G.P.R. James's 'The Robber' 1838

 

Longman, Orme...first edition - 1838

I am becoming increasingly partial to G.P.R. James; like Scott and other novelists of the early/mid 19th century, he wafts me away from this awful 21st century to a period I am so much more comfortable with. I am totally out of sympathy with all the activist 'protest' movements that are increasingly thrust in our faces by both the print and audio visual media. 

The Robber is not as enthralling a story as The Smuggler, but I still enjoyed it. Although there are no dates to hang a definite period on, it is either set in William and Mary's reign or Queen Anne's (the late 17th or early 18th century). The 'Robber' of the title is often 'off screen', but he certainly affects the storyline and makes a great end in the final pages. More central to the plot is his friend Harry Langford, who not only woos Alice, the comely daughter of Sir Walter Herbert, but carries with him a whiff of mysterious origins. Far be it from me to deliver spoiler alerts, but I guessed fairly early 

on in the tale who was likely to be. James draws his typical pen picture of the heroine: she was, certainly, very beautiful, and the beauty of a very peculiar cast. It was the bright and sunshiny, united with the deep and touching. Her skin was clear, and exquisitely fair; her lips full, but beautifully formed; the brow broad and white; and the eyes of that soft peculiar hazel, which, when fringed with long black lashes, perhaps is more expressive than any other colour. The hair, which was very  full and luxuriant, was of a brown - several shades lighter than Langford's own - soft and glossy as silk, and catching a golden gleam in all the prominent lights. She was not tall, but her form was perfectly well proportioned, and every full and rounded limb was replete with grace and symmetry. No wonder young Langford is smitten from the first. I copied the portrait James drew in full, as it is another example of him giving women their full share of the limelight, not just by commenting on their appearance but also usually ensuring that they play important roles in his tales.

James also pens a realistic picture of Langford himself, often spending several paragraphs explaining the hero's moods, strengths and weaknesses. He is particularly good at the relationship which develops, unevenly, between Langford and his real father and between Langford and his mercurial half-brother. The old Earl of Danemore is a fascinating character, whose present unpleasant behaviour gradually becomes understandable as his 'backstory' emerges. The minor characters all 'make sense' as well. Where the author grates is in his regular musings on the parallels between Nature - especially the weather or scenery - and human behaviour and endeavour. This is where the pruning shears could be most effective. However, as I believe I have remarked in earlier Blogs about Sir Walter Scott's extraneous conceits, it is part and parcel of the man - and it rarely bothers me!

I have just purchased another James three decker, thanks to a generous bookseller knocking £35 off the marked price. It is The Gipsy, published in 1835, three years before The Robber. It is of some note, that Robert Louis Stevenson, writing from Saranac in February 1888 to a Mr. E.L. Burlingame, asked: Will you send me (from the library) some of the works of my dear old G.P.R. James? With the following especially I desire to make or renew acquaintance: The Songster, The Gipsy, The Convict, The Stepmother, The Gentleman of the Old School, The Robber. Well, I soon will have read two works on R.L.S's list. Perhaps I should look out for The Convict!