Sir Walter Scott Appreciation discussion

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?

I have read the first chapter and am going to read along at a rate of 2 or 3 chapters a day, until I catch up with my other reading. It seems like my kind of book.

FYI the name Lorna was invented by R D Blackmore.

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-...

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

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.

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.

The character Tom Faggus has just been introduced. He is John's mother's cousin and a highwayman with a lovely mare. His first act is the rescue of the family's drake caught in a dangerous place by a flood.
In previous chapters, Lorna Doone, still a child, met John when he strayed into Doone territory and helped him leave safely.

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.

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