Cover of an illustrated 1893 edition of Lorna Doone

Jan Ridd learns to fire his father's gun - from an 1893 illustrated edition

Lorna Doone, A Romance of Exmoor, is a novel by Richard Doddridge Blackmore. It was first published in 1869. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (715x1024, 131 KB) Lorna Doone - cover - Project Gutenberg eText 17460 From The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lorna Doone, by R. D. Blackmore From: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (715x1024, 131 KB) Lorna Doone - cover - Project Gutenberg eText 17460 From The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lorna Doone, by R. D. Blackmore From: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (546x824, 113 KB) Lorna Doone - Jan Ridd learns to fire a gun - Project Gutenberg eText 17460 From The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lorna Doone, by R. D. Blackmore From: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (546x824, 113 KB) Lorna Doone - Jan Ridd learns to fire a gun - Project Gutenberg eText 17460 From The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lorna Doone, by R. D. Blackmore From: http://www. ... A novel (from French nouvelle Italian novella, new) is an extended, generally fictional narrative in prose. ... Richard Doddridge Blackmore (June 7, 1825 - January 20, 1900), usually known as R. D. Blackmore, was one of the most famous English novelists of the his generation. ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Plot summary

The book is set in the 17th century in the region of Exmoor in Devon, England. John (or Jan) Ridd is the son of a respectable farmer who was murdered in cold blood by a member of the notorious Doone clan, a once-noble family now living in the isolated Doone Valley. Battling his desire for revenge, John also grows into a respectable farmer and continues to take good care of his mother and two sisters. He falls hopelessly in love with Lorna, a girl he meets quite by accident, who turns out to be not only the granddaughter of Sir Ensor Doone (lord of the Doones), but destined to marry (against her will) the impetuous, menacing, and now jealous heir of the Doone Valley, Carver Doone. Carver will let nothing get in the way of his marriage to Lorna, which he plans to force upon her once Sir Ensor dies and he comes into his inheritance. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Dunster Yarn Market (a covered market for the sale of local cloth, built in 1609) and Dunster Castle, Exmoor Exmoor National Park is a national park situated on the Bristol Channel coast of Devon and Somerset in South West England. ... Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ...

Sir Ensor dies, and Carver becomes lord of the Doones. John Ridd helps Lorna escape to his family's farm. Since Lorna is a member of the hated Doone clan, feelings are mixed toward her in the Ridd household, but she is nonetheless defended against the enraged Carver's retaliatory attack on the farm. A member of the Ridd household notices Lorna's necklace, a jewel that she was told by Sir Ensor belonged to her mother. Further investigation reveals the necklace belonged to a Lady Dugal, who was robbed and murdered in her carriage by a band of outlaws. Only her daughter had survived the attack. Evidently being the long lost girl in question, it becomes apparent that Lorna is in fact heiress to one of the largest fortunes in the country. She is required by law, but against her will, to return to London to become a ward of the King. Despite John and Lorna's love for one another, their marriage is out of the question.

King Charles II dies, and the Duke of Monmouth (the late King's illegitimate son) challenges Charles's brother James for the throne. The Doones, abandoning their plan to marry Lorna to Carver and claim her wealth, side with Monmouth in the hope of reclaiming their ancestral lands for their services. However, Monmouth is defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor, and all his associates are sought for treason. John Ridd is captured during the revolution. Innocent of all charges, he is taken to London by an old friend to clear his name. There, he is reunited with Lorna Doone (now Lorna Dugal), whose love for him has not diminished. When he thwarts an attack on the patriarch of Lorna's new family, John is granted a pardon and a title by the King and returns a free man to Exmoor. Charles II King of England, Scotland and Ireland Charles II (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 30 January 1649 (de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth James Crofts, later James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and of Buccleuch (April 9, 1649 – July 15, 1685) was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter, who had followed him into continental exile after... James II of England/VII of Scotland (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) became King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland on 6 February 1685, and Duke of Normandy on 31 December 1660. ... The Battle of Sedgemoor was fought on 6 July 1685. ... Traitor redirects here. ...

In the meantime, the surrounding communities have grown tired of the Doones and their depredations. Knowing the Doones better than any other man, John leads the attack on their land. Most of the Doone men are killed, but Carver Doone escapes, vowing revenge. After Lorna is granted her freedom to return to Exmoor and marry John, Carver bursts into the church during their wedding. He shoots Lorna and flees. Distraught and filled with blinding rage, John pursues and confronts Carver. A struggle ensues in which Carver is left sinking in a mire. Against his better judgement, John attempts to save Carver, but his help is rejected, and Carver dies. John returns to discover that Lorna is not dead, and after a period of anxious uncertainty, she survives.

Trivia

• One of the inspirations behind the plot is said to be the shooting of a young woman at a church in Chagford, Devon, in the 17th century. Unlike Lorna, she did not survive, but she is commemorated in the church.
• Lorna Doone was written by Blackmore to emulate the style of speech of the 17th century.
• The novel has inspired at least ten movies and miniseries.
• Named after the book or its title character, Lorna Doone is also the name of a shortbread cookie made by Nabisco. [1]
• A Marvel comic book character, Lorna Dane of X-Men, may have been named after the title character as well.

Location within the British Isles Chagford is a small town on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, in Devon, England, close to the River Teign. ... Shortbread rounds Shortbread is a type of biscuit (cookie) which is traditionally made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three parts plain white flour, although other ingredients like ground rice or cornflour are sometimes added to alter the texture. ... Nabisco logo Nabisco is a U.S.-based manufacturer of cookies and snacks, including brands such as Chips Ahoy!, Fig Newtons, Mallomars, Oreos, Ritz Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Triscuits, and Wheat Thins. ... Polaris Polaris Polaris Polaris (Lorna Dane) is a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, and a member of the X-Men. ... The X-Men are a group of comic book superheroes featured in Marvel Comics. ...

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Lorna Doone

• Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor, available freely at Project Gutenberg
• Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor, available freely at Project Gutenberg - a lavishly illustrated edition
• IMDb Listing of movies based on Lorna Doone
• HTML online text of Lorna Doone