Review of La VendéeLa Vendée. An Historical Romance. By Anthony
Trollope, Esq. 3 vols. Colburn.—This might almost be called an “a
romantic history,” instead of a historical romance: so well known are
the leaders in the war of La Vendée in England. The realities of peasant life,
of the simple life, of the simple loyalty and superstitious devotion which
yielded to the Royalist cause such leaders as Cathelineau admit of little
added colouring. They have been, moreover, shown to us in all their warmth and
worth by Madame de Larochejacquelin, and in giving her as unsuccessful lover a
worse sort of Waverley—Adolphe Denot, the renegade and repentant.
That the author well understands the jealousies which, from the very first
moment of popular success spring ready-armed into life among the
successful,—and that he has a fair command of dialogue and feeling for
humour,—one of the lighter scenes in his romance will prove. A few words
will introduce this. After the first successful struggle with the soldiers of
the Republic at St. Florent, and their unsuccessful attempt to include in the
conscription Peter Berrier the ostler, Cathelineau, the postillion-leader,
went up to the chateau of Durbellière to ascertain how far the gentry of the
ancien régime would take part in the strife so warmly, but so
irregularly, begun.—
“When Foret and Cathelineau dismounted. . .
[end of Chapter IV] . . . than the postillion himself.”
The above passage has been purposely preferred to
one of the graver scenes of escape, onslaught, or massacre, which Mr. A.
Trollope has also touched with spirit. Let it be treated ever so lightly, ever
so philosophically, The Vendéan war is virtually a sad chronicle of noble
blood poured like water, and of brave lives laid down with but a poor result
of victory. We have dwelt on one of the lighter episodes from a natural wish to
escape the painfulness of the main record.