3363 x 5025 px | 28,5 x 42,5 cm | 11,2 x 16,8 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
28 gennaio 2008
Altre informazioni:
The Bride of Lammermoor is an historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, set in Scotland in the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714). Along with A Legend of Montrose, it forms the third series of Scott's Tales of My Landlord; the two novels were published together in 1819. The novel was used as the basis for Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor. The story is fictional, but was based (Scott tells us) on an actual incident in the history of the Dalrymple family. In the mid 1600’s, Janet, the eldest daughter of Sir James Dalrymple was betrothed to David Dunbar, heir of Sir David Dunbar of Baldoon. As was the custom, the marriage was arranged by her parents but Janet loved Archibald, third Lord Rutherford, even though his family was virtually penniless. Janet’s parents had no use for poor Archibald. They forbid the relationship, insisting that she marry David. Out of duty to the tradition, Janet married David in the church of Old Luce, two miles from her home at Carsecleugh Castle. It was a hot summer day, but her brothers both recollect that Janet’s hands were “cold as ice, ” as she walked down the aisle. “I don’t want to be with him, ” Janet said to them. The same night, after the married couple entered the bedchamber at Baldoon Castle, screaming was heard from the room. When the door was forced open, the staff found Dunbar stabbed and nearly dead. Young Janet was bloodied and clasping a knife, raving and crying. She was judged to be insane and died within a month. Several versions of the story are told that describe the events that occurred in the bedchamber at Baldoon Castle. In the first, the bride stabbed her bridegroom in the bridal chamber and died of insanity. The second version sees a disappointed Archibald concealed in the chamber who stabs the bridegroom and escapes through the window into the garden. Local tradition adds a third take on the tale, that it was the Devil who killed Dunbar and who tormented Janet until she became demented.
