Lorna Doone

By R.D. Blackmore

Book Overview

"Lorna Doone" is a sweeping historical romance and adventure set against the wild, rugged landscape of Exmoor in seventeenth-century England. The story follows the life of John Ridd, a humble farmer whose father was murdered by the notorious Doone clan-a family of aristocratic outlaws who live in a secluded valley and terrorize the surrounding countryside. Despite the deep-seated animosity between his family and the outlaws, John falls deeply in love with the beautiful and gentle Lorna Doone, whom he discovers is far more than just a member of the criminal gang.

As their forbidden romance blossoms, the narrative weaves together elements of folk legend, rural life, and significant historical events, including the Monmouth Rebellion and the Battle of Sedgemoor. John must navigate the complexities of loyalty, vengeance, and justice to win Lorna's hand and protect his home. Renowned for its vivid descriptions of the English countryside and its compelling portrayal of a man's journey toward maturity and heroism, "Lorna Doone" remains a cornerstone of classic English literature. This tale of passion and peril captures the enduring struggle between social duty and personal desire in a world torn apart by lawlessness and civil strife.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025811976
• ISBN13: 9781025811970
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 680 Pages
• Weight: 2.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 1.4" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

A Marvelous Romance and Historical Novel

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 Doon

Simply Wonderful

What an awesome tale. Written in the 19th century, but telling a tale about the late 1600's during the times of Charles II and James II. Our hero, John Ridd is a simple, albeit wise and honorable farmer who as a young lad meets Lorna Doone of the dreaded, evil outlaw family of higher born Doones, and it's love at first sight. There are lots of ups and downs and surprises, along with the author's gorgeous prose describing the english countryside and farmlife. You have to pay attention though, as none of the characters are wasted. What might seem as inconsequential events and characters earlier in the story are brought back in full circle to the tale, along with a great mystery about Lorna's past as the author slowly peels out the many layers of his story. Highly highly recommended. If you enjoy Thomas Hardy, Charlotte Bronte or Dickens this will probably be right up your alley.

Surprisingly Good

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.

a classic classic!

I have no idea how I ever missed this book before. Not only had I never read it, I can't honestly remember ever hearing about anyone else reading it either. The writing is luxurious; the story is compelling and the characters are full and richly drawn. Please read this book and recommend it to your friends; let's not let it fall into the has-been classics category!