by R.D. Blackmore, 1869
LOVED THIS BOOK! Wonderful hero of heroes, John Ridd, falls in love with Lorna Doone, even though her people killed his father. He rescues her from the wicked Doone’s and she is restored as Lady Lorna Dugal, because the Doone’s had kidnapped her and killed her parents and brother. John loves her even though he is a farmer and she a lady. She loves him and forsakes her title and money to come back to the farm and marry John. It is their wedding. They have just said, “I will,” and John is ready to kiss her. A shot rings out and his Lorna falls into his arms. He knows who did it – jumps on his horse, chases him and kills him – Carver Doone – the wickedest Doone of them all.
But, amazingly, Ruth Huckabuck, the young lady John would have married if not for Lorna, realized Lorna was not dead, and nurses her back to full health. Then she nurses John (who Carver managed to shoot before John killed him) back to health and they live happily ever after.
Beautiful, Beautiful book! Many characters (Tom Faggus and his horse, Winnie; sisters, Annie and Lizzie; beloved mother; Jeremy Stickles, King’s officer; Uncle Ben (Reuben) and his granddaughter, Ruth Huckabuck; Gwenny Carfax, the little maid of Lorna; John Fry, John’s lazy worker full of character). Beautiful descriptions of nature – meadows, farms, flowers, rivers, ocean – and people. Great adventure story and love story. Good conquers evil. Good is so very good – evil is so very evil, but nothing graphic. LOVED IT!!!