Lucile Owen Meredith

It is a cool 36 degrees here today. I'm thankful to be laying near the fireplace - where I can take in the lights of Christmas and scent of the candle I have burning. 

Prior to laying down here I  went to the bookcase and selected the book Lucile to begin.I decided to write and inform you that I don't recall ever seeing a manuscript arrangement quite like this before. This book is written in anapestic tetrameter couplets by. Robert, Lord Lytton published (1860) under the pseudonym of Owen Meredith.

My copy appears to be leather bound and 'gold edged' with roses acoss the cover. The binding is in poor condition. The cover is torn and heavily cracked, but , the book pages, are in great condition. 

When I open the cover of this copy of Lucile, I see a faint image of Lord Lytton and there is a lovely dedication to his Father in which the author appears to be somewhat uneasy. He writes of his admiration for his Father and explains his  prolonged discouragement and states how this parlays into his prolonged effort in this publication.  

Lucile is set in 19th century England and considered to be classic Victorian literature. It has been adapted into operas and  plays and unfortunately I have seen neither. The story is set in Europe and involves the heroine, Lucile  and two men, English Lord Alfred Hargrave and the French Duke of Luvois, who vie for Lucile's hand. 

The author provides vivid descriptions for the verse novel genre. I feel it is an atmospheric and highly observational story. It contains many reflective moments. I have mixed emotions reading it. It may be a good book for a poetry book club to devour as there could be interesting conversations about the style of writing,  different social spheres, repressing emotions, resentment and how one weighs regret.