Harry Lorrequer
by Charles James Lever
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Description
Charles James Lever (1806-1872) was an Irish novelist of English descent. He is said to have been a ringleader in all kinds of trouble and to have behaved like a boy destined for the navy in one of Captain Marryat's novels. His escapades at Trinity College, Dublin are drawn on for the plots of some of his novels. Lever visited Canada as an unqualified surgeon on an emigrant ship, and has drawn upon some of his experiences in Con Cregan (1840), Arthur O'Leary (1844) and Roland Cashel (1849). show more His medical degree admitted him to an appointment from the Board of Health in Co. Clare but the liveliness of his diversions as a country doctor seems to have prejudiced the authorities against him. In February 1837, after varied experiences, he began running The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer through the pages of the recently established Dublin University Magazine. His brightest books, such as Lorrequer (1839), Charles O'Malley (1841), and Tom Burke of Ours (1843) are in fact little more than recitals of scenes in the life of a particular "hero, " unconnected by any continuous intrigue. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer was published in 1839 and I had the good fortune to read a William Curry first edition that was previously owned by Charles Kent, Vicar of Ludford (1807-1885), it was apparently quite the popular book back in the day.
How has it aged? In a word, fair. If you were to update the scenes to the present day it would likely make for a popular movie - one man's search for love (and money) gallivanting through Europe derailed by numerous distractions upon his journey.
It's quite a rambling novel, presented as a memoir of an English military officer on detachment to Ireland, the plot is quite flimsy, basically a stream of events with a meandering course and not a great deal of direction. It didn't really contain show more much in the way of description of how things were back in the day in terms of the functioning of civilisation, although there are a few pistol duels and numerous presentations of the horse and carriage.
Overall, it was fair a little cumbersome at times, but interesting in others. It has quite small and closely spaced font so the 344 pages is more like 700 if it were to use a modern typeface, margins and spacing. show less
How has it aged? In a word, fair. If you were to update the scenes to the present day it would likely make for a popular movie - one man's search for love (and money) gallivanting through Europe derailed by numerous distractions upon his journey.
It's quite a rambling novel, presented as a memoir of an English military officer on detachment to Ireland, the plot is quite flimsy, basically a stream of events with a meandering course and not a great deal of direction. It didn't really contain show more much in the way of description of how things were back in the day in terms of the functioning of civilisation, although there are a few pistol duels and numerous presentations of the horse and carriage.
Overall, it was fair a little cumbersome at times, but interesting in others. It has quite small and closely spaced font so the 344 pages is more like 700 if it were to use a modern typeface, margins and spacing. show less
Phiz was the illustrator of many of Charles Dickens’ novels as well as about twenty by Charles Lever.
age wear but good cond. overall
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Lists
F. B. Perkins' List of 100 Best Fiction
100 works; 5 members
150 Best Novels Selected by Brander Matthews (1883)
150 works; 7 members
Author Information
98+ Works 362 Members
Awards and Honors
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Everyman's Library (177)
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1839
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 43
- Popularity
- 689,233
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (2.88)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 5
