The Romany Rye

The Romany Rye - A Sequel to 'Lavengro'

Lavengro and The Romany Rye are one book, though the former was published in 1851 and the latter not until 1857. After a slumber of six years the dingle re-awakes to life, Lavengros hammer shatters the stillness, and the blaze of his forge again lights up its shadows, while all the strange persons of the drama take up their parts at the point where the curtain had been so abruptly rung down. The post-chaise overturned in the last chapter of Lavengro is repaired in the first of this sequel, the Man in Black proceeds with his interrupted disquisition, and Borrow resumes his cold-blooded courtship of poor Isopel, playing with her feelings as a cat with a mouse. The dingle episode is divided equally between the two works; and had not Glorious John, after a series of peremptory notes from the author, at last consented to publish The Romany Rye to oblige Mr. Borrow, we had lost some of the most delightful scenes of which that enchanted spot was the theatre. What part of this narrative is Dichtung and what is Wahrheit has been a debated question. In his chapter on pseudo-critics in the appendix to the present book, Borrow denies that he ever called Lavengro an autobiography, or authorized any other person to call it so. But it had been advertised for some months as, Lavengro: an Autobiography; while as early as 1843 Borrow writes to Murray that he is engaged upon his life; and as late p. xivas 1862, in an account of himself written for Mr. John Longe of Norwich, Borrow says that in 1851 he published Lavengro, a work in which he gives an account of his early life. There is indeed no doubt that the earlier part of Lavengro is, in the main, a true history of the life and adventures of George Borrow, however embellished here or there with Borrovian touches; it is only of the truth of the occurrences just before and after leaving London that scepticism has been expressed. Borrows story, however, is so circumstantial that we should at least be able to discover whether this part of his history is credible and consistent. Plainly, the year when Borrow leaves London is 1825. Somewhat more than a year before, in March (or rather April) [0a] of the year of Byrons funeral, [0b] he had entered the Big City, a youth verging on manhood. In his preface to Lavengro he speaks of the time as embracing nearly the first quarter of the present century, and in The Romany Rye refers to having edited the Newgate Chronicle some months ago. [0c] We know also that his youthful contributions to literature ceased with his translation of Klingers Faustus, published on April 18, 1825. About this time, then, when Borrow was literally reduced to his last shilling, he describes himself as visiting a fair in the neighbourhood of London. He refuses a loan of 50 from Jasper Petulengro, and, returning homewards, notices in a publishers window a request for a tale or novel. Subsisting on bread and water, he writes in a week the Life of Joseph Sell, for which he receives 20, and twelve days after attending the fair leaves London. Passing through Salisbury, he travels northward and encamps in a dingle, where he is poisoned by his old enemy Mrs. Herne. Saved by the timely intervention of p. xva methodist preacher and his wife, he recovers on the following day (Sunday), and nine days later accompanies his friends to the Welsh border. Here he again meets Jasper, returning with him the greater part of the days journey, settling in Mumpers Dingle, where he is visited by his gypsy friends, four days before the Sunday upon which they all attend church. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 25071
Author: Borrow, George
Release Date: Apr 14, 2008
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Sampson, John, 1862-1931