Lorna Doone is an historical novel of high adventure set in the Southwest of England during the turbulent time of Monmouth's rebellion in 1685. It is also a moving love story told through the life of the young farmer John Ridd, as he grows to manhood determined to right the wrongs in his land, and to win the heart and hand of the beautiful Lorna Doone. Continuously in print since its first publication in 1869, Lorna Doone has remained perennially popular with a wide readership ever since.
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"I don't listen to many audiobooks, but this one is well worth it! Jonathan Keeble (narrator) does a splendid job of bringing to life the English dialect of the time period. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and could not wait to hear the fate of Lorna Doone!"
— Cori (5 out of 5 stars)
“Blackmore considered the novel a romance and studded it with the high adventure, dramatic set pieces, bloody villainy, and obstacles to love that characterize the genre.”
— Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature" Read this many years ago and just loved it. A great story with good characters and a great 'bad guy'. "
— Curlyhair, 2/14/2014" It was a good book but very long. It kind of took a while to get into but I liked it overall "
— Rayline, 2/11/2014" One of my favorite historical fiction/romance novels. I cheer for John Ridd as he fights the Doone's and cry over his heartbreaks--I haven't read this in over 40 yeards but I think I'll addd to the "to-read" just as comfort food. "
— Gretchen, 2/6/2014" I almost gave up on this book after the first few pages, because the dialect was so thick. But I persisted and ended up thoroughly enjoying the story. "
— Chad, 2/4/2014" Although interesting as a read I really really did not like the main characters and was dissatisfied with the story as a whole. Unexpectedly so. "
— Sarah, 1/31/2014" Possibly the most exciting novel I have ever read. Palpitation-inducing. "
— Alexandra, 1/23/2014" I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this classic Romeo and Juliet love story. It has some slow passages but is definitely worth reading. I especially enjoyed the narrator's self-deprecating humor and ironic insights to life. "
— Tryn, 1/15/2014" This is to represent the Classics Comics version I read back in the 50's. I never read the "real" book and likely never will. Date read is approximate. Never been to Exmoor but I have been to Exeter and passed the moor on the train from Plymouth to London. "
— Chris, 1/6/2014" very long, but very good. "
— Marci, 12/26/2013" Interesting story that I kind if wanted to have a bit more of a twist in the romance, and yet not. With two strong female characters and only one hero, how do you decide which one you want to win in the end? "
— Amber, 12/21/2013" Yes, it's long, but it's great story, and amazingly well written. It has humor and drama and a great sense of place. "
— Molly, 12/16/2013" I like this book more than I can say, and if pressed, I don't think I could say exactly why. I think the band of evil gypsys plays a big part in my enjoyment of it. "
— Jenna, 9/9/2013" Fantastic tale of romance, battles, royalty etc. It is really long but worth the read. I couldn't put it down i loved it so much. One of my very favorites. "
— Tanya, 8/1/2013" I love Victorian lit but I could not get into this book at all. I have read a vast variety of this time period and know and understand the style, but this book just didn't do it for me. I was really disappointed after the good reviews I read. "
— Melissa, 7/1/2013" This one is long! Romance, adventure, and one honest man! One classic that will take a while, but is enjoyable. "
— Robyn, 3/22/2013" I first read the abridged version when I was about eight or ten. I loved it then, and I loved it again in the unabridged version. "
— Deb, 8/24/2012" Sweeping, romantic and swashbuckling. Blackmore is the Buchan of his day. "
— Caroline, 4/21/2012" I really enjoyed this book - it wasn't a stirring as Dickens or as witty as Austen, but rather a Exmoor romance with a lot of depth and mystery. "
— Sarahk, 3/31/2012" This was possibly the most beautifully written novel I have ever read! This is the English language at its finest. "
— Julianne, 2/7/2012" This book was just too long. There is a reasonable story underneath all those words. Disappointing "
— Dawn, 12/13/2011" Although interesting as a read (I love reading classics because there is something enjoyable in the way they put their stories down on the page)I really really did not like the main characters and was dissatisfied with the story as a whole. Unexpectedly so. "
— Sarah, 10/8/2011" Read this many years ago and just loved it. A great story with good characters and a great 'bad guy'. "
— Curlyhair, 9/4/2011" What a dramatic End ! <br/> <br/>- The clever plan <br/>- A night of fire & killing & of long & bitter revenge <br/>- LD getting shot in her marriage ceremony <br/>- Duel (fight) between JR & CD "
— Ninney, 8/11/2011" This is to represent the Classics Comics version I read back in the 50's. I never read the "real" book and likely never will. Date <br/>read is approximate. Never been to Exmoor but I have been to <br/>Exeter and passed the moor on the train from Plymouth to London. "
— Chris, 8/6/2011" Such a good book! Great love story, beautiful descriptions of the environment, and exiting battles. As always, much better than the movie :) "
— Abby, 6/3/2011" I love Victorian lit but I could not get into this book at all. I have read a vast variety of this time period and know and understand the style, but this book just didn't do it for me. I was really disappointed after the good reviews I read. "
— Melissa, 5/19/2011" An enjoyable tale but a bit heavy to read. But definitely has certain charm to it. "
— Maissaa, 5/18/2011Richard Doddridge Blackmore (1825–1900) was one of the most famous writers of the latter nineteenth century. He wrote more than a dozen novels, five books of poetry, and translated Virgil’s Georgics.