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Lothair
"I remember him a little boy," said the duchess, "a pretty little boy, but very shy. His mother brought him to us one day. She was a dear friend of mine; you know she was one of my bridesmaids?" "And you have never seen him since, mamma?" inquired a married daughter, who looked like the younger sister of her mother. "Never; he was an orphan shortly after; I have often reproached myself, but it is so difficult to see boys. Then, he never went to school, but was brought up in the Highlands with a rather savage uncle; and if he and Bertram had not become friends at Christchurch, I do not well see how we ever could have known him." These remarks were made in the morning-room of Brentham, where the mistress of the mansion sat surrounded by her daughters, all occupied with various works. One knitted a purse, another adorned a slipper a third emblazoned a page. Beautiful forms in counsel leaned over frames embroidery, while two fair sisters more remote occasionally burst into melody as they tried the passages of a new air, which had been dedicated to them in the manuscript of some devoted friend.
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1870
About the author
Benjamin Disraeli
1,070 books179 followersOne of the great British politicians of the nineteenth century, Disraeli served twice as Tory Prime Minister (1868 and 1874 - 1880) and was also a prominent figure in opposition. He is most famous today for the bitter hatred between himself and his political rival William Gladstone. He enjoyed the favour of Queen Victoria, who shared his dislike of Gladstone. His most significant political achievements are the 1867 Reform Act, in which he was instrumental, and the creation of the modern Conservative Party, with which he is credited. His literary career was greatly overshadowed by his parliamentary ambitions ('climbing the greasy pole'), but includes both romances and political novels.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 29, 2014
A delightful picture of gardenesque planting can be found in Disraeli's high-flown romantic novel, Lothair; written in 1870, it describes a park planted in about 1800 with all the trees as specimens, no longer in the belts and clumps of Capability Brown.
Page 66 The Pleasure Garden An Illustrated History of British Gardening
Page 66 The Pleasure Garden An Illustrated History of British Gardening
June 9, 2013
If you ever wanted to understand romanticism, Lothair is your book! The title character epitomizes the young romantic hero. Lothair is born into wealth but raised by two guardians, a Scottish protestant and an Anglican priest converted to Roman Catholicism, who subsequently was elevated to cardinal. A good part of the book chronicles the tussle over Lothair's religious loyalties as he comes into his majority and assumes his vast inheritance. Mix this up with Lothair's own religious sentiments and his longings for the ideal woman, which he fixes upon Theodora, who enlists him with the anti-Catholic partisans seeking to overthrow the Vatican, and you have the romanticist novel.
The book stretches credulity at points after Lothair is wounded and tended by a Catholic family after a purported visitation to the daughter by the virgin Mary leads to Lothair's miraculous recovery. The attempts to use Lothair for Romanist propaganda appear nothing short of cult-like. Behind the scenes are the saner elements of British society, his financial advisor and soliciter, Putney Giles, his high society contemporaries, and the Lady Corisande.
I will not spoil the conclusion of this tug of war between extremist, religious, and conservative elements. Personally, I thought Disraeli's poltical novels more interesting, which makes sense given his career in Parliament. So I will only give this 3 stars.
The book stretches credulity at points after Lothair is wounded and tended by a Catholic family after a purported visitation to the daughter by the virgin Mary leads to Lothair's miraculous recovery. The attempts to use Lothair for Romanist propaganda appear nothing short of cult-like. Behind the scenes are the saner elements of British society, his financial advisor and soliciter, Putney Giles, his high society contemporaries, and the Lady Corisande.
I will not spoil the conclusion of this tug of war between extremist, religious, and conservative elements. Personally, I thought Disraeli's poltical novels more interesting, which makes sense given his career in Parliament. So I will only give this 3 stars.
May 29, 2007
Expected more from a literary piece created by the Right Honorable Benjamin Disraeli, but still worth reading - at least to savor and appreciate a sample of his style.
May 26, 2011
19th century romance about the coming of age of the hero, Lothair. Very psychological; the author provides an amazingly prescient analysis of the main character and his times.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews