Continuing with my journey through Anthony Trollope’s books, the next in chronological order is another one that I have not read before, La Vendée. The subtitle, an Historical Romance is a little misleading as the romantic relationships are very much a B plot in this historical novel.
La Vendée, is Trollope’s third novel, in which he has veered away from writing Irish political novels into a French historical novel. This would be his first and last such novel.
Set during the French Revolution, and inspired by real events as told in The Memoires of the Marquise de la Rochejaquelin, La Vendée tells the story of the rebellion of the Royalists of the French district known as La Vendée. The two main characters, Henri Larochejacquelin and his cousin Charles de Lescure, are real historical figures that lead the Royalist revolt against the Republicans in La Vendée , as is Jaques Cathlineau.
When the Republican army come to take up their levy of conscripts , they are met with a fierce resistance that they were unprepared for and are turned away losing their prized canon which is siezed by the rebellious royalists, making a hero of the young brave peasant, Jaques Cathlineau. This action leads to an uprising led by the young aristocrat, Henri Larochejaquelin, his cousin Charles de Lescure and Henri’s boyhood friend, Adolophe Denot,.
Lead by Cathlineau, the Royalist army, made up mainly of peasants, see initial success and are able to free many of their towns of the Republicans. Their luck turns, however, when the vain Denot, spurned by Henri’s sister, Agatha, with whom he is in love, shamed by a cowardly act in battle, and overlooked for promotion, turns against them and joins with the Republicans to get his revenge.
It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I was gripped. I have to say, reading this during and in the aftermath of the 2024 American Presidential elections, it cheered me greatly to read about republicans being beaten, albeit a very different kind of republican. On the other hand, the irony of peasants fighting and losing their lives for their aristocratic masters who will keep them enslaved, against a republic that is offering them freedom, while in America young men of colour and women are voting for a fascist would-be dictator who cares nothing for their rights or wellbeing, against a smart, intelligent women who is offering them freedom of choice, healthcare and basic human rights, was not at all lost on me.
La Vendée, is available for free as a Kindle book from Amazon
