“For either end of life is home; both source, and issue, being God.” – Lorna Doone

This tale of forbidden romance on the wild, rugged moors is sure to please any Jane Eyre fan. But with guns, outlaws, highway robberies and horse-riding men of brawn you might want to pass this English western onto a male in your life once you’re finished with it (or vice versa). (And somebody ought to tell John Eldredge and co. about this one.)

Set in the English countryside in the 1680’s during Monmouth’s rebellion, an attempt to overthrow the new Catholic king James II, Lorna Doone is actually a historical novel. John Ridd, a young farmer renowned for his robust physique, recounts his romance with the daughter of his family’s enemy and the tragic events that climax the novel in sorrow and joy at once. Blackmore’s authentic Christian treatment of adventure, romance, religion, politics and nature combine to make Lorna Doone one of the great reads of the Victorian era.

Analyses for further reading:

Part I: Pure at Heart: Masculinity and Godliness in “Lorna Doone”

Part II: The Male Gaze: Masculinity and Godliness in “Lorna Doone”

Part III: Nature Reveals the Glory of God in “Lorna Doone”