Virginians

Thackeray William Makepeace

Description

The author of Vanity Fair focuses his attention on the American Revolutionary War in the sprawling epic The Virginians: A Tale of the Last Century. The novel follows the trials and tribulations of twin brothers George and Harry Warrington whose personal lives intrude on their decision to fight in the war effort.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 avril 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775452379
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE VIRGINIANS
A TALE OF THE LAST CENTURY
* * *
WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY
 
*

The Virginians A Tale of the Last Century First published in 1857 ISBN 978-1-775452-37-9 © 2011 The Floating Press While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter I - In Which One of the Virginians Visits Home Chapter II - In Which Harry Has to Pay for His Supper Chapter III - The Esmonds in Virginia Chapter IV - In Which Harry Finds a New Relative Chapter V - Family Jars Chapter VI - The Virginians Begin to See the World Chapter VII - Preparations for War Chapter VIII - In Which George Suffers from a Common Disease Chapter IX - Hospitalities Chapter X - A Hot Afternoon Chapter XI - Wherein the Two Georges Prepare for Blood Chapter XII - News from the Camp Chapter XIII - Profitless Quest Chapter XIV - Harry in England Chapter XV - A Sunday at Castlewood Chapter XVI - In Which Gumbo Shows Skill with the Old English Weapon Chapter XVII - On the Scent Chapter XVIII - An Old Story Chapter XIX - Containing Both Love and Luck Chapter XX - Facilis Descensus Chapter XXI - Samaritans Chapter XXII - In Hospital Chapter XXIII - Holidays Chapter XXIV - From Oakhurst to Tunbridge Chapter XXV - New Acquaintances Chapter XXVI - In Which We Are at a Very Great Distance from Oakhurst Chapter XXVII - Plenus Opus Aleae Chapter XXVIII - The Way of the World Chapter XXIX - In Which Harry Continues to Enjoy Otium Sine Dignitate Chapter XXX - Contains a Letter to Virginia Chapter XXXI - The Bear and the Leader Chapter XXXII - In Which a Family Coach is Ordered Chapter XXXIII - Contains a Soliloquy by Hester Chapter XXXIV - In Which Mr. Warrington Treats the Company with Tea and aBall Chapter XXXV - Entanglements Chapter XXXVI - Which Seems to Mean Mischief Chapter XXXVII - In Which Various Matches Are Fought Chapter XXXVIII - Sampson and the Philistines Chapter XXXIX - Harry to the Rescue Chapter XL - In Which Harry Pays Off an Old Debt, and Incurs Some NewOnes Chapter XLI - Rake's Progress Chapter XLII - Fortunatus Nimium Chapter XLIII - In Which Harry Flies High Chapter XLIV - Contains What Might, Perhaps, Have Been Expected Chapter XLV - In Which Harry Finds Two Uncles Chapter XLVI - Chains and Slavery Chapter XLVII - Visitors in Trouble Chapter XLVIII - An Apparition Chapter XLIX - Friends in Need Chapter L - Contains a Great Deal of the Finest Morality Chapter LI - Conticuere Omnes Chapter LII - Intentique Ora Tenebant Chapter LIII - Where We Remain at the Court End of the Town Chapter LIV - During Which Harry Sits Smoking His Pipe at Home Chapter LV - Between Brothers Chapter LVI - Ariadne Chapter LVII - In Which Mr. Harry's Nose Continues to Be Put Out of Joint Chapter LVIII - Where We Do What Cats May Do Chapter LIX - In Which We Are Treated to a Play Chapter LX - Which Treats of Macbeth, a Supper, and a Pretty Kettle ofFish Chapter LXI - In Which the Prince Marches Up the Hill and Down Again Chapter LXII - Arma Virumque Chapter LXIII - Melpomene Chapter LXIV - In Which Harry Lives to Fight Another Day Chapter LXV - Soldier's Return Chapter LXVI - In Which We Go a-Courting Chapter LXVII - In Which a Tragedy is Acted, and Two More Are Begun Chapter LXVIII - In Which Harry Goes Westward Chapter LXIX - A Little Innocent Chapter LXX - In Which Cupid Plays a Considerable Part Chapter LXXI - White Favours Chapter LXXII - (From the Warrington Ms.) In Which My Lady is on the Topof the Ladder Chapter LXXIII - We Keep Christmas at Castlewood 1759 Chapter LXXIV - News from Canada Chapter LXXV - The Course of True Love Chapter LXXVI - Informs Us How Mr. Warrington Jumped into a Landau Chapter LXXVII - And How Everybody Got Out Again Chapter LXXVIII - Pyramus and Thisbe Chapter LXXIX - Containing Both Comedy and Tragedy Chapter LXXX - Pocahontas Chapter LXXXI - Res Angusta Domi Chapter LXXXII - Miles's Moidore Chapter LXXXIII - Troubles and Consolations Chapter LXXXIV - In Which Harry Submits to the Common Lot Chapter LXXXV - Inveni Portum Chapter LXXXVI - At Home Chapter LXXXVII - The Last of God Save the King Chapter LXXXVIII - Yankee Doodle Comes to Town Chapter LXXXIX - A Colonel Without a Regiment Chapter XC - In Which We Both Fight and Run Away Chapter XCI - Satis Pugnae Chapter XCII - Under Vine and Fig-Tree Endnotes
*
TO SIR HENRY MADISON, Chief Justice of Madras, this book is inscribed by an affectionate old friend.
London, September 7, 1859.
Chapter I - In Which One of the Virginians Visits Home
*
On the library wall of one of the most famous writers of America, therehang two crossed swords, which his relatives wore in the great War ofIndependence. The one sword was gallantly drawn in the service ofthe king, the other was the weapon of a brave and honoured republicansoldier. The possessor of the harmless trophy has earned for himself aname alike honoured in his ancestors' country and his own, where geniussuch as his has always a peaceful welcome.
The ensuing history reminds me of yonder swords in the historian's studyat Boston. In the Revolutionary War, the subjects of this story, nativesof America, and children of the Old Dominion, found themselves engagedon different sides in the quarrel, coming together peaceably at itsconclusion, as brethren should, their love ever having materiallydiminished, however angrily the contest divided them. The colonel inscarlet, and the general in blue and buff, hang side by side in thewainscoted parlour of the Warringtons, in England, where a descendantof one of the brothers has shown their portraits to me, with many ofthe letters which they wrote, and the books and papers which belongedto them. In the Warrington family, and to distinguish them from otherpersonages of that respectable race, these effigies have always goneby the name of "The Virginians"; by which name their memoirs arechristened.
They both of them passed much time in Europe. They lived just on theverge of that Old World from which we are drifting away so swiftly. Theywere familiar with many varieties of men and fortune. Their lot broughtthem into contact with personages of whom we read only in books, whoseem alive, as I read in the Virginians' letters regarding them, whosevoices I almost fancy I hear, as I read the yellow pages written scoresof years since, blotted with the boyish tears of disappointed passion,dutifully despatched after famous balls and ceremonies of the grand OldWorld, scribbled by camp-fires, or out of prison; nay, there is one thathas a bullet through it, and of which a greater portion of the text isblotted out with the blood of the bearer.
These letters had probably never been preserved, but for theaffectionate thrift of one person, to whom they never failed in theirdutiful correspondence. Their mother kept all her sons' letters, fromthe very first, in which Henry, the younger of the twins, sends hislove to his brother, then ill of a sprain at his grandfather's house ofCastlewood, in Virginia, and thanks his grandpapa for a horse which herides with his tutor, down to the last, "from my beloved son," whichreached her but a few hours before her death. The venerable lady nevervisited Europe, save once with her parents in the reign of George theSecond; took refuge in Richmond when the house of Castlewood was burneddown during the war; and was called Madam Esmond ever after that event;never caring much for the name or family of Warrington, which she heldin very slight estimation as compared to her own.
The letters of the Virginians, as the reader will presently see, fromspecimens to be shown to him, are by no means full. They are hintsrather than descriptions—indications and outlines chiefly: it may be,that the present writer has mistaken the forms, and filled in the colourwrongly: but, poring over the documents, I have tried to imagine thesituation of the writer, where he was, and by what persons surrounded. Ihave drawn the figures as I fancied they were; set down conversationsas I think I might have heard them; and so, to the best of my ability,endeavoured to revivify the bygone times and people. With what successthe task has been accomplished, with what profit or amusement tohimself, the kind reader will please to determine.
One summer morning in the year 1756, and in the reign of his MajestyKing George the Second, the Young Rachel, Virginian ship, Edward Franksmaster, came up the Avon river on her happy return from her annualvoyage to the Potomac. She proceeded to Bristol with the tide, andmoored in the stream as near as possible to Trail's wharf, to which shewas consigned. Mr. Trail, her part owner, who could survey his ship fromhis counting-house windows, straightway took boat and came up her side.The owner of the Young Rachel, a large grave man in his own hair, and ofa demure aspect, gave the hand of welcome to Captain Franks, who stoodon his deck, and congratulated the captain upon the speedy and fortunatevoyage which he had made. And, remarking that we ought to be thankfulto Heaven for its mercies, he proceeded presently to business by askingparticulars relative to cargo and passengers.
Franks was a pleasant man, who loved a joke. "We have," says he, "butyonder ugly negro boy, who is fetching the trunks, and a passenger whohas the state cabin to himself."
Mr. Trail looked as if he would have preferred more mercies from Heaven."Confound you, Franks, and your luck! The Duke William, which came inlast week, brought fourteen, and she is not half of our tonnage."
"And this passenger, who h