The Bride of Lammermoor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Bride of Lammermoor

Ravenswood and Lucy at the Mermaiden's Well by Charles Robert Leslie
Author	Walter Scott
Country	Scotland
Language	English, Lowland Scots
Series	Waverley Novels
Genre	Historical novel
Published	21 June 1819
Publisher	Archibald Constable (Edinburgh); Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, and Hurst, Robinson, and Co. (London)
Media type	Print
Pages	269 (Edinburgh Edition, 1993)
Preceded by	The Heart of Mid-Lothian
Followed by	A Legend of the Wars of Montrose

The Bride of Lammermoor is an exciting historical novel written by Sir Walter Scott. It was first published in 1819. This book is part of his famous collection called the Waverley Novels.

The story takes place in the beautiful Lammermuir Hills in south-east Scotland. It is set around the time of the Act of Union in 1707. This Act joined Scotland and England into Great Britain. The novel tells a sad love story between a young woman named Lucy Ashton and Edgar Ravenswood. Their families are bitter enemies. Sir Walter Scott said that the plot of the book was inspired by a real-life event.

The Bride of Lammermoor was published along with another novel, A Legend of Montrose. They were released anonymously as part of Scott's Tales of My Landlord series. This story also inspired a famous opera called Lucia di Lammermoor, created by Gaetano Donizetti in 1835.

Creating the Story: How the Book Was Made

Sir Walter Scott started writing The Bride of Lammermoor in September 1818. He finished it in the spring of 1819. During this time, he became very ill. He had to stop writing for a while. When he felt a little better, he dictated the last chapters of the book. This means he spoke the words, and someone else wrote them down for him.

Scott knew the main story from old tales and books. He used these different versions and changed them to fit his novel. He also used his knowledge of history, like the Gowrie Conspiracy, which was a real event from the 1600s. For the hunting scenes in the book, he used details from an old hunting guide he had in his library.

The Story's Main Plot

The novel tells the tragic love story of Lucy Ashton and Edgar, the Master of Ravenswood. Edgar's family lost their land and title because they supported the old King, James VII. Lucy's father, Sir William Ashton, then bought the Ravenswood estate. Edgar hates Sir William for taking his family's home. But when he meets Lucy, he falls in love with her. This makes him decide to give up his plans for revenge.

Sir William's wife, Lady Ashton, is a very proud and tricky woman. She is the main villain of the story. Lady Ashton is determined to stop Edgar and Lucy's happy engagement. She wants Lucy to marry someone else who will help her family gain more power.

Lady Ashton secretly reads Edgar's letters to Lucy. She convinces Lucy that Edgar has forgotten her. Edgar leaves Scotland and goes to France for his political work. While he is away, Lady Ashton continues her plan. She even gets a soldier to spread rumors that Edgar is getting married in France. She also uses an old woman named Ailsie Gourlay, who is like a witch, to show Lucy bad signs about Edgar.

Lucy still believes in Edgar. She asks for a message from him saying he has broken their promise. She writes to him, but Lady Ashton hides her letter. Lady Ashton then brings a minister to talk to Lucy. But the minister helps Lucy send a new letter to Edgar. Still, there is no answer.

Lady Ashton finally forces Lucy to marry Francis, the Laird of Bucklaw. But the day before the wedding, Edgar returns. He sees that Lucy has signed the marriage papers with Bucklaw. Edgar then tells Lucy he is breaking off their engagement. Lucy is so shocked she can barely speak.

The wedding happens the next day. There is a big party at Ravenswood Castle. While everyone is dancing, Lucy stabs Bucklaw in the bridal room. He is badly hurt. Lucy quickly becomes very unwell and dies. Bucklaw recovers but refuses to say what happened.

Edgar appears at Lucy's funeral. Lucy's older brother blames Edgar for her death. He demands that they fight a duel. Edgar is very sad and agrees. But on his way to the duel, Edgar falls into quicksand and dies.

Who Are the Characters?

Ravenswood meets the ghost of Alice, drawn by Henry Macbeth-Raeburn (1892)

Here are the main people in the story:

• Edgar, Master of Ravenswood
• Caleb Balderstone, Edgar's loyal helper
• Sir William Ashton, a powerful judge
• Lady Ashton, Sir William's wife
• Lucy, their daughter
• Colonel Sholto Douglas Ashton and Henry Ashton, Lucy's brothers
• Ailsie Gourlay, a 'wise woman'
• Captain Craigengelt
• Frank Hayston, laird of Bucklaw
• Alice, an old, blind servant of the Ravenswood family
• Mr Bide-the-Bent, a minister

A Quick Look at the Chapters

Here's a simple summary of what happens in the book:

• Chapter 1: We learn that the story was put together from notes by an artist named Dick Tinto.
• Chapter 2: We meet the Ravenswood and Ashton families. Edgar Ravenswood buries his father, going against the local rules.
• Chapter 3: Sir William Ashton decides not to take legal action against Edgar. He takes a walk with Lucy.
• Chapter 4: Ashton and Lucy visit old Alice, who warns him about the Ravenswoods.
• Chapter 5: Edgar saves Lucy from a wild bull. They meet at a fountain said to be unlucky. Lucy starts to think about Edgar.
• Chapter 6: Bucklaw and Craigengelt want to help Edgar against Ashton, but Edgar says he will drop the fight.
• Chapter 7: Edgar fights Bucklaw in a duel and wins. He offers Bucklaw a place to stay at his old castle, Wolfscrag.
• Chapter 8: Edgar and Bucklaw spend time at Wolfscrag. Edgar gets a letter from the Marquis of A——.
• Chapter 9: A storm forces the Ashtons to find shelter at Wolfscrag.
• Chapter 10: Edgar's servant, Caleb, tries to hide that they don't have much food. Bucklaw leaves. Edgar greets Lucy at the castle during a thunderstorm.
• Chapter 11: Caleb pretends a big feast was ruined by the thunder.
• Chapter 12: Caleb secretly takes a duck from a neighbor's house for food.
• Chapter 13: The neighbor, John Girder, is angry at first. But then he sends more food to Wolfscrag, hoping to get a promotion from Sir William Ashton.
• Chapter 14: Caleb and Ashton's servant talk about the two families. Ashton suggests that he and Edgar should become friends.

• Chapter 15: We learn that Ashton wants to be friends with Edgar for his own political reasons.
• Chapter 16: Edgar doesn't want to talk about his legal fight with Ashton. Craigengelt challenges Edgar to a duel for Bucklaw, but Edgar sends him away.
• Chapter 17: Ashton convinces Edgar that he has been fair to him. Edgar says they are friends.
• Chapter 18: Caleb warns Edgar not to visit Ravenswood Castle, which the Ashtons now live in. Edgar ignores him. At the castle, Edgar scares young Henry Ashton because he looks like an old, vengeful ancestor.
• Chapter 19: Edgar and Lucy visit Alice, who warns them not to be together.
• Chapter 20: Edgar and Lucy get engaged at the fountain, splitting a gold coin. They return to the castle and learn the Marquis of A—— is visiting.
• Chapter 21: Edgar and Lucy have some disagreements, but their love grows. Craigengelt supports Bucklaw's plan to marry Lucy.
• Chapter 22: Lady Ashton learns Edgar is at the castle. She arrives at the same time as the Marquis. Lady Ashton writes a note telling Edgar to leave, which upsets the Marquis.
• Chapter 23: Edgar sees a vision of Alice at the fountain. He finds her dead in her cottage.
• Chapter 24: Edgar arranges Alice's funeral.
• Chapter 25: The Marquis suggests Edgar's relationship with Lucy might not be wise. He offers Edgar a job that means traveling to Europe. Caleb announces that Wolfscrag is on fire. Edgar is welcomed at John Girder's house.
• Chapter 26: Caleb explains to Edgar that the fire was a trick. He wanted to avoid having to entertain the Marquis and his group at Wolfscrag.
• Chapter 27: In Edinburgh, Edgar writes to Lady Ashton, Sir William, and Lucy. He gets harsh replies from the Ashtons and a sad one from Lucy.

• Chapter 28: A year passes. Bucklaw and Craigengelt talk about Bucklaw's upcoming marriage to Lucy.
• Chapter 29: Bucklaw and Lady Ashton agree that Lucy will sign the marriage papers if no word comes from Edgar by a certain date.
• Chapter 30: We learn that Lady Ashton controlled Lucy's life and letters very strictly.
• Chapter 31: The 'wise woman' Aislie Gourlay was brought in to be Lucy's nurse. She told Lucy dark stories about the Ravenswoods. A strict minister was also called. But he helped Lucy send a letter to Edgar. This letter was written to make it seem like Lucy wanted to end their engagement.
• Chapter 32: On the day the papers are to be signed, Edgar arrives just as Lucy signs the marriage contract.
• Chapter 33: Edgar ends the engagement, believing it is what Lucy wants, even though she can barely speak.
• Chapter 34: Lucy stabs Bucklaw on their wedding night and dies the next day.
• Chapter 35: At Lucy's funeral, her brother challenges Edgar to a duel. On his way to the meeting, Edgar and his horse disappear in quicksand.

The Real Story Behind the Book

Viscount Stair (1619–1695) whose daughter inspired Lucy Ashton

The story in the novel is made up, but Sir Walter Scott said it was based on a real event. This happened in the families of Dalrymple and Rutherford. Scott heard this story from his mother and great aunt.

The real person who inspired Lucy Ashton was Janet Dalrymple. She was the oldest daughter of James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair. Janet secretly promised to marry Archibald Rutherfurd, 3rd Lord Rutherfurd. He was the real-life inspiration for Edgar of Ravenswood.

But Janet's mother found out about the secret promise. She insisted that Janet marry another suitor, David Dunbar. Rutherfurd's political views were not liked by the Dalrymple family. Also, he was not wealthy enough. Janet's mother even used a Bible verse to say that a father could overrule a daughter's promise.

The wedding happened on August 24, 1669. Janet's younger brother later said her hand felt "cold and damp as marble." She seemed emotionless all day. After the guests danced, the couple went to their room. Screams were heard, and the door was forced open. Guests found Dunbar stabbed. Janet died on September 12, seemingly unwell, without saying what happened.

Dunbar recovered but also refused to explain the event. He remarried later. Rutherfurd died in 1685. People generally believed that Janet had stabbed her new husband. Other stories suggested Rutherfurd was hiding in the room and attacked Dunbar. Some even thought evil spirits were involved.

Scott's own life has been compared to parts of The Bride of Lammermoor. His own disappointment in love, when a woman he liked married someone wealthier, might have influenced the sad relationship between Lucy and Edgar.

Places in the Story

The tall Fast Castle, thought to be "Wolf's Crag"

The name Lammermoor is an English version of the Scots word Lammermuir. The Lammermuir Hills are a range of hills in Scotland. The made-up castle "Wolf's Crag" is thought to be based on Fast Castle. This real castle is on the coast of Berwickshire. Scott himself said he had only seen Fast Castle from the sea. But he agreed that it looked a lot like his fictional Wolf's Crag.

The Name "Edgar"

The name "Edgar" was not very common for a long time. But after The Bride of Lammermoor became popular, the name "Edgar" started to be used much more often. It is still a widely used name today.

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