![Sheffield Hallam University](../../images/SHU.gif)
![Corvey home page](../../images/NavigHome.gif)
![Introduction to the Corvey collection and SHU Corvey project](../../images/NavigIntro.gif)
![](../../images/NavigArticles.gif)
![Guided tours around the Corvey website](../../images/NavigTours.gif)
![Corvey Women Writers on the Web](../../images/NavigCW3.gif)
![Belles Lettres, Women's Writing, and Travel Writing Catalogues](../../images/NavigCatalogues.gif)
![Students' Journals, Adopt-an-Author projects](../../images/NavigCorinneX.gif)
![News, Events, Activities, Conferences, Updates](../../images/NavigNews.gif)
|
Corvey 'Adopt an Author'
Mrs. Martin
|
The Corvey Project at
Sheffield Hallam University |
Plot Synopsis of Melbourne
by Mrs Martin
In picaresque style, Melbourne, in three volumes, is a novel about
the hero’s journey through life, from childhood to marriage. Harry Melbourne
is an orphan, who by the end of the novel discovers his biological parents
who are of a high rank and status. This allows him to marry his true love,
Julia Dalrymple.
The first volume is mainly concerned with Melbourne’s childhood and preliminary
education at Eton. The volume commences with Melbourne as a child, under
the care of Mr and Mrs Edmunds, a local farmer and his wife at the village
of Linwood. A local parson, Wilford Searle and his sister take an interest
in this intelligent, strong-minded boy and ask the Edmunds about how they
came to be his guardians. Four years previously, Martha Gwynned, a friend
of Mrs Edmunds and the housekeeper of Emily Meredith, asked the Edmunds
to take care of Melbourne immediately after he was born. Martha refused
to divulge the actual circumstances relating to this child, but it is
hinted that there is some connection between Emily Meredith, a lady of
high rank and fortune, and this abandoned child.
Mr and Miss Searle decide to help educate Melbourne in Greek, Latin and
moral philosophy. As the years pass by, Melbourne becomes a fine gentleman
with ‘every mark of a superior genius’ (Martin, 1798:I.69). There are
lengthy discussions between Mr and Miss Searle about whether Melbourne
should continue his education at home or at school. One day, as Melbourne
is out helping Mr Edmunds in the fields, he comes across the Macartney
family. It is at this point that he meets his future love Julia. She is
the cousin of George, Edmund and Matilda Macartney, who are three spoilt,
upper class children of the generous, warm-hearted Mr Macartney.
Mr Macartney is impressed with Melbourne’s character, and offers to send
him to Eton with his sons. The offer is accepted and Melbourne leaves
Linwood. At Eton, he meets Lord George Montague who is to become his closest
and dearest friend throughout the novel. At the end of this volume, Melbourne
is about to embark on his university education at Cambridge.
The second volume begins at Cambridge, with Melbourne and George planning
to go travelling around Europe in the holidays. Before they embark on
this trip, a surprise meeting is arranged between Melbourne and Julia,
who he hasn’t seen since he was a child. Melbourne realises that he is
in love with her, but he discovers that so too is his friend, George.
The two friends go travelling together but Melbourne keeps his feelings
for Julia secret, as he is convinced she returns George’s love. Further
complications arise when George’s parents arrange a marriage between Lady
Susan Dermer and their son.
When Melbourne and George return to England, George discovers that his
love for Julia is unrequited, so reluctantly marries Lady Susan. With
the help of Melbourne, George realises that he does in fact love Susan
and not Julia.
Melbourne returns to the Macartney household to find that Mr Macartney
has died. His spiteful children tell Melbourne that they will not carry
on funding his education at Cambridge, like their father had been helped
prior to his death. Therefore, Melbourne leaves university and decides
to visit Julia, who is staying with her aunt. However, he gets lost on
the way and meets a gentleman called Davenport. They become friends and
Davenport tells Melbourne of how he has been denounced by false accusations
and lost his inheritance. A close friend disowned him and he also lost
the love of his life, Arabella, his friend’s sister. Melbourne and Davenport
keep in contact via letter, and by chance Melbourne meets the friend in
Davenport’s story – Colonel Fortescue and his sister, Arabella. Melbourne
attempts to reconcile them, but finds difficulties in trying to convince
the Colonel of Davenport’s innocence.
Meanwhile, George Montague has donated money to Mr Searle enabling him
to send Melbourne back to Cambridge to pursue his theological career.
At university, Melbourne falls into a bad crowd and consequently takes
up drinking, loutish behaviour and borrowing money. However, he does make
a good friend, Howard Melbourne, (who does not turn out to be any relation).
In the third and final volume, it is revealed that Howard is married
to a woman called Maria. However, the marriage is kept secret because
Maria is a ‘public singer’, which may hinder Howard’s progression in his
pursuit for a theological career. The equilibrium is disrupted when Aubrey
De Verre, a university colleague, kidnaps Maria out of jealously. Melbourne
and Howard go to London to chase after the rogue, but their carriage collides
with another and Howard breaks his leg. However, Melbourne continues in
the pursuit and eventually finds Lord Aubrey De Verre, who denies all
knowledge of Maria’s disappearance. It is soon revealed that Aubrey De
Verre did kidnap Maria, but she escaped. Melbourne seeks her out and helps
to reunite the married couple.
Meanwhile, Melbourne has also succeeded in reuniting Davenport, Colonel
Fortesque and Arabella, who are eternally grateful to him. He tells Julia
how he feels about her and his love is returned. They plan to marry when
Julia turns eighteen. However, just prior to this event, her father returns
from the West Indies and insists she marry his affluent friend, Mr Ireby.
Julia protests but her father keeps her prisoner until the marriage is
arranged. However, Mr Ireby falls ill and dies, leaving Julia free to
marry Melbourne.
It is also discovered that Mr and Mrs Montague are in fact Melbourne’s
parents, with whom he is happily reunited. The novel ends with the happy
marriage of Melbourne and Julia.
Back to Index Page
|
|