The Abbot
Now I have read The Abbot by Sir Walter Scott, an interesting sequel to The Monastery. I liked the first novel in spite of all criticisms, and the second volume is good enough for me, too.
Fiction
It is an easy read. Almost as interesting a book as The Monastery. Though the ‘mysteries’ can be too easily seen through. From the moment Roland appeared I knew who he was, and it was as clear that Catherine had a twin brother. Really, the reader must be very dense not to understand that.
It is evident that Scott’s intent was to describe the process of Roland’s maturing (so it is a sort of a coming-of-age novel, too), to show how an annoying brat turned eventually into a courageous young man. So by the end of the novel he grows not only socially (in status), but also morally (in personality).
I found the characters’ speech a bit too high-flown; there was a lot of useless pathetics that could be bearable in poetry but not in prose.
The story with the marriage contract between Roland’s parents seemed unconvincing to me, as though Scott thought of it in the last moment. In The Monastery Julian and Catherine were ‘handfasted’, in The Abbot they are married secretly. Ehem.
History
And the ever-favourite Mary Stuart… I cannot say I like her here. She is so sarcastic, spiteful, venomous, and petty! Also, she is supposed to be an innocent victim, which I cannot believe. The scene when Mary went mad after being reminded of Darnley’s murder seemed unconvincing. But well, anyway, it was fun to read one more book featuring Mary Stuart.
I was mildly annoyed by some historical inaccuracies. Why is George Douglas the grandson of Lady Lochleven?
Other peculiarities and differences concerning the story of Mary Queen of Scots:
- No Mary Seton, no Willie Douglas.
- Mary Fleming is described as an old bore, though she was the age of Mary Stuart.
The capture of the keys is attributed to Roland. The keys are taken from Lady Lochleven herself, not from Sir William Douglas.
- George Douglas is killed at Langside.
Lady Lochleven is too bloodthirsty here. Why, she even orders to fire at her own son (oh well, grandson)! In the whole, Jean Plaidy’s approach to Lady Lochleven and her motives is more realistic.
It is impossible to write about Mary Stuart and her time and not mention the fierce struggle between Catholics and Protestants. While reading, I often wished Scott were not so evidently Protestant but let the readers judge for themselves. Not that I am Catholic, :) but the story is somehow biased, and I cannot say I like it.
I was astonished when I understood how much Alexandre Dumas-père borrowed from The Abbot to his book about Mary Stuart. Almost whole dialogues were stolen: Lady Lochleven and Mary’s bickering, the signals from the window, the symbolic meaning of Lindsay’s long sword…
The White Lady
And yes, so much fuss about the White Lady in the prefaces to both The Monastery and The Abbot! Sir Walter Scott seemed so ashamed of having introduced her into the story, blah blah blah. In the text of The Abbot there were many slighting references to ghosts and spirits. Still I adored the last lines, where, unexpectedly, the White Lady appears again, with her sash wide and golden! LOL. It was like: Get it! The Lady is still alive and kicking, whatever you say! :)))
The Lady is much fun, IMO.
It may seem that I disliked the novel, but no, I am okay with it and eager to read Kenilworth as soon as I can.