synopsis
Vol. I
Lionel Verney an orphan at 5, lives as shepherd boy with a Cumberland farmer, p. 13
his sister Perdita, two years younger, also wild, p. 15
Lionel's wildness, about to become evil as an adult, p. 18-19
king abdicated in 2073; died, survived by son Adrian, 2nd Earl of Windsor, p. 20
Adrian to visit Cumberland, mansion at Ulswater put in repair, p. 21
Lionel's hatred for Earl; taken prisoner with repeated poaching, meets Adrian, p. 25
who greets him by name, speaks of hereditary friendship, p. 26
Lionel educated by his friendship, p. 31
ex-Queen, her daughter, and Evadne (age 18), whom Adrian (age 16) loves, p. 33
but disapproval of ex-Queen, hence Adrian's exile to Cumberland, p. 35
after a year, Lionel to serve at Vienna for two years, p. 36
during this time, hears of fame of Lord Raymond, p. 39
who returns to England and a great fortune after winning Greek wars, p. 40
Lionel returns from Vienna after hearing rumours of Raymond's ascendency, p. 41
arrives at Windsor cottage of Perdita, p. 42
where he learns that Adrian is mad, p. 43
after Evadne turned her love to Raymond, p. 45
Lionel meets and learns to admire Raymond, p. 48-9
and then meets Idris, sister of Adrian, p. 51
she asks Lionel to find Adrian and rescue him, p. 53
Raymond tells Lionel where Adrian is, reveals his ambition to marry Idris, be king, p. 55
Raymond's ambition to conquer Turkey and Asia, p. 57-8
At parliament, Ryland's aim to foster a republic against Raymond, p. 58-9
Raymond wins debate in parliament, p. 61
Lionel on his sudden love for Idris; but believes she is to marry Raymond, p. 63
Raymond and Lionel argue about nature of man (passive or active, etc.), p. 65-6
Raymond proposes to Perdita and is accepted, p. 67-8
Lionel takes a balloon to Scotland to see Adrian, who is said to be very ill, p 70-1
With Lionel's care, Adrian recovers his health and his wits; the Countess of Windsor, p. 72
Adrian's hymn of praise to earth and man, etc., p. 74-6 [Shelley?]
With Adrian, Idris visits Lionel in his cottage at her request, p. 79
Lionel on his love for Idris (who is now dead), p. 80
pastoral scene near Windsor, Lionel declares his love for Idris, p. 80-81
Countess her mother strenuously objects, however, p. 82-3
Idris appears at Lionel's cottage at night seeking rescue; they flee toward London, p. 84-5
Countess's conspiracy to abduct Idris to Austria thereby thwarted, p. 87-8
Their happy life all together at Windsor, with Raymond, Adrian, etc., p. 90
After several years: Raymond plans making Adrian Lord Protector of England, p. 93-4
but they convince Raymond to stand instead; but he is now less popular, p. 96
their agitation while the debates are in progress, p. 98-100
Raymond is elected after Ryland withdraws, p. 101-2
Perdita meanwhile has prepared for journey to Greece; is rescued by Raymond, p. 103-4
Raymond and Perdita reside in London palace, the others at Windsor, p. 105
Raymond's plans for felicity and improvement of England, p. 106
mysterious Greek helps Raymond design national art gallery, p. 107-8
Raymond finds that the artist is Evadne living in poverty, p. 109
Evadne's resistance to being rescued; failure of her husband, betrayal of Greece, p. 111-3
Evadne's resumed love for Raymond, p. 114-5
Raymond is captivated by her, his repeated visits; will destroy him, p. 116-7
Perdita's happiness at first in marriage, p. 118
Raymond conceals his affair with Evadne; Perdita finds a letter, p. 123
Raymond and Perdita argue over whether to part, p. 124-5
Raymond manages to deceive her of his faithfulness, but his remorse and anger, p. 126-7
love divided cannot be sustained, p. 129
on anniversary of Raymond's elevation, Perdita will ask him to choose her or Protectorship, 130
on eve of festival Raymond finds Evadne near death; sends message to Perdita, p. 132-3
Perdita's misery and despair, as of one alive in death, her complaints, p. 134-5
after several months Raymond and Perdita visit Windsor, p. 138-9
Perdita confesses her suffering to Lionel, p. 139-40
history of her damaged relationship with Raymond, p. 141-2
Perdita's overestimation of her love for Raymond earlier, p. 144-5
Evadne's story; her resolve to part from Raymond, p. 146
Raymond now abandons hope in Perdita and his public life, becomes libertine, p. 149
Raymond rebuffs Adrian's attempts to reform him, p. 151-2
Raymond resigns Protectorate, will go to wars in Greece with Adrian, p. 153
After a year and travels in Scotland, Perdita somewhat reconciled, p. 156
but Perdita not to be weaned from her love for Raymond, p. 158
Adrian returns after a year with news of Raymond's part in Greek war, p. 161
Raymond then disappears, presumed dead, after victory against Turks, p. 163-4
Perdita resolved to seek him, all leave Britain for the continent, p. 164-5Vol. II
Perdita's recovered love and hopes on finding Raymond, p. 167
Perdita in Greece, hearing of Raymond's imprisonment feels guilt, p. 169
Raymond returns weak and ill, Perdita's passionate greeting in boat, p. 171-2
Raymond's gradual recovery; Lionel watches events as in a picture, p. 174
Greeks to attack Turks again; plague reported in Constantinople, p. 175
The battle at Rodosto, Lionel joins in, p. 178
After the battle Lionel encounters Evadne who dies from wounds as a soldier, p. 180-1
Raymond now leads beseiging army against Constantinople, p. 183
but Raymond is gloomy, especially after hearing prophecy of dying Evadne, p. 184-5
Raymond confesses his presentiments of death to Lionel, p. 187
Turks abandoning Constantinople, army fears to enter because of plague, p. 191-2
Raymond seeing only superstition is determined to enter city himself, p. 193
Lionel sees from a distance Raymond enter the city alone, p. 197-8
then explosions destroy the city; Lionel enters the ruins seeking Raymond, p. 198-200
Lionel returns to Perdita; her sorrow, Lionel's praise of Raymond, p. 203-4
Raymond's body is found, p. 206-7
Raymond taken to Hymettus for burial, p. 208-9
Perdita building a cottage nearby, determined not to return to England, p. 210-1
Lionel takes Perdita on ship to England, but she commits suicide, p. 214
On return to England hear story of shipwreck, lone survivor dies of mysterious illness, p. 216-7
Lionel's wish to live retired; his tirade against "life," p. 218
Adrian in retirement at Windsor dreams of new Paradise on earth, p. 219
hear news of plague being rife in Greece, spread from Constantinople, p. 220
story of a black sun that rose on June 21, p. 224
Idris has lost one child; her fears for the others; Clara's young beauty, p. 226
their son Alfred's character as he attends Eton, p. 226-7
on man's vulnerability to destruction, p. 230
how to resist the incursion of the plague now preoccupying the English government, p. 231
feeling that plague cannot attack Europe: it is native to the east, etc., p. 233
now it has a foothold in the ports of France and Italy, p. 236
many refugees require support, parks turned over to cultivation, etc., p. 236-7
now 2094 in the history; a pause before Lionel describes destruction to come, p. 239
Lionel sees Alfred's birthday party at Windsor; anticipates death to come, p. 239-40
Ryland arrives, unmanned, with report of plague everywhere, p. 242
Ryland renounces Protectorship in fear; Adrian offers to take it up, p. 244
Adrian to return with Ryland to London to make the transition, p. 246-7
Lionel visiting Adrian in London sees change in the streets, p. 250
Adrian's goodness in allowing himself to be nominated deputy Protector, p. 251
Lionel then nominates himself to save Adrian, but Adrian elected, p. 253-4
Lionel revisits Perdita's cottage, now a ruin, p. 257
visits hut where man has just died of the plague, p. 259
then encounters street orator in Windsor speaking of doom, p. 263
arrived at Castle finds a servant dying of plague, p. 265
narration to change its course; let reader look in Defoe, etc., for accounts of plague, p. 267
Europe consumed both by plague and flood, p. 269
the disintegration of society in England, but domestic joy more intense, p. 272-4
summer brings renewed outbreaks and deaths, p. 276
visiting London, Lionel takes a wife to her dying husband in hospital, p. 279-80
grief stricken by speech he hears in Macbeth, p. 282-3
at Windsor his youngest son Evelyn falls ill, p. 288-9
Merrival the astronomer thinks only of distant future, p. 289
Idris watches over Evelyn; sounds of night, p. 291
Countess of Windsor returns to England, still full of pretensions, p. 292-3
Invasion of Americans brings disorder among Irish, then embark for England, p. 295-7
Adrian and Lionel arm London to meet the invaders, p. 299
on the edge of battle Adrian prevents it by the power of his rhetoric, p. 302-3
Merrival left alone and distraught, dies at grave of his family, p. 305-7
Lionel's wanderings near Eton and Salt Hill, p. 310-1
decides to remain no longer in England but to seek warmer climate, p. 312-3
hope now seen to be at an end, p. 313Vol. III
desolation across England, p. 318-9
end of civilization, p. 321
Adrian now leading a plan for emigration to the south, p. 425
Lionel and family leave Windsor for the last time, p. 329-30
about 2000 left in England, prepare for departure, p. 330
they take a last look at abandoned London, p. 333-4
Alfred suddenly ill and dying, Idris goes in search of Lionel, p. 334-5
Lionel feels himself infected by a negro, goes in search of Idris, p. 336-7
he and Idris rest together, talk of love and death, p. 338-9
Lionel suffering from the plague watched over by Idris, p. 341
as he nearly dies, Idris falls seriously ill; delays departure from England, p. 343-5
Lucy's story, married to a violent innkeeper, p. 347-8
Lucy and her mother left behind at Datchet write to Idris, now at Rochester, p. 350-1
Idris dies on way back to Windsor to rescue them, p. 354-5
Lionel inters Idris in the chapel at Windsor, p. 356
Countess arrives, views her dead daughter, p. 358
and is finally reconciled with Lionel, p. 360-1
Lionel finds Lucy in her cottage, her mother dead, p. 363-4
the presentiment that made the Countess return to Windsor, p. 367
violent seas at Dover destroy ships, p. 368-9
meteors appear near sunset and a high wave, p. 370-1
a deputation returns from Paris, p. 373
story of their dissensions, false methodist prophet, p. 376
Adrian and Lionel eventually reach Paris to prevent battle, p. 379
Adria confronts the methodist, who seeks repentance, etc., p. 381
They go different ways; Adrian leads his group to Versailles, p. 382
but the methodist's group still in Paris lure away some followers, p. 386
the methodist's hold over his followers, p. 387
story of Juliet, one of his followers, p. 387-8
Lionel's efforts to rescue her ends with his confinement in a dungeon, p. 390
Juliet is sent to free him, p. 392
They prepare to leave for summer in Switzerland, p. 394-5
en route, but Adrian's weariness, longs for death, p. 397
Lionel repines at Necessity, p. 399
en route Lionel learns that Adrian is delayed at Versailles; rides back to assist, p. 402-3
the methodist oversteps himself when plague appears in his band, and he dies, p. 406-7
1500 depart Versailles; their journey marked by numerous deaths, apparently supernatural interventions, p. 408-9
the Black Spectre seen by some, turns out a lone Frenchman, p. 410-1
80 left as they reach Dijon; reflections on these remnants of mankind, p. 411
those who have died; the Countess dies at Dijon, p. 415-6
50 left to ascend the Jura with difficulty, p. 417-8
their delight at view of Lake Geneva and Alps in the setting sun, p. 419
girl organist and blind father at Ferney, p. 420
they reach Chamonix, but more die, p. 424
four only remain; plague has ended, p. 425-6
the four, Adrian, Lionel, Clara, and Evelyn, wander on towards Italy, p. 428
they lived at Milan, then at Pliny's villa on Como, p. 432-2
Evelyn dies of a fever in two weeks, p. 434-5
Lionel invokes death and corruption of the earth, p. 437
they journey to Venice, where Clara wishes to proceed to Greece, p. 438
they embark, but are overtaken by a storm, p. 441
Lionel alone survives to reach shore, p. 445
he roams the beach in despair seeking his lost partners, p. 448
he wanders through Ravenna unable to believe he is sole survivor, p. 449
clothes himself with care in case he meets another human being, p. 456
he wanders south to reach Rome, p. 460
his wanderings in imperial Rome: the forum, Coliseum, p. 462
his despairing thoughts, but declines to commit suicide, p. 464
he resolves to write his history, p. 466
after he finishes he sets out by sea to wander the Mediterranean, p. 469-70
Document prepared November 22nd 2003