| This blog explores social attitudes in Jane Austen's time, discusses her novels, reviews forgotten 18th century novels, and throws some occasional shade at the modern academy. The introductory post is here. My "six simple questions for academics" post is here. |
CMP#202 A Double Romeo and Juliet Regency Plot, circa 1813
The Sons of the Viscount and the Daughters of the Earl came out at the same time as Pride and Prejudice but Austen's fresh, witty masterwork feels like it comes from a different era.
Selina Davenport's novel is a four-volume paean to traditional themes (filial obedience/filial tyranny), conventional heroine behaviour (fainting and weeping), metaphor-laden prose (“smile of expectation” and “the sigh of parental anxiety”) and trite descriptions ("odoriferous shrubs," "umbrageous trees"). But it never received a review when it came out, which must have been disappointing for the author, and I thought I could blog as I read and post my predictions, to see if I was right about where the story was going. With a title like the Sons of the Viscount and the Daughters of the Earl (hereinafter SofVatDofE), I imagine we have a story that was marketed to the gentry and the working classes, all about "the dissipations of the fashionable world," so here we go with volume one...
The main characters are two teenage sisters, the lively and vain Lady Elvira and the sweet and pensive Lady Angeline, daughters of the late Earl Fortescue. They live on one side of the lake. On the other side of the lake is the dwelling of Viscount De Courci, who has two sons, the lively and impulsive Reginald and the intelligent and thoughtful Henry, plus one daughter, the lovely young Cecil. Cecil is named after her deceased aunt, who was the victim of a tragedy that led to an exceedingly bitter family feud, which I'll get back to. To assist you with following along with the plot, I have created a family tree of the main characters beneath the break....
Selina Davenport's novel is a four-volume paean to traditional themes (filial obedience/filial tyranny), conventional heroine behaviour (fainting and weeping), metaphor-laden prose (“smile of expectation” and “the sigh of parental anxiety”) and trite descriptions ("odoriferous shrubs," "umbrageous trees"). But it never received a review when it came out, which must have been disappointing for the author, and I thought I could blog as I read and post my predictions, to see if I was right about where the story was going. With a title like the Sons of the Viscount and the Daughters of the Earl (hereinafter SofVatDofE), I imagine we have a story that was marketed to the gentry and the working classes, all about "the dissipations of the fashionable world," so here we go with volume one...
The main characters are two teenage sisters, the lively and vain Lady Elvira and the sweet and pensive Lady Angeline, daughters of the late Earl Fortescue. They live on one side of the lake. On the other side of the lake is the dwelling of Viscount De Courci, who has two sons, the lively and impulsive Reginald and the intelligent and thoughtful Henry, plus one daughter, the lovely young Cecil. Cecil is named after her deceased aunt, who was the victim of a tragedy that led to an exceedingly bitter family feud, which I'll get back to. To assist you with following along with the plot, I have created a family tree of the main characters beneath the break....
Elvira and Angeline De Courci have spent their teen years at the castle, raised by a maternal aunt and a governess. Elvira is panting to leave the countryside and plunge into the social life in London. The retiring Angeline trembles at the thought, which is how you know she's the true heroine of the two sisters. “I prefer the beauties of nature to all the boasted amusements of the metropolis that I have heard of so much.”
Meanwhile, they roam around their property and sail their boat on the lake, singing Italian arias.
The Fortescue family on the other side of the lake haven't lived at their country home since the tragic events of the previous generation. One fatal day, the Viscount returns with his two sons to get the Abbey fitted up for habitation again. But he has one very stern command for his sons...
Meanwhile, they roam around their property and sail their boat on the lake, singing Italian arias.
The Fortescue family on the other side of the lake haven't lived at their country home since the tragic events of the previous generation. One fatal day, the Viscount returns with his two sons to get the Abbey fitted up for habitation again. But he has one very stern command for his sons...
Guide to the Family Tree
Elvira and Angeline's parents are dead, and the de Courci title is passed to their uncle Reginald, a widower with an adult son. Their aunt Emma is a widow with an adult son. On the Fortescue side, Sidney and Henry's father is alive, no females of that older generation survive and they have an orphaned cousin Lucinda. Both dads had star-crossed loves in their youth. Dotted lines represent thwarted relationships. Curved lines represent marriage. colored lines represent lines of succession of titles.
Elvira and Angeline's parents are dead, and the de Courci title is passed to their uncle Reginald, a widower with an adult son. Their aunt Emma is a widow with an adult son. On the Fortescue side, Sidney and Henry's father is alive, no females of that older generation survive and they have an orphaned cousin Lucinda. Both dads had star-crossed loves in their youth. Dotted lines represent thwarted relationships. Curved lines represent marriage. colored lines represent lines of succession of titles.
Viscount Fortescue's implacable resentment
Dad Fortescue was in love with Emma, the fair daughter of the De Courci family, while her brother the Earl was in love with Cecil, his incomparably lovely sister. One day, while going across the bridge that crossed the lake to visit Emma, he overheard Cecil weeping and remonstrating with her fiancée for taking her virtue before her marriage. “Oh! De Courci, I can never become your wife; every look, every word of displeasure [after marriage], I should attribute to your recollection of my past weakness…. Had you really loved as you profess, you would not have ruined my peace of mind… you would have died before you suffered your own passion to violate the delicacy of mine.”
Horrified, thunderstruck, the outraged brother instantly went back and grabbed his dueling pistols and returned to call De Courci out. Both men survived (the De Courci in question is the late father of Elvira and Angeline), but both marriages were called off. Cecil died, presumably of shame, and Emma was married off to an Irish nobleman. Viscount Fortescue and Earl De Courci married other women, who are now dead. The Viscount wants to perpetuate the enmity between the families, so he orders his sons to hate the De Courcis forever and on no account attempt to meet the two lovely girls on the other side of the lake. Henry promises obedience but his older brother sneaks off to meet with the captivating Lady Elvira at every opportunity. Then Henry visits the the girls to urge everybody to obey Viscount De Courci, as a matter of filial obedience.
Sidney can't keep away, however, and he asks Elvira to elope with him. They are minutes away from heading for Scotland when Henry discovers the plot and pleads with Elvira to think twice. Angeline is highly impressed with Henry's firm principles and his adherence to filial obedience. Henry and Angeline express their admiration for each other by grasping and kissing each other's hands, and sometimes dropping a tear. Well, you know where that leads. Angeline realizes she's falling for Henry, and he likewise. Unfortunately, he has already consented to marry his cousin Lucinda and the wedding is imminent. He loves Lucinda like a brother and he fears the flighty girl is not a good match for him but filial obedience comes first.
Sidney and Elvira pledge eternal devotion to each other but Elvira has not yet had a chance to display herself in London and collect admirers so who can blame her if she wants to do some flirting and break some hearts before she settles down. The girls travel to London to be presented at court.
Dad Fortescue was in love with Emma, the fair daughter of the De Courci family, while her brother the Earl was in love with Cecil, his incomparably lovely sister. One day, while going across the bridge that crossed the lake to visit Emma, he overheard Cecil weeping and remonstrating with her fiancée for taking her virtue before her marriage. “Oh! De Courci, I can never become your wife; every look, every word of displeasure [after marriage], I should attribute to your recollection of my past weakness…. Had you really loved as you profess, you would not have ruined my peace of mind… you would have died before you suffered your own passion to violate the delicacy of mine.”
Horrified, thunderstruck, the outraged brother instantly went back and grabbed his dueling pistols and returned to call De Courci out. Both men survived (the De Courci in question is the late father of Elvira and Angeline), but both marriages were called off. Cecil died, presumably of shame, and Emma was married off to an Irish nobleman. Viscount Fortescue and Earl De Courci married other women, who are now dead. The Viscount wants to perpetuate the enmity between the families, so he orders his sons to hate the De Courcis forever and on no account attempt to meet the two lovely girls on the other side of the lake. Henry promises obedience but his older brother sneaks off to meet with the captivating Lady Elvira at every opportunity. Then Henry visits the the girls to urge everybody to obey Viscount De Courci, as a matter of filial obedience.
Sidney can't keep away, however, and he asks Elvira to elope with him. They are minutes away from heading for Scotland when Henry discovers the plot and pleads with Elvira to think twice. Angeline is highly impressed with Henry's firm principles and his adherence to filial obedience. Henry and Angeline express their admiration for each other by grasping and kissing each other's hands, and sometimes dropping a tear. Well, you know where that leads. Angeline realizes she's falling for Henry, and he likewise. Unfortunately, he has already consented to marry his cousin Lucinda and the wedding is imminent. He loves Lucinda like a brother and he fears the flighty girl is not a good match for him but filial obedience comes first.
Sidney and Elvira pledge eternal devotion to each other but Elvira has not yet had a chance to display herself in London and collect admirers so who can blame her if she wants to do some flirting and break some hearts before she settles down. The girls travel to London to be presented at court.
Regency court dress Kissing cousins
Emma De Courci as was, now Lady Desmond, as you'll recall, had to break it off with Viscount Fortescue after her brother ruined the honour of Cecil Fortescue. Emma is now widowed and back in England with her son Robert. Her surviving brother, uncle to Robert and the de Courci girls, thinks the cousins should be matched up--Robert with Angeline and his own son with Elvira. As for the Fortescues, we have Henry pledged to his first cousin Lucinda. So that's three cousin marriages in prospect.
No last-minute event occurs to halt the marriage of Henry and Lucinda. The De Courcis aren't at the wedding, of course, because of the feud. Then it's time for the girls in both families to order the expensive and ridiculously ugly dresses requisite for being presented at court. These dresses featured hoops right up to the high-waisted bodice. The ensemble was topped with huge ostrich feathers. Angeline would like to decorate her dress with yellow laburnum flowers but--heavens no! It was under the laburnum tree by the lake where her late father and Henry's father fought their duel. She wears silk apple blossoms instead. When Angeline spots Henry and his bride Lucinda at the Queen's reception, she faints into the arms of her cousin Robert, Lord Desmond. Elvira and Sidney cast some yearning looks at each other, but Elvira thoroughly enjoys being proclaimed the belle of the season.
Emma De Courci as was, now Lady Desmond, as you'll recall, had to break it off with Viscount Fortescue after her brother ruined the honour of Cecil Fortescue. Emma is now widowed and back in England with her son Robert. Her surviving brother, uncle to Robert and the de Courci girls, thinks the cousins should be matched up--Robert with Angeline and his own son with Elvira. As for the Fortescues, we have Henry pledged to his first cousin Lucinda. So that's three cousin marriages in prospect.
No last-minute event occurs to halt the marriage of Henry and Lucinda. The De Courcis aren't at the wedding, of course, because of the feud. Then it's time for the girls in both families to order the expensive and ridiculously ugly dresses requisite for being presented at court. These dresses featured hoops right up to the high-waisted bodice. The ensemble was topped with huge ostrich feathers. Angeline would like to decorate her dress with yellow laburnum flowers but--heavens no! It was under the laburnum tree by the lake where her late father and Henry's father fought their duel. She wears silk apple blossoms instead. When Angeline spots Henry and his bride Lucinda at the Queen's reception, she faints into the arms of her cousin Robert, Lord Desmond. Elvira and Sidney cast some yearning looks at each other, but Elvira thoroughly enjoys being proclaimed the belle of the season.
Another thwarted match-up
It turns out cousin Reginald cannot marry Elvira because he is hiding a secret from his father. Out at their country estate, there lives a Mrs. Evelyn, a widow of good family with a charming daughter. In fact, Mary's so charming that Uncle De Courci propositioned her to be his mistress, since she was not good enough to be his wife. Mary indignantly turned him down. But his son Reginald fell in love with her and persuaded her to secretly marry him. When dad finds out, he casts Reginald off. Elvira and Angelina promise to try and bring about a family reconciliation.
So, will Reginald and Mary's marriage be happy? He married without his father's permission. Will Henry and Lucinda's marriage be happy? We're getting all kinds of foreshadowing that it won't be. How about Sidney and Elvira? It looks like Elvira will test Sidney's patience in London, and of course, if his dad finds out about their secret pledge, he will cast Sidney off.
Speaking of foreshadowing, what about this: Henry and his wife agree to bring his sister Cecil’s friend, Julia Aveland, to London with the family. “The fond parents were satisfied with this assurance, and beheld their blooming child quit her paternal roof, with the utmost confidence of seeing her return safe, happy, and as artless as when she left it.” Hmmm.
Julia, btw, is not anybody's cousin, unless I missed something.
Moral so far: elopement is bad, secret marriages are bad, but parental tyranny is also bad. And I can't help wondering if Viscount Fortescue somehow misunderstood the conversation between his late sister and her fiancée. Maybe she hadn't strayed from virtue after all? Is there an innocent explanation? Has this all been a tragic and needless misunderstanding brought about by honour culture?
Also coming up--masquerade ball!
It turns out cousin Reginald cannot marry Elvira because he is hiding a secret from his father. Out at their country estate, there lives a Mrs. Evelyn, a widow of good family with a charming daughter. In fact, Mary's so charming that Uncle De Courci propositioned her to be his mistress, since she was not good enough to be his wife. Mary indignantly turned him down. But his son Reginald fell in love with her and persuaded her to secretly marry him. When dad finds out, he casts Reginald off. Elvira and Angelina promise to try and bring about a family reconciliation.
So, will Reginald and Mary's marriage be happy? He married without his father's permission. Will Henry and Lucinda's marriage be happy? We're getting all kinds of foreshadowing that it won't be. How about Sidney and Elvira? It looks like Elvira will test Sidney's patience in London, and of course, if his dad finds out about their secret pledge, he will cast Sidney off.
Speaking of foreshadowing, what about this: Henry and his wife agree to bring his sister Cecil’s friend, Julia Aveland, to London with the family. “The fond parents were satisfied with this assurance, and beheld their blooming child quit her paternal roof, with the utmost confidence of seeing her return safe, happy, and as artless as when she left it.” Hmmm.
Julia, btw, is not anybody's cousin, unless I missed something.
Moral so far: elopement is bad, secret marriages are bad, but parental tyranny is also bad. And I can't help wondering if Viscount Fortescue somehow misunderstood the conversation between his late sister and her fiancée. Maybe she hadn't strayed from virtue after all? Is there an innocent explanation? Has this all been a tragic and needless misunderstanding brought about by honour culture?
Also coming up--masquerade ball!
Cousin Marriage, French Names, and Orphans
A. Kuper says: “Novels [of the time] routinely featured romances and marriages between cousins. These were generally treated as unproblematic, in principle at least, although the plot was bound to introduce extraneous obstacles of character or fortune.”
It's not at all surprising that first cousins got married in Georgian and Regency England to consolidate family estates. On the other hand, Elvira declares she will not dance with her cousin Robert (even if he is an Irish peer) when she can get any other partner. And she can.
Note that, like Jane Austen, Selina Davenport uses real, French-sounding names of British gentility dating back to the Norman warlords, such as the de Bourghs and the de Courcys, who were rewarded with lands and titles by William the Conqueror. At the time of the book, there was an Earl Fortescue. Using the names of the Anglo-Norman nobility accurately denotes the class of the characters. You couldn't call them Turner or Fisher or Smith. Using a French-sounding name is not a covert message that we should do to our aristocracy what the French did to theirs, as has been suggested. Davenport also uses made-up names for minor characters such as Lady Aimhigh, a society match-making mama.
I recently heard an academic on a podcast opining that Emma is about trauma and grief because Emma Woodhouse lost her mother. (The narrator tells us Emma barely remembers her mother). As SotVatDotE and hundreds of other novels demonstrate, motherless-ness is typical. Selina Davenport wipes every mother but one from the board before she begins her tale. I put all of those dead spouses in the family tree chart to illustrate the point. Just as in Emma, the young people are either full or half orphans. with higher maternal mortality rates, and higher mortality rates generally, there were a great many more real-life orphans in Regency England, of all classes and conditions, and these orphans were just expected to get on with their lives.
A. Kuper says: “Novels [of the time] routinely featured romances and marriages between cousins. These were generally treated as unproblematic, in principle at least, although the plot was bound to introduce extraneous obstacles of character or fortune.”
It's not at all surprising that first cousins got married in Georgian and Regency England to consolidate family estates. On the other hand, Elvira declares she will not dance with her cousin Robert (even if he is an Irish peer) when she can get any other partner. And she can.
Note that, like Jane Austen, Selina Davenport uses real, French-sounding names of British gentility dating back to the Norman warlords, such as the de Bourghs and the de Courcys, who were rewarded with lands and titles by William the Conqueror. At the time of the book, there was an Earl Fortescue. Using the names of the Anglo-Norman nobility accurately denotes the class of the characters. You couldn't call them Turner or Fisher or Smith. Using a French-sounding name is not a covert message that we should do to our aristocracy what the French did to theirs, as has been suggested. Davenport also uses made-up names for minor characters such as Lady Aimhigh, a society match-making mama.
I recently heard an academic on a podcast opining that Emma is about trauma and grief because Emma Woodhouse lost her mother. (The narrator tells us Emma barely remembers her mother). As SotVatDotE and hundreds of other novels demonstrate, motherless-ness is typical. Selina Davenport wipes every mother but one from the board before she begins her tale. I put all of those dead spouses in the family tree chart to illustrate the point. Just as in Emma, the young people are either full or half orphans. with higher maternal mortality rates, and higher mortality rates generally, there were a great many more real-life orphans in Regency England, of all classes and conditions, and these orphans were just expected to get on with their lives.
Previous post: Munster Abbey Next post: Volume II of SotVatDotE
Pride and Prejudice advertised in the same list as SofVatDofE.
| Kuper, A. Incest and influence: the private life of bourgeois England. 2009. Jenny DiPlacidi discusses this novel and Georgian and Regency attitudes around cousin marriage in "More than just kissing: Cousins and the changing status of family". Gothic incest. Manchester University Press, 2018. This YouTube fashion expert talks about the hideousness of the Regency Court Dress. |
RSS Feed