The Maid of Buttermere
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Product Description
Product Description
The story of an imposter and bigamist, who travels to the North where he marries "the maid of Buttermere", a young woman whose natural beauty inspired the dreams and confirmed the theories of a=early 19th century writers.
About the Author
Melvyn Bragg's first novel, FOR WANT OF A NAIL, was published in 1965 and since then his novels have included THE HIRED MAN, for which he won the Time/Life Silver Pen Award, WITHOUT A CITY WALL, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, CREDO, THE MAID OF BUTTERMERE and THE SOLDIER'S RETURN, which was published to huge critical acclaim in 1999 and won the WHSmith Literary Award. He has also written several works of non-fiction including SPEAK FOR ENGLAND, an oral history of the twentieth century, RICH, a biography of Richard Burton, ON GIANTS' SHOULDERS, a history of science based on his BBC radio series, THE ADVENTURE OF ENGLISH, 12 BOOKS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, IN OUR TIME and THE SOUTH BANK SHOW: FINAL CUT. He was born in 1939 and educated at Wigton's Nelson Thomlinson School and at Oxford where he read history. He is President of the National Campaign for the Arts, and in 1998 he was made a life peer. He won an Academy Fellowship at the BAFTA Television Awards in 2010.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this a really rich, beguiling and beautifully written novel. The essential story, of John Hatfield's web of deceit and his relationship with Mary Robinson, would be a strong one even without the context of the setting and period, and I was surprised by the dark, tragic ending which gave the piece added gravitas. The fact that it is a true story and one commented on by such eminent writers as Coleridge adds hugely to its appeal.
Gradually revealing more about Hatfield through the course of the story gives a great sense of mystery and leads us to an emotional, tragic ending. There are some good plot twists along the way and the novel is peopled by great characters who are vivid and give a great sense of the time and place.
As well as using the Lake District as its backdrop the novel also uses it for social comment, giving the piece a great richness. Observations on the area as an industrial one provides an interesting flip side to the image of the Lake District (both at that time and now) as a place of tranquillity and natural beauty unspoilt by human hands.
A pretty substantial read but defintely worth it.
Gradually revealing more about Hatfield through the course of the story gives a great sense of mystery and leads us to an emotional, tragic ending. There are some good plot twists along the way and the novel is peopled by great characters who are vivid and give a great sense of the time and place.
As well as using the Lake District as its backdrop the novel also uses it for social comment, giving the piece a great richness. Observations on the area as an industrial one provides an interesting flip side to the image of the Lake District (both at that time and now) as a place of tranquillity and natural beauty unspoilt by human hands.
A pretty substantial read but defintely worth it.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved reading The Maid of Buttermere. Coming from the area in which the story is set made the detailed descriptions more vivid.
The story is an adventure with an added romance, which is slow to unfold. Mr Bragg cleverly introduces characters into the melting pot, whose importance in the tale only becomes apparent near the conclusion.
A perfect draw for tourists to the beautiful tranquility of Buttermere, where the Fish Hotel which centres in the story still exists.
The book also includes action set in the Morecambe Bay Sands, Keswick, Carlisle and Gretna Green, and jumps to more southern cities too.
It was my introduction to Bragg, and led me to read more of his work.
An admirable Cumbrian certainly, and a memorable book.
The story is an adventure with an added romance, which is slow to unfold. Mr Bragg cleverly introduces characters into the melting pot, whose importance in the tale only becomes apparent near the conclusion.
A perfect draw for tourists to the beautiful tranquility of Buttermere, where the Fish Hotel which centres in the story still exists.
The book also includes action set in the Morecambe Bay Sands, Keswick, Carlisle and Gretna Green, and jumps to more southern cities too.
It was my introduction to Bragg, and led me to read more of his work.
An admirable Cumbrian certainly, and a memorable book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A must read book.
Lord Bragg weaves a sensative and absorbing novel arround the events of the late 18th century concerning a publicans daughter and shepherdess of such renowned beauty that she became a tourist attraction. A con-man sets eyes on her and instantly drops his plans, in an advance stage of preparation, to marry a rich heiress, and bigamously weds the fair maid of Buttermere.
The con-man is later hanged for his crimes.
Lord Bragg creates a facinating schizophrenic character for the villain of the book for whome, in spite of his many sins, one end up with feeling of sympathy.
Lord Bragg weaves a sensative and absorbing novel arround the events of the late 18th century concerning a publicans daughter and shepherdess of such renowned beauty that she became a tourist attraction. A con-man sets eyes on her and instantly drops his plans, in an advance stage of preparation, to marry a rich heiress, and bigamously weds the fair maid of Buttermere.
The con-man is later hanged for his crimes.
Lord Bragg creates a facinating schizophrenic character for the villain of the book for whome, in spite of his many sins, one end up with feeling of sympathy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A marvellous read!
I picked this off the library shelf many years ago on spec as I normally read very little fiction - even fewer of the historical genre. Read more
Published 7 months ago by heath
The Maid of Buttermere
Book arrived before estimated delivery time in the conditions stated by the vendor. I have yet to have time to read this book, however, the synopsis promises, and Melvyn Bragg is a... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2010 by Amets Sorgin
Maid of Buttermere Melvyn Bragg
This book is excellent.Set in the Lakedistrict in the 18th century based on a true story...compulsive reading captures the atmosphere of the lakes at that time... Read more
Published on 14 May 2009 by Mrs. M. C. Hodgkinson
Not diminished by the passage of time...
This book was first published in 1987 but, unlike many novels written 20 years ago, it is not diminished in the slightest by the passage of time. Read more
Published on 23 July 2007 by aapjebaapje
One of the finest books ever written
I came across the name of John Hatfield whilst doing some historical research online. Having discovered that he was executed in Carisle. Read more
Published on 24 April 2007 by David A. Tootill
Unlike his character, Bragg is no imposter
I love the way this book has come about. The author, Melvyn Bragg, has obviously done some historical research, and come across a very juicey tidbit, a scandal, covered in the... Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2006 by W. Pearce
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