#240 Trelawny of Trelawne: The Prophecy (1884)

Author: Anna Eliza Bray
Title: Trelawny of Trelawne: The Prophecy
Genre: Novel
Year: 1884
Pages: 180
Origin: downloaded and read on the Kindle
Nod Rating: 2 nods out of 5

 

Whilst researching an ancestor the Worm came across this curious book. Written by Anna Eliza Bray, it takes a family story that once happened (as shown by existing diary extracts) before adding that element of dramatic fairy-dust in order to bring to life a novel that could be enjoyed by the good reading public. Unfortunately for the Worm, he began reading extracts of Bray’s book in bewilderment… thankfully, the secret was eventually revealed to him.

Bray was a famous novelist from the Victorian period. Her works are now little known; mostly they can be found on west-country book shelves due to their focus on this part of the world and in particularly on local principal families. The Trelawnys – what with their interesting characters and generational feuding – fitted the bill perfectly of novel-fodder for Bray to embrace.

This Cornish family owned much land in east Cornwall, whilst one of their members – Bishop Trelawny – became involved in national affairs during 1688 when he refused to endorse or support the reigning monarch of the time, James II. Such was his unpopularity, James was forced to abdicate, leaving the throne for William III in what has become known as the Glorious Revolution. Such was the local support for Bishop Trelawny, the Cornish were expected to rise in rebellion. This theme was later used by Robert Stephen Hawker in his Cornish Anthem The Song of the Western Men:

‘And shall Trelawny live?

Or shall Trelawny die!

Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men

Will know the reason why!'

Bray’s tale concerns a branch of this family. The Bishop’s daughter, Letitia Trelawny desired to marry her cherished love (and first cousin) Harry Trelawny. Their love was forbidden, leading to Harry attempting to prove himself by taking part in a rebellious action. Bray mixes reality (the young pair’s match was at first snubbed) with fiction: the dates are moved out of synch with actual history, whilst other events are added in order to up the drama-factor. The novel is outplayed in the form of letters between the central characters, a well established method for the Victorian novel (and one that, unfortunately, has gone largely out of favour today).

For the Worm The Prophecy was a note-worthy book. For anyone else, the Worm suspects it is largely pointless and useless. Bray’s time – and fame – has mostly past. The subject matter of her historical novels, the gentry families of the West Country, have also long past into dusty history books on forgotten shelves in public libraries. However, the Worm enjoyed the book whilst it lasted, largely as a personal curiosity more than anything else.

 

Read it here