Legends of Lancashire

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Legends of Lancashire

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

A Victorian collection of Lancashire folktales and regional history featuring haunting moors, witchcraft, ghostly coaches, and age-old local legends. This anthology transports readers to a time when the county's bones lay in the tomb of history, blending authentic traditions with the romance of a bygone age of chivalry and rebellion.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the turbulent backdrop of 17th-century Lancashire, Peter Landreth's *Legends of Lancashire* weaves authenticated traditions of the county's past into a narrative that balances historical fact with romantic legend. The collection is framed by a preface from an elderly 'Chronicler' residing in a ruined castle. He invites readers to step back into the sixteenth century, promising a series of legends connected with the Civil Wars. Crucially, the Chronicler pledges to avoid modern party spirit, refusing to judge the merits of Roundheads or Cavaliers, and instead focusing on the accuracy of historical facts and the depth of character. He asserts that history, accurately sketched, is the truest romance. The central narrative follows Arthur Montressor, a young soldier under General Cromwell, who is confined in Lancaster Castle following the defeat of the Royalists. Montressor harbors a secret mission: to save Mary Evelyn, the orphaned daughter of Sir John Evelyn, whom he loved before her father was wrongly condemned and executed. Despite Cromwell's stern discipline and the threat of execution, Montressor attempts to assassinate the governor to free Mary, only to be stopped. In a moment of unexpected tenderness, Cromwell spares him, recognizing the tragedy of the situation. Montressor writes a final letter to Mary before facing the firing squad. The story shifts to the aftermath, where Mary and her friend Madeline Bradley find solace in each other's company, awaiting their own deaths from grief. The book concludes with a poignant note from the publisher explaining the author's sudden cessation of work, leaving the reader with a sense of historical melancholy and loss. Through these tales, Landreth captures the transition of Lancashire from a land of blood and chivalry to a commercial age, preserving the echoes of knights, squires, and tragic love stories amidst the changing times.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/peter-landreth_legends-of-lancashire.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-b55d008e9be501b5.epub

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Categories

• Folklore