Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Antonia Susan ByattPOSSESSION. A Romance
Structure
CHAPTER I
Quote: Randolph Henry ASH, The Garden of Proserpina
September 1986 – London Library
ROLAND MITCHELL 29, literary researcher, Ph. D. in Literature
Researching R.H. ASH Victorian Poet
His boss: scholar James BLACKADDER – British Museum
Roland is reading G. VICO’s Principi di Scienza Nuova Principi di Scienza Nuova
He finds two DRAFTS of a letter to an UNKNOWN LADY he met at Crabb ROBINSON’s breakfast
ROLAND steals the drafts and does not tell Blackadder
INTRODUCTION
Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables
Robert Browning, from Mr. Sludge, “the Medium”
CHAPTER II
R. H. ASH, Ragnarök Nordic epic poem
Mortimer Cropper – Trustee of the Stant Collection at Robert Dale Owen University, Harmon City, New Mexico. Curator of R.H. ASH’s correspondence and memorabilia.
Robert’s sense of failure in his life with Val and their unhappy relationship
Fergus Wolff – Roland’s departmental rival.
Roland wonders who ASH was writing to in his drafts
CHAPTER III
R. H. ASH, Ragnarök III
Roland at Bloomsbury: photocopies draftsConsultation of CRABB Robinson’s diary
June 1858 Ash met Miss La Motte and Miss Glover at Crabb’s breakfast
Roland informs Blackadder of the existence of the two drafts
From Blachadder Roland comes to know about: Isadore La Motte’s father wrote Mythologies (legend of
Brittainy)
Miss la Motte’s and her writings
Ash’s wife Ellen Best’s personal journal and Helpmeets, a book about the wifes of great men
He knows about Christabel’s The Fairy Melusina and about MAUD at Lincoln’s Women’s Resources Centre
CHAPTER IVChristabel La Motte, The Fairy Melusina
At LINCOLN Womens’ Centre Roland visits MAUD and learns about La Motte’s family and Christabel’s life with Blanche Glover, an artist who drowned in 1861.
After Blanche’s death Christabel goes to live with her sister Sophie. She no longer wrote poetry.
MAUD, a Bailey is tall, cold, perhaps hostile. She only knows about a few letters kept by George Bailey at Seal Court.
Roland shows Maud the letters he stole and she is intrigued
CHAPTER VAsh’s The Incarcerated Sorceress
Maud and Roland visit the area and see Seal Court and they vist La Motte’s grave in the nearabouts.The two are unvited at Seal Court . They mention Christabel.
Maud and they notices the dolls remind her of the poem “Dolly keeps a secret”.
They find the packet of letters in side the doll’s cot. The letters are taken by Sir George the owner.
Maud and Roland want to convince George to let them study the letters.
CHAPTER VIAsh’s The Great Collector
Cropper interest in having everthing from ASH
Ash’s letter about the occult and spirit communication
Hints at Ash’s wedding and honeymoon at Fontaine de Valcluse, France.Cropper believes EMBLA represents a real womanin Ash’s life.Cropper set a meeting with Miss Beatrice Nest
CHAPTER VIIChristabel La Motte’ s poems
Miss Beatrice NEST is interested in Ellen Best Ash’s papers
Ellen wrote a journal. Roland reads it before Cropper
Roland comes to know Maud and he can study Christabel’s letters.
CHAPTER VIIIChristabel La Motte’ s poems
Maud and Roland read the letters in Sir George Bailey’s library.They come to know La Motte is worried somebody might be seen by other people.The letters unveil the two poets’ interest in poetry, the difference between romance and novel.Leonora Stern visits the winter garden La Motte loved.Maud and Roland remain at Seals Court and Roland feels attracted to Maud
CHAPTER IX
Christabel La Motte’s The Treshold is quoted.
CHAPTER X
Roland and Maud go on reading THE CORRESPONDENCE
Ash sends Christabel a poem. Ash wants to write a poem about insect life.
CHAPTER XIASH‘s Swammerdam
Swammerdam
The poem is quoted
CHAPTER XIIChristabel La Motte’s poem
Maud and Roland have gone to Bethany in Richmond where Christabel lived.
Maud starts suspecting that Ash was accompanied by La Motte in his journey to Yorkshire in 1859 during his natural history expedition. (Darwin’s influence)
Reference to “HOB” in one of Ash’s letters to Ellen.The two researchers come across the same mention in Blanche’s notes.Their meeting with Beatrice to review Ellen’s journal for June 1859.
Ellen receives a strange letter from Blanche.
CHAPTER XIII R. H. ASH, Ragnarök (extract)
Maud and Roland went to Yorkshire seaside.
They read about their heroes and come across a coincidence: they both write about gloves.
They visit shops in the area and it comes out Maud is wearing a jet hair brooch by an artist: she has inherited the brooch from Christabel.
CHAPTER XIV R. H. ASH, poem
The railway trip to Yorkshire by Ash and La Motte:
Their stay They love Their walk to BOGGLE HOLE
CHAPTER XV R. H. ASH, poem
Ash’s letter to Ellen. Maud and Roland go to Boggle Hole.
CHAPTER XVI C. La Motte, The Fairy Melusine
Quotation of the whole poem
CHAPTER XVII
Blackadder’s studies on Ash’s Mummy Possest.
Fergus looks for Maud and Roland and to Val.
Meeting Fergus and Cropper
Christabel’s poem about gloves
Discovery of Christabel’s stay in France
The value of their letters and George Bailey
Maud and Roland go to Brittany
CHAPTER XVIIIChristabel’s poems about gloves
CHAPTER XIXSabine’s de Kercoz’s City of Is
Maud and Roland are on a ship to France.
They read Sabine’s journal from October 1959
CHAPTER XXChristabel’s poem (about death?)
The meeting of spiritualists is at the centre of attention. La Motte and Ash were present and Ash asks Christabel where the child is.
BlacKadder wants to be sure all papers concerning the Vitorian poets’correspondence remaiuns in England.
CHAPTER XXIAsh’s Mummy Possest
Quotation of Mummy Possest
Val and her new boyfriend are at the horse races .
They are joined by Toby Byng and they discuss his involvement in the Ash-La Motte correspondence.
Discussion of legal copyright and ownership problems.
CHAPTER XXII
Maud and Roland still in Brittany
Their growing love relationship
Discuss destiny of Christabel’s child.
Leonora’s arrival at their hotel
CHAPTER XXIII
They go back to Lincoln
Meeting with Val, her boyfriend, and all others
Discussion of how La Motte wanted all her books and copyright should go to Maia Thomasine Bailey .
The letters belong to Maud.
Beatrice Nest is worried about Cropper and Fergus
CHAPTER XXIV
Ellen’s journal: the day of Ash’s death
Mortimer Cropper knows in Ash’s grave a box is hidden, the one laid by Ellen
Christabel letter to Ash: she wanted it to be given to him
Mention to Ash’s visit to Brittany and his meeting with Sabine
Ellen recalls her failed attempts at sex with her husband
Ellen places the unopened letter into Ash’s grave.
CHAPTER XXVEllen Ash’s Journal
•Roland is given a job offer from Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Barcelona.•Blackadder sends him a generous letter
CHAPTER XXVIAsh’s Garden of Proserpina
CHAPTER XXVIIAsh’s poem
The grave robbery by Cropper
He is caught by Roland, Maud, leonora, Blackadder and Nest.
Maud wants to learn the end of the story
From the unopened letter Ash is described as a flaming presence causing Christabel to catch fire
THE POSTSCRIPT
Meeting between Ash and May on a
hot May day
