Peveril of the Peak, Volume 1"'Here is a plot without a drop of blood; and all the elements of a romance, without its conclusion', comments the King towards the end of Scott's longest, and arguably most intriguing, novel. Set against the backdrop of the Popish Plot to overturn Charles II, Peveril of the Peak explores the on-going tensions between Cavalier and Puritan loyalties during the fraught years of Restoration England. Ranging from Derbyshire to the Isle of Man and culminating in London, it is a novel which interweaves political intrigue, personal responsibilities and the ways in which the forces of history are played out in the struggles of individual human lives. But its true subject is perhaps the role of narration and the limits of storytelling itself. In this, the first scholarly edition of Peveril, Alison Lumsden recovers a lost novel."--BOOK JACKET. |
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Common terms and phrases
acquaintance Alice Bridgenorth amongst answered Peveril apartment arms better betwixt Buckingham called Catholic Chiffinch Christian church companion countenance Countess of Derby Court dame danger daughter Debbitch Derbyshire desirous Ditchley door Duchess of Portsmouth Duke Earl of Derby Empson England eyes faith father favour fear Fenella followed Ganlesse Geneva band gentleman give Grace guest hand hath head heard Holm-Peel honour horse intimate island Isle Jerningham Jesuits Julian Peveril King lady Lance Outram light London look lord Lord Saville madam Major Bridgenorth manner Martindale Castle Master Bridgenorth Master Julian Matt Chamberlain means mind Mistress mother never night noble Papists passion person poor Popish Plot present Protestant Puritan purpose rendered replied Roundheads scarce seemed seen Sir Geoffrey soon speak stranger supposed thee thing thou art thought tion tone Topham turned warrant woman young
Popular passages
Page 242 - Here lies our sovereign lord the King, Whose word no man relies on ; Who never said a foolish thing, And never did a wise one.
Page 263 - A man so various, that he seem'd to be Not one, but all Mankind's Epitome. Stiff in opinions, always in the wrong; Was everything by starts, and nothing long: But in the course of one revolving moon, Was chemist, fiddler, statesman, and buffoon: Then all for women, painting, rhyming, drinking; Besides ten thousand freaks that died in thinking.
Page 331 - The poor man was much affrighted, but resolved to obey the injunction; accordingly, a large silver cup, filled with some sort of liquor, being put into his hand, he found an opportunity to throw what it contained on the ground. Soon after the music ceasing, all the company disappeared, leaving the cup in his hand, and he returned home, though much wearied and fatigued. He went the next day and communicated to the minister of the parish all that had happened, and asked his advice how he should dispose...
Page 113 - What made our poet meddle with a plot ? Was't that he fancied, for the very sake And name of plot, his trifling play might take ? For there's not in't one inch-board evidence...