The Blackmore Country

The Blackmore Country

The Blackmore Country having achieved a second edition, it is proper to state that it is now presented to the public substantially in the same form as in the original issue. Advantage, however, has been taken of a friendly critique by Mr Arthur Smyth to effect some revision. Mr Smyth, who was well acquainted with the Blackmore family, and indeed a distant relation, is rather perplexed at the assertion that the novelists father was a poor man; but he certainly passed for such at Culmstock, and the fact that he took pupils, in addition to serving his poor cure, tends to show that he was by no means too well off. In my Early Associations of Archbishop Temple it is stated with reference to the restoration of Culmstock Church: Nobody knew from what source Mr Blackmore obtained the necessary funds, but it was supposed that his wifes relations were rich. This is, in a sense, confirmed by Mr Smyth, who says that Mr Turberville, R. D. Blackmores elder brother, inherited considerable property from his mother; but, when I wrote the passage above quoted, I was not aware that John Blackmore was married twice. His first wife, who died three years after their{viii} marriage, and before John Blackmore set foot in Culmstock, may not have been in possession of means, although Turbervilles estateMr Smyth says, his will was proved for (I believe) 20,000may have been derived from his maternal connections. Mr Snowden Ward, in his Introduction to the Doone-land edition of Lorna Doone, informs us regarding R. D. Blackmore, also a son of this lady: A bequest from the Rev. H. Hay Knight, his mothers brother, put an end to his financial worries. Nevertheless, it may be doubted whether the novelist was ever in even comparative affluence. He himself publicly declared that he lost more than he gained from market-gardeninghe was, by the way, a F.R.H.S.and the late Rev. D. M. Owen, Blackmores old schoolfellow, with whom he maintained a lifelong correspondence, told me that he was constantly complaining of his pecuniary limitations. Mr Owens reply was that he had no excuse; he had only to write another Lorna Doone to replenish his treasury to the brim. When, also, he was asked for a subscription to the Culmstock flower show, Blackmore declined, assigning as the reason that he couldnt afford it. This does not look like comparative affluence. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 53478
Author: Snell, F. J. (Frederick John)
Release Date: Nov 8, 2016
Format: eBook
Language: English