore describes the western region of the country and clearly prefers the rural life to the big city. He devotes much of the book to describing the countryside and the culture.

One minor problem is that some of the vocabulary is not in common usage today. Words such as lanthorn (lantern), culverin (a heavy cannon) and portcullis (a gate that can be raised or lowered at the entrance of a fortified town) are found throughout the book.. Additionally, Blackmore uses local dialects in some places that are a little difficult to follow.

The story is told by Ridd as a flashback, starting from when he was eight years old. He lived in a yeoman or freeholder family (free persons who tended a farm) along with his parents and two younger sisters. Early in the story his father is killed by a group of Doones, an outlaw clan. The Doone family had been aristocrats at the king's court but fell into disfavor; their property was confiscated and they fled to the west of England where they formed their own enclave in a valley that afforded them protection. They turned to robbery and crime to support themselves. One night as John's father was riding home he was attacked and killed by a gang of Doones. The young boy vowed revenge but was helpless to act at that time.

When John is 14 he wanders by accident into the Doone valley where he meets the then eight year old Lorna and is struck by her beauty and kindliness. The years pass and when he is 21 John meets the now grown Lorna and they fall in love. . Their love is complicated by her relationship with the Doones and later by her high social standing relative to Ridd. The last third of the book becomes rather violent as the war and conflict with the Doones dominates the action. The ending is dramatic and emotionally charged.

Religion also plays a big role in the story, not only the conflict between Catholics and Protestants, but also the role that religion plays in shaping character and behaviors.

It is interesting to speculate as to how much of the story is fact and how much a product of Blackmore's imagination. There is some doubt as to whether or not the Doones of Bagworthy forest actually existed, but there were outlaw gangs in the west of England at that time. The leading Doone characters, Sir Ensor Doone, Counsellor Doone and the villainous blackguard, Carver Doone, are surely caricatures, as are the minor characters: the humorous servants, John Fry and Betty Muxworthy, Lorna's faithful maid, Gwenny Carfax, the King's messenger and military commander, Jeremy Stickles, etc. Also the dashing highway man Tom Faggus and his amazing horse, Winnie, may be more representational than real. Furthermore the places described in the book are not easily found today.

Blackmore was a poet before he was a novelist and it shows in this work. Some may think that the story is "slow moving" as Blackmore stops the action to describe the scenery or puts in a tale that is apart from the main story but reveals something about the culture and nature of the people. Novels are wonderful in that they allow you to go to places and experience things that are impossible in real life. So, relax and return to the English countryside of old and enjoy the tale!

thrills, sweet romantic moments, suspense, politics, dangerous fights, severe weather, beautiful maidens, valiant heroic men, dirty villains, cunning men of prestige, and country-living in the old way of life are what this tale brings to you! just imagine, what if you lived during this time? this detailed-oriented story makes it easy for you to feel what it was like to be alive back then & you slip into another world, bygone era in history's shadow...
this had not been popularized by scholars & literature experts but it is definitely worthy of more attention. there are young reader's versions that edit out the long-running prose-type descriptions of nature & informative plot reinforcement stories the characters tell each other. Blackmore uses nature as a backdrop to tell the story-- his use of nature life helps tell the story as nature speaks to the reader as a secondary voice in telling the story-- you just have to open your mind to see that. but the young reader's versions edit all that excess out to shorten the tale, as its shortcoming is that the richness of the language does make it drag on. i admit i found myself thinking, 'get the the point already' at times.
i admit the language was so archaic it was hard to follow & understand even, the flow is quite expansive due to remarkable epic detail. but take it as Blackmore's poetic writer-genius at work. the story takes place during the later 17th century England during Charles II reign after the civil war, when the rural areas were still in need of containment by order of law & government. the storyteller & hero, John Ridd is of remarkable hurcules-like strength and fearless but has a heart of gold & is well mannered even if he's uneducated. Ostensibly people in those times regarded a robber as a potential hero only if they robbed the rich & gave to the poor, as one main character does- Tom Faggus- a friend of the family of the narrator. there will be archaic words & terms, phrases you might not understand or know when reading this due to the period so foreign to us modern readers so have a dictionary on hand if you really care. another thing- be patient with it, and keep in mind the characters because Blackmore mentions them repeatedly throughout the novel but far between their initial introduction. it is worth the labor & time when you've finished it!! also you can say you've read this classic book yet not widely read.

Lorna Doone tells the story of John Ridd, the proverbial poor and simple farmer whose father has been murdered by the Doone family. The Doones are an aristocratic family that has been brought low by the tides of politics and have now become little more than a pillaging gang. John meets, and falls hopelessly in love, with Lorna of the Doone clan. We watch their relationship and love grow against the backdrop of this obvious conflict, while secrets regarding the characters are gradually revealed and the true nobility of John Ridd's nature is developed. This is a powerful romance/adventure story, worthy of the "classic" label. The writing is a bit dense for modern audiences, and some knowledge of the politics of the day is helpful for understanding the story and some of the subtle commentary Blackmore was making about society as it then existed, although not absolutely essential.

Lorna Doone is a blend of romance and historical fiction. It is both a romantic and action novel. The Doones are a large outlaw clan who were cheated out of their wealth and privilege (they are based on a real historical group of outlaws), who live in Badgworthy Valley and regularly rob and terrorize the local community. For various reasons they are left alone by the authorities and allowed to multiply mainly by kidnapping local women for their wives.
The story is told by John Ridd whose father is killed by one of the Doones when John is 12. One day John accidentally wanders into Doone Valley, where he meets 8 year Lorna. He is immediately smitten and what seems an impossible romance develops several years later. The brutal Carver Doone wants Lorna for his wife, so John must rescue her. The Doones, of course, want her back. John and Lorna also have to overcome differences in rank (she has it, he doesn't), money (she has a lot more than he does) and religion (she's Catholic, he's Protestant).
Blackmore's book vividly describes the Devon countryside in which the novel is set, and the lifestyle of a yeoman farmer. Some people may find all these details unnecessary, and a distraction from the central story but I really enjoyed learning about the lifestyle of late 17th century rural England.
The story is set against the historical backdrop of the death of King Charles II, the Monmouth Rebellion, the brutal suppression of that rebellion by Judge Jeffreys known as the Bloody Assizes, and the short-lived assent of the very Catholic King James to the throne (and fears of 'Papist' rule). I recommend doing some brief research on these events on the Internet before reading this book. An understanding of the historical context will make this an easier and more understandable read.
If you enjoy a good romance novel you will love this book. If you enjoy historical fiction you will also love this book. This book is moving, action packed and educational.

Lorna Doone is my favourite of all English novels, As an under-rated classic, this is one of the most complete books ever written.
It is a tale with something for just about everyone. It has romance, chivalry, action, revenge, factual history and some great twists of plot.
Written in 1869 but set in the late 1600s, its characters are based around the exploits of real historical figures.
The only thing that may put off the modern reader is the fact that it contains some extra historical narrative, making it a lengthy book. This can be omitted by the reader without being essential to the plot. Just skip through this and enjoy R D Blackmore's best novel.
Blackmore's lovingly detailed observations of nature are always a delight.
For me to this day, it is quite simply the best book I've ever read and I am now fortunate enough to own a copy of the first edition. I cannot recommend it enough.
This paperback edition simply has to be read once by us all.

As a very young child, John Ridd encounters the equally young Lorna while fishing in Doone territory. The Doones, born noble, were deprived of their birthright, and now live in a fortress above the Somerset moors, sometimes emerging to pillage the countryside for food, money, and comely women. It's love at first sight for John, who, in spite of the fact that the Doones murdered his own father, falls hard for the enchanting Lorna. Blackmore's romance/adventure takes the couple through trials and tribulations, and the lowborn John sadly doubts that he can ever be worthy of Lorna. Little does he know of her true origins.

Blackmore, naturally, wrote in the language of his times, a style that tends toward poetical effusion. The modern reader must summon up the patience to work through the verbosity to find the gem of a story beneath. It's well worth the effort, and flashes of gentle satire and humor help make the journey a satisfying one.

thrills, sweet romantic moments, suspense, politics, dangerous fights, severe weather, beautiful maidens, valiant heroic men, dirty villains, cunning men of prestige, and country-living in the old way of life are what this tale brings to you! just imagine, what if you lived during this time? this detailed-oriented story makes it easy for you to feel what it was like to be alive back then & you slip into another world, bygone era in history's shadow...
this had not been popularized by scholars & literature experts but it is definitely worthy of more attention. there are young reader's versions that edit out the long-running prose-type descriptions of nature & informative plot reinforcement stories the characters tell each other. Blackmore uses nature as a backdrop to tell the story-- his use of nature life helps tell the story as nature speaks to the reader as a secondary voice in telling the story-- you just have to open your mind to see that. but the young reader's versions edit all that excess out to shorten the tale, as its shortcoming is that the richness of the language does make it drag on. i admit i found myself thinking, 'get the the point already' at times.
i admit the language was so archaic it was hard to follow & understand even, the flow is quite expansive due to remarkable epic detail. but take it as Blackmore's poetic writer-genius at work. the story takes place during the later 17th century England during Charles II reign after the civil war, when the rural areas were still in need of containment by order of law & government. the storyteller & hero, John Ridd is of remarkable hurcules-like strength and fearless but has a heart of gold & is well mannered even if he's uneducated. Ostensibly people in those times regarded a robber as a potential hero only if they robbed the rich & gave to the poor, as one main character does- Tom Faggus- a friend of the family of the narrator. there will be archaic words & terms, phrases you might not understand or know when reading this due to the period so foreign to us modern readers so have a dictionary on hand if you really care. another thing- be patient with it, and keep in mind the characters because Blackmore mentions them repeatedly throughout the novel but far between their initial introduction. it is worth the labor & time when you've finished it!! also you can say you've read this classic book yet not widely read.

I was surprised that Lorna Doone by Richard Blackmore was a good as it turned out to be. It had a very compelling story and good characters even if the novel seemed a bit wordy at times. Lorna Doone is also the single best example of a romantic novel. It may not be among the very best of this category (like The Scarlet Letter, Moby Dick, or any of Jane Austen's novels), but it does fit every criteria. It had a major emphasis on feeling as the whole of the book is a love story between John Ridd and Lorna Doone. The book also has a lot of high adventure in it and an emphasis of nature (Blackmore was just about the only English forerunner of Thomas Hardy in novels in this respect). The novel was even about the common man.
The plot of the novel follows John Ridd. He is a respectable farmer who one day happens into the valley of the Doone's, a family/community of outlaws who had killed his father. There, he ends up falling in love with one of the Doone's own, Lorna. Then, John has to find a way to save his love and overcome their differences of birth.
Lorna Doone is a very interesting read. It may not be for everyone because it is long and does tend to dwell on some trivial things for a bit too long. The novel would be good for anyone who likes classics of romanticism. Lorna Doone can be a very worthwhile read.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to love it because it is a classic I've been wanting to read a long time. And I did love the love story between Lorna and John Ridd. But the sheer volume of words that were unrelated to anything other than description and irrelevant details made this a difficult read. I know some people will savor each historical detail and the lose themselves in the language, but for me it made what could have been a compelling tale difficult to finish. Just as a point of reference, War and Peace and Jane Eyre are among my favorite books of all time. So my disappointment is not the result of the length of the book. It's more about the density of the writing that, in my opinion, weighs down a wonderful story. I wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from reading this book which has a great deal to recommend it. I would caution readers to be prepared for a slow read, or a luxuriously slow read depending on your point of view.

I shall start by writing that I ordered this book from the store after watching the A&E movie, which I found exciting, with a great story full of plot twists.
Then as I read the book, I discovered the story was much larger, the writing more complex and entertaining, as it is a book in the line of the pastoral tradition, taking place in the countryside of England, and also having much of historical detail, and it presents a hero/narrator who is at times self deprecating and is constantly trying to prove himself.
I couldn't help comparing it as I read, to Jane Eyre, the narration gives much of the psychology of the main character, John Ridd and the rest of the characters that appear exist as seen trough his eyes, including Lorna.
I found myself enjoying so much this book and as with all my favorite ones, regretting having finished it.
It made me research to check on the historical characters and facts, adding bonus enjoyment, and cross referenced it to another of my favorites: The English Patient.
I was grateful for all the notes at the end of the book, as for the enlightening introduction by Sally Shuttleworth.
I highly recommend this book in this version.

Lorna Doone is a classic tale of romance and bravery, vengance and villany. What is important about the book besides the story is the societal subtext. When you read this book you get a picture of what made the British Empire great. We see Master Jan, or John Ridd, a simple squire, who catches his own fish, harvests his own wheat at the head of his labourers. This humble man is not afraid to take matters all the way up to his king and expect justice in return. We see a comedy of errors as militia groups vie with each other and end up fighting each other instead of the enemy. The whole tale is told amid the last battles ever fought on English soil during the little known Monmouth rebellion. A remarkable and noteworthy book, which tells more than the main story. It is both a great read and a portrait of English rural society of the time.

I started reading this book because it came with greater collection of used books we had picked up and I figured since we owned it I might as well read it. It was slow going at first. The English the book is written in is not modern and can be somewhat difficult to get the flow of. It is next to impossible to read sections where the author gives us the dialog for some of the lesser educated characters exactly as they sound (think Eliza Doolittle with a speech impediment). But despite these drawbacks once you got started reading you get a hang of how the older English works and it did not seem to be such a hindrance (though anytime John Fry or anyone like him spoke I continued to struggle understanding it). The story itself is a slower paced love story, so if you are looking for a page turner this book is not for you (at least not until the last five chapters or so). The main character, John Ridd, is fascinating to watch as he develops mentally and physically from boy to man. I loved seeing how the convictions he holds play out in his interactions with those he encounters, including the dreaded Doone's. His entire nature is layed out for you to see and inspect. Even though he is a fictional character I admire him greatly. I have deep respect for his restraint and level head when it is called for as well his passion and anger when things come to a climax towards the end of the book. Even his deep inner conflict that comes when he does let his passion rise up is fascinating to watch. I found the book very rewarding, and while it is not one of my all time favorites, it is worth the read.

I just love this whole story from beginning to end. I'm not one to examine a book too deeply or appriciate hidden meanings. I am one of the most unromantic blokes that has ever walked the Earth and would never dare to speak of this in the pub with my mates. I'd die of embaresment if they knew, so this is my secret self talking.

I thought Lorna Doone was blooming drop dead beautiful(in my mind's eye) and I could swim a shark infested ocean for her. John Ridd was everything I wanted to be to win her. This story had everything for me - a fabulous lady in distress, trials and tribulations, a ghastly villan and I (as John Ridd) sorted it all out, complete with rugged chin and pristine white teeth. When the book ended so wonderfully, I was still upset because I was no longer John Ridd and none of my chins were rugged.The less said about the teeth, the better...

But seriously, please read this. I want to come back in another life and live in this old England as John Ridd with Lorna Doone. So might you?

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Because it's written in "Ye Olde English", the language can be difficult, but context helps 99% of the time. It has heartbreak, romance, danger, revenge and humor, all within an historical setting that's simply fascinating. Sooooo highly recommended.

Lorna Doone is a forgotten classic, typically known and read by everyone of a certain age in the UK, but pretty much ignored in school here in the US.

It's not an easy read, as Blackmore's English is not the modern English we are used to, but it's not all that difficult and well worth the time and effort.

If you read and enjoyed Bronte's Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, you will enjoy this romance. At it's core is a wonderful love story of a boy John Ridd) who never forgets his first love, and ultimately fights for the chance to win her heart against his lower social standing, and a band of robbers that have kept her captive -- unbenownst to her, since she was a little girl.

The BBC have made this into a mini-series many times over, and of course Nabisco has named a cookie for dear Lorna. I am sure Disney will catch up at some point. Enjoy the book before that happens and John Ridd's horse talks and sings!

I'd read Lorna Doone years ago, and fortunately, was re-reading it when I had to spend an emergency stint in the hospital. The book kept me enthralled, in another world entirely, day & night. Oddly enough, the very problem I'd had, erysipalis (don't mind the spelling) was mentioned in the book (the woman died of it; I didn't!) We don't need Reality! We need Passion, Moors, Wicked folks, Good folks, and Love!!!!

A true classic. Though not considered a historical book, the back drop of 17th century England provides a fabulous canvas for a romance novel with significant historical overtones. A fascinating and exciting read for anyone. If only it was available electronically....