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Self-Control
Self-Control (1811) was a literary sensation, going into four editions in its first year. The first novelist to set her story against a strong Scottish background, Brunton set the scene for other writers such as Walter Scott. Jane Austen was also a fan, she read it at least twice, worrying that the work might foreshadow her own creations.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1810
17 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Mary Brunton
39 books14 followersMary Brunton (née Balfour) was a Scottish novelist. Her novels redefine femininity. Fay Weldon praised them as "rich in invention, ripe with incident, shrewd in comment, and erotic in intention and fact."
Brunton started to write her first novel, Self-Control, in 1809 and it was published in 1811.
Self-Control was widely read and went into its third edition in 1812. A French translation (Laure Montreville, ou l’Empire sur soimême) appeared in Paris in 1829.
The other novel that Mary Brunton completed was Discipline (1814). Like Walter Scott's Waverley, published in the same year, it had Highland scenes that were much appreciated. It went into three editions in two years.
Brunton started to write her first novel, Self-Control, in 1809 and it was published in 1811.
Self-Control was widely read and went into its third edition in 1812. A French translation (Laure Montreville, ou l’Empire sur soimême) appeared in Paris in 1829.
The other novel that Mary Brunton completed was Discipline (1814). Like Walter Scott's Waverley, published in the same year, it had Highland scenes that were much appreciated. It went into three editions in two years.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 11, 2013
I read this book as part of my background and language style research for my own series, set a generation before this was written. It was a very popular novel for the day- and it's easy to see why, with nefarious plots and thrilling escapes, villainous villains, faintings and languishings, kidnaps and rapes- all wrapped up in improving moral lessons in which everyone gets their just deserts in the end. Jane Austen, not surprisingly, hit the nail on the head, calling it an "excellently-meant, elegantly-written work, without anything of Nature or Probability in it." The best thing that can be said about it is that it apparently inspired her to write "Sense and Sensibility" as a kind of counter to it. I think most modern readers will find it, as I did, extremely tedious, and I don't recommend it unless, like me, you are trying to get a good sense of the kind of popular novels people were reading at the time.
July 16, 2025
Mary Brunton I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate your bonkers little game the first time around
October 19, 2011
Attempted seductions, abductions, and one very distressed heroine. Brunton's meditation on the importance of self-control is exact opposite of her outlandish, out-of-control Gothic plot. Of particular interest to me is Austen's insistence on tracking down and re-reading Self Control while she was overseeing the publication of Sense and Sensibility.
June 9, 2020
Self Control By Mary Burton
I lost notepad so my notes start from page 80 and onwards. STALKING TRIGGER, SEXUAL ASSAULT and EMOTIONAL ABUSE warning! Here are my thoughts before you read my over lay of the story.
For an advanced classic literary reader. There is a great deal of character background. So relatable in regards to conflict and Laura suffering, sexual harassment as well as a stalking issue. There is poverty and struggle that’s also highlighted there.
We see domestic abuse used in this story and shows that during Jane Austin’s time they were using these books to warn one another about certain behaviours and things to be wary of. This is a very smart tact women were using.
I truly see the frame work in this book that Jane uses for her own work. Better constructed and yet she takes pieces of Mary into her words.
I can see where ideas for Pride and Prejudice came from even Sense and Sensibility came from. I feel by reading this I truly understand Jane’s work better. I see so much of the conversations of Emma having mimicking the voices and spirits of Montague and Laura.
Synopsis:
A strong independent woman makes money to help her father and refuses to take any of it. Unknownst to her she has captured the heart of the very sensitive, sensible De Courcy. Who’s family have had a rocky time of it.
Her father has taken to depression and Laura does all she can to lift his spirits. Warren (Captain Montreville) raises those spirits. He invites them to dine with his family where they all grow closer to Laura. Her father gains home and Warren a passion for Laura.
Laura is warned by her friend that Hargrove is on his way. He makes her nervous and time seems to ease her concerns about him.
She sells her paintings. Her father hates she is relaying on her art to keep them. He tries to ban her from it. Warren who is now in love with Laura has to leave to deliver bad news and it rips him in two.
The De Courcey take Laura to her first play and treat her like family. Warren plots to ruin her reputation and who she is. He boasts at a party. Her father attends him the next day unaware.
Warren sneaks out and takes Laura far away in an attempt to ruin her. She fights back and gets off the wagon. She heads home, meanwhile her father grow tired of waiting on Warren so he leaves.
Arriving home Laura’s father discovers she is not there and a note warning him of her possible ruining. This breaks him and he becomes very ill. The family and surgeon are called upon, they all attend him.
Laura comes home to find this out and it destroys her. She is given support by friends and people who work in her house.
Mr De Courcey hears about Laura’s distress and fathers health. He rushes to her side and there he comforts her, also her father. Her father sees this as Laura’s last hope to not end up homeless or stuck in poverty.
Mr De Courcey acquires some of their lost money back, moves Laura’s father who’s getting better to better housing. He is falling for Laura and she him. Only they are getting in each other’s way.
Mr De Courcy discovers Laura’s painting of thanks for all he has done and it tells him that she loves him too. This leads to her outrage at the surprise being destroyed.
This results in him going to Norwood to rid himself of his love for Laura.
Laura’s father spirits dip and she is unable to raise them. She is then confronted by the housekeeper about the real costs of the rooms. She refuses to share the burden with her father and pays off the debt. Her fears of poverty raised even higher. Her father appeals to her to take a husband to be safe. She refuses.
Laura sends her picture to De Courcy who write a happier note back but does not bring De Courcy back to them. She is determined to sell her portfolio to earn them money. She refuses to roll over and die like her father.
Laura goes to visit a relative to beg for help, but is relieved when she is not there. She sells her drawing but runs into Hargrove and promptly faints in the shop after trying to avoid him.
Hargrove imposes his presence upon Laura in the carriage and then at her fathers residence. After trying to get her to warm to him he leads her to believe that he is confessing his sins.
Her father overhears it and sees it as her last chance at being safe. This could be her salvation. He begs and brow beats her down hoping to get her to accept Hargraves emotional pleas to her.
Laura discovers her debt to the surgeon is paid and a weights lifted off of her shoulders. I wonder why she does not want to know who paid the surgeon.
Hargraves forces himself into Laura’s painting room demanding her to marry him. He exhausts all possible routes. She rejects him, becomes distressed and leaves. He finds De Courcy sketch and book. He puts two and three together only to get six. Hargrave confronts Laura by dragging her back into the paint room.
Laura denies his accusations and becomes hurt by them. She cries and he eventually lets her leave in tact. She forbids private meetings between them and maintains that even when he tries to see her, writes her and becomes more obsessed with her.
Hargrove employees Laura’s father to plead his case to Laura which he does. She grows sicker with her restricted diet. She struggles to survive her fathers attempts to change her mind and accept Hargrave as her partner.
Late one night Hargrave turns up looking like a mad man and begs to speak to Laura alone. Her father orders her to do so.
Laura rejects Hargrave’s late night purposal. She faints, the sight of her near death brings on her father’s illness. He dies and Laura is heart broken.
We see how Hargrave becomes so obsessive about Laura and his unborn child with a married woman driving him to madness. He can’t handle the scandal coming towards him.
Hargrave is forced to endure a duel against the woman he got pregnant. He injures the man who survives. Returning home he sends the woman off to relatives before trying to presented his case to Laura.
When he hears of the death of Laura’s father Hargrave stalks Laura to see her new life. He writes a pressure filled letter and when he goes to visit her he finds that she has left.
Courcy returns to the city after hearing of her fathers passing, but despite his fruitless attempts he can’t find her. He leaves down trodden and heart broken. His anger at Hargrave burning brightly.
We see Laura grieve and come up with a plan to get herself back on her feet. Her grief is deep and draws out emotions in me. She turns to Lady Pelham with a plan.
Laura starts living with Lady Pelham without knowing the woman’s true motives. She entertains and learns she has no friends of such. Lady Pelham wants Laura to stay for very selfish reasons.
Doing everything she can, Laura does her best to conceal where she is living from Hargrave however thinks of him often.
She believes he can never become a better person.
Laura overhears Hargrove which leads to her fainting. The storm she had to regroup and does to offer her some peace of mind. She leaves with Lady Pelham.
Lady Pelham takes Laura to the country where she is visited almost everyday by Mr De Courcy, she has sworn off love, bless him. Lady Pelham refuses to stop questioning Laura about her mood and Hargrave leading to the women having a tiff.
Mr De Courcy and Miss De Courcy invite Laura along with Lady Pelham to dine. Miss De Courcy says her mother will be so happy to see her that she will pay the price of Lady Pelham.
Mr De Courcy and his mother discuss Laura often in his book. She reassures him and tries to sway him of his concerns regarding Hargrave and it’s starts to work. She implores him to spend as much time with Laura as humanly possible. He does.
Miss De Courcy intergates Laura. Mr Courcy stands up for Laura. She loves this, but this might be all it is.
Laura meets a boy who’s hurt and at the house. She carried home to where she is asked to join dinner. She agree.
Through an attack from his sister, Laura learns that De Courcy supports a child. He is reluctant to discuss it. Later by the fire Laura condemns Hargrave for his actions. She is shocked to learn of the suitor that Harriet wished to marry. She expresses this freely. Harriet encourages Laura to feel more than cordial to her brother.
Laura undergoes the negative response from Lady Pelham about how she has enjoyed even turned around her feelings in relation to the De Courcy’s hospitality.
After months she is able to reunite Lady Pelham and her daughter Mrs Herbert. This is a horrible time where the pair abuse each other and the husband who is opposite to their cruel attitudes struggles. One day is pushed to far and flees with his wife. Ending any reconciliation that Laura had hoped to create.
Harriet becomes excited by a proposal from an older man. She asks Laura for assistance in her decision. Her brother sees it as a way to move forwards with his own affections.
Hargrave stews in jealousy state. His mother attempts to give him hope. As does his sister. He is still hung up on Laura.
Hargrave returns and it throws Laura. She fears him but stands strong. She escapes with Harriets mother. She is pleased by what she sees. Hargrave stews till they reunite at dinner.
De Courcy admits his love jokingly to
Laura. His jealous mother silences him before he had to endure an awkward explanation. They have fun and a happy time.
Laura’s aunt calls her away and they have a tiff in the carriage over Hargrave’s visit to Lady Pelham. Laura allows her aunt to recover from the argument without injuring her pride.
Laura and Hargrave argue over his attempts to sway her mind. She stands tall. She is bombarded with advances from Hargrave and her Aunt. She becomes a prisoner in her Aunts home to avoid him. Finally he writes to Lady Pelham to say he has quit her.
Laura makes for Norwoods right away t explain things to her friends. Laura is welcomed warmly by Mrs De Courcy despite Montague treating her coldly. She is able to share her plight with them. On her way home Laura discovers the plot that Lady Pelham has planned by a veteran rider.
Upon returning home and allowing Lady Pelham a good evening she confronts her aunt. The woman’s temper flares so high that she strikes Laura hard.
Laura returns to her room and writes a note to Mrs De Courcy where she promises to visit at breakfast. That night her aunt threatens her with throwing her out and Laura accepts. This makes Lady Pelham’s rage worse and she locks Laura in.
After spending the night cooling down, Lady Pelham does all she can to get Laura to forgive and attend the trip with her. She gets forgiven but Laura stays firm and leaves for Norwoods for the duration of her aunts stay at Lady Belthrusts.
Later that day Lady Pelham fails to be able to get word to Hargrove of Laura not attending. He is restraint in his understanding and work together to figure out how to conquer Laura’s stubbornness on their way to Lady Belthrust for Hargrove also promised to visit to which he can’t pull out of.
Laura and Montague dance around the topic of his love for her. She helps Harriet get married and detests the day that she must return to her aunt. Montague puts
up with Hargrove’s persistence with her and his rudeness to him. Laura fears a fight is brewing.
Laura is tested and teased by the other women at Harriet’s wedding about Montague’s love for her. She can’t be sure and fights the notion tooth and nail. She even scolds herself for being so foolish.
Montague believes he will share his love for Laura the moment she is due to leave however chickens out.
Hargrave continues his endless presuits and the De Courcy are her only refuge. Lady Pelham teases continuously about the De Courcy. She plans to take Laura back to London and has a better plan in place this time.
De Courcy declares his love for Laura who responds in fear and withdraws. They agree on friendship only when Laura returns home she wants more and fears she made a big mistake reaches out to Mrs Douglas.
After discovering Laura’s savings she hatched a plan to obtain the money. She manages to and does not repay the loan that worries Laura as it’s her only means of escape to London.
Mrs Douglas writes telling her from the information provided that she approves of the man that Laura has referred to as De Courcy. That she must overcome her fears in order to have real love and affection that friendship is not enough.
Mrs Douglas gives Laura hope that if she wishes to just be friends that it will be possible due to the mans sensibilities and Christianity. He will further her mind.
Laura is ambushes by a restrained Hargrave that gives the impression he has quit his persuits. Instead he is going along with a plan Lady Pelham and an old family friend came up with in response to Laura. They plan to degrade her into marrying Hargrave. He feels guilty about this.
Laura survives her latest scheme from her aunt. Her aunt holds her against her will by not returning the money she was lent. Hargrove plans a new scheme to make Laura indebted to him but still she sticks to her beliefs even if it means being whisked away to jail.
Laura manages to get away from the men and Hargrove where she locks herself away in the apartments. She sends her maid but she is returned without seeing the outside world. She works out Hargrave’s plan and suspects her aunt. She refuses to leave her refuge.
Laura is saved by a friend and the men Hargrove employed admitted all to the servants. This led to Lady Pelham pleadings and manipulating Laura into returning to Norwood. There her attachment to De Courcy grows once more.
Hargrove has secret meetings with Lady Pelham. She refuses to give up in her attempts at that union so she does her best to sow seeds of scandal and manipulation. Laura though grows closer to him by the day. For his actions show him to be a good moral abiding man.
Laura discovers through Harriet a secret that her aunt tries to use to pull her apart from Montague. Instead what she learns and shares with her aunt, the brutal attack that Hargrove did to Montague’s nurses daughter is enough to make the aunt think twice. This makes Laura even more disgusted by Hargrove.
Montague wonders what has Laura so distracted when he joins Laura and his sister on their return walk to the manor. He sighs when Laura stresses the term friend after his sister teases her friend about them being lovers.
Montague discloses his feelings for Laura after being tipped off by his sister. He is interrupted by Hargrave’s unwanted visit. The pair dance around the idea of a duel. Laura reappearing stops that and she proclaims her fears of losing Montague which gives him hope. Allows him to realise that she loves him back. He returns her to the house.
Montague informs Hargrave he will not duel him and this does not sit well. Later that evening Montague and Laura proclaim their love, they discuss marriage. Laura reveals this to her aunt Lady Pelham and her hopes to return to Scotland until Mrs De Courcy and herself are ready for her return. This sparks rage in Lady Pelham.
Lady Pelham calls Hargrave to her and tells him of the scheme. His violent and reaction to the news scares her more than losing her niece. She wants Hargrave and Laura to be together however none of speeches impacts Laura.
Hargrave draws his pistol and shoots Montague De Courcy leaving a Nast neck wound. Laura does all she can to save him and when Hargrave sends a surgeon to her he tells her that she saved Montague. Hargrave vanishes.
During Laura’s struggle her aunt takes an attack which sends her to her bed where Betty must attend her. Laura returns to Walbourne for the night. When she decides to leave the next morning she discovers her fallen aunt. Seven days later her aunt takes a fit and does. Laura all the while attending to her spirit, mind and body.
Montague recovers and the will is settled. Laura plans to go to Scotland however is kidnapped. Montague finds out and gets sick before going in search of her, he finds no trace of her.
Laura is kidnapped and taken into a series of captors hands. She is taken on boat ship and they sail to Canada or at least believes so. She is taken off the boat and up a river, through the forest towards what she believes to be her final destination.
She is taken to a cabin where she is guarded closely. Laura grows weak and frail. They stop watching her so closely as Laura continues to long for death. She writes a letter to Mrs Douglas and responds to Hargrave’s own telling her of his delay even his intent.
Laura comes across a canoe and launches into an escape. Her worn out frame means she can’t make it to the village and Indian cornbread is all she has to eat. She is swept away into rougher waters. Her body loses the oar and exhaustion prevents her getting to safety.
She attaches her cloak to the canoe and prays for deliverance. She is found by a farmer and with the families aid, a Scottish Captain she finds her way back to Scotland, he then sees her into a couch that takes her back to Mrs Douglas.
Welcomed back by Mrs Douglas she returns to her fathers farm and tries to accept her new life. One day not long after the man who helped to hold her comes with a letter to her. He tells them what happened to Hargrave, unable to hear the end Mrs Douglas hears it for her.
Hargrave writes a letter of her innocence, pays three hundred pounds for it to be delivered and takes his own life after thinking Laura had taken hers.
Mrs Douglas convinces Laura to write to Mrs De Courcy to explain her new situation after she had informed them of her safe return. How she was freeing Montague from his engagement since she could not prove of her purity.
In the end Montague shows up and they are reunited. Laura married him and finds happiness in marriage even if she had to work at keeping her virtues.
I lost notepad so my notes start from page 80 and onwards. STALKING TRIGGER, SEXUAL ASSAULT and EMOTIONAL ABUSE warning! Here are my thoughts before you read my over lay of the story.
For an advanced classic literary reader. There is a great deal of character background. So relatable in regards to conflict and Laura suffering, sexual harassment as well as a stalking issue. There is poverty and struggle that’s also highlighted there.
We see domestic abuse used in this story and shows that during Jane Austin’s time they were using these books to warn one another about certain behaviours and things to be wary of. This is a very smart tact women were using.
I truly see the frame work in this book that Jane uses for her own work. Better constructed and yet she takes pieces of Mary into her words.
I can see where ideas for Pride and Prejudice came from even Sense and Sensibility came from. I feel by reading this I truly understand Jane’s work better. I see so much of the conversations of Emma having mimicking the voices and spirits of Montague and Laura.
Synopsis:
A strong independent woman makes money to help her father and refuses to take any of it. Unknownst to her she has captured the heart of the very sensitive, sensible De Courcy. Who’s family have had a rocky time of it.
Her father has taken to depression and Laura does all she can to lift his spirits. Warren (Captain Montreville) raises those spirits. He invites them to dine with his family where they all grow closer to Laura. Her father gains home and Warren a passion for Laura.
Laura is warned by her friend that Hargrove is on his way. He makes her nervous and time seems to ease her concerns about him.
She sells her paintings. Her father hates she is relaying on her art to keep them. He tries to ban her from it. Warren who is now in love with Laura has to leave to deliver bad news and it rips him in two.
The De Courcey take Laura to her first play and treat her like family. Warren plots to ruin her reputation and who she is. He boasts at a party. Her father attends him the next day unaware.
Warren sneaks out and takes Laura far away in an attempt to ruin her. She fights back and gets off the wagon. She heads home, meanwhile her father grow tired of waiting on Warren so he leaves.
Arriving home Laura’s father discovers she is not there and a note warning him of her possible ruining. This breaks him and he becomes very ill. The family and surgeon are called upon, they all attend him.
Laura comes home to find this out and it destroys her. She is given support by friends and people who work in her house.
Mr De Courcey hears about Laura’s distress and fathers health. He rushes to her side and there he comforts her, also her father. Her father sees this as Laura’s last hope to not end up homeless or stuck in poverty.
Mr De Courcey acquires some of their lost money back, moves Laura’s father who’s getting better to better housing. He is falling for Laura and she him. Only they are getting in each other’s way.
Mr De Courcy discovers Laura’s painting of thanks for all he has done and it tells him that she loves him too. This leads to her outrage at the surprise being destroyed.
This results in him going to Norwood to rid himself of his love for Laura.
Laura’s father spirits dip and she is unable to raise them. She is then confronted by the housekeeper about the real costs of the rooms. She refuses to share the burden with her father and pays off the debt. Her fears of poverty raised even higher. Her father appeals to her to take a husband to be safe. She refuses.
Laura sends her picture to De Courcy who write a happier note back but does not bring De Courcy back to them. She is determined to sell her portfolio to earn them money. She refuses to roll over and die like her father.
Laura goes to visit a relative to beg for help, but is relieved when she is not there. She sells her drawing but runs into Hargrove and promptly faints in the shop after trying to avoid him.
Hargrove imposes his presence upon Laura in the carriage and then at her fathers residence. After trying to get her to warm to him he leads her to believe that he is confessing his sins.
Her father overhears it and sees it as her last chance at being safe. This could be her salvation. He begs and brow beats her down hoping to get her to accept Hargraves emotional pleas to her.
Laura discovers her debt to the surgeon is paid and a weights lifted off of her shoulders. I wonder why she does not want to know who paid the surgeon.
Hargraves forces himself into Laura’s painting room demanding her to marry him. He exhausts all possible routes. She rejects him, becomes distressed and leaves. He finds De Courcy sketch and book. He puts two and three together only to get six. Hargrave confronts Laura by dragging her back into the paint room.
Laura denies his accusations and becomes hurt by them. She cries and he eventually lets her leave in tact. She forbids private meetings between them and maintains that even when he tries to see her, writes her and becomes more obsessed with her.
Hargrove employees Laura’s father to plead his case to Laura which he does. She grows sicker with her restricted diet. She struggles to survive her fathers attempts to change her mind and accept Hargrave as her partner.
Late one night Hargrave turns up looking like a mad man and begs to speak to Laura alone. Her father orders her to do so.
Laura rejects Hargrave’s late night purposal. She faints, the sight of her near death brings on her father’s illness. He dies and Laura is heart broken.
We see how Hargrave becomes so obsessive about Laura and his unborn child with a married woman driving him to madness. He can’t handle the scandal coming towards him.
Hargrave is forced to endure a duel against the woman he got pregnant. He injures the man who survives. Returning home he sends the woman off to relatives before trying to presented his case to Laura.
When he hears of the death of Laura’s father Hargrave stalks Laura to see her new life. He writes a pressure filled letter and when he goes to visit her he finds that she has left.
Courcy returns to the city after hearing of her fathers passing, but despite his fruitless attempts he can’t find her. He leaves down trodden and heart broken. His anger at Hargrave burning brightly.
We see Laura grieve and come up with a plan to get herself back on her feet. Her grief is deep and draws out emotions in me. She turns to Lady Pelham with a plan.
Laura starts living with Lady Pelham without knowing the woman’s true motives. She entertains and learns she has no friends of such. Lady Pelham wants Laura to stay for very selfish reasons.
Doing everything she can, Laura does her best to conceal where she is living from Hargrave however thinks of him often.
She believes he can never become a better person.
Laura overhears Hargrove which leads to her fainting. The storm she had to regroup and does to offer her some peace of mind. She leaves with Lady Pelham.
Lady Pelham takes Laura to the country where she is visited almost everyday by Mr De Courcy, she has sworn off love, bless him. Lady Pelham refuses to stop questioning Laura about her mood and Hargrave leading to the women having a tiff.
Mr De Courcy and Miss De Courcy invite Laura along with Lady Pelham to dine. Miss De Courcy says her mother will be so happy to see her that she will pay the price of Lady Pelham.
Mr De Courcy and his mother discuss Laura often in his book. She reassures him and tries to sway him of his concerns regarding Hargrave and it’s starts to work. She implores him to spend as much time with Laura as humanly possible. He does.
Miss De Courcy intergates Laura. Mr Courcy stands up for Laura. She loves this, but this might be all it is.
Laura meets a boy who’s hurt and at the house. She carried home to where she is asked to join dinner. She agree.
Through an attack from his sister, Laura learns that De Courcy supports a child. He is reluctant to discuss it. Later by the fire Laura condemns Hargrave for his actions. She is shocked to learn of the suitor that Harriet wished to marry. She expresses this freely. Harriet encourages Laura to feel more than cordial to her brother.
Laura undergoes the negative response from Lady Pelham about how she has enjoyed even turned around her feelings in relation to the De Courcy’s hospitality.
After months she is able to reunite Lady Pelham and her daughter Mrs Herbert. This is a horrible time where the pair abuse each other and the husband who is opposite to their cruel attitudes struggles. One day is pushed to far and flees with his wife. Ending any reconciliation that Laura had hoped to create.
Harriet becomes excited by a proposal from an older man. She asks Laura for assistance in her decision. Her brother sees it as a way to move forwards with his own affections.
Hargrave stews in jealousy state. His mother attempts to give him hope. As does his sister. He is still hung up on Laura.
Hargrave returns and it throws Laura. She fears him but stands strong. She escapes with Harriets mother. She is pleased by what she sees. Hargrave stews till they reunite at dinner.
De Courcy admits his love jokingly to
Laura. His jealous mother silences him before he had to endure an awkward explanation. They have fun and a happy time.
Laura’s aunt calls her away and they have a tiff in the carriage over Hargrave’s visit to Lady Pelham. Laura allows her aunt to recover from the argument without injuring her pride.
Laura and Hargrave argue over his attempts to sway her mind. She stands tall. She is bombarded with advances from Hargrave and her Aunt. She becomes a prisoner in her Aunts home to avoid him. Finally he writes to Lady Pelham to say he has quit her.
Laura makes for Norwoods right away t explain things to her friends. Laura is welcomed warmly by Mrs De Courcy despite Montague treating her coldly. She is able to share her plight with them. On her way home Laura discovers the plot that Lady Pelham has planned by a veteran rider.
Upon returning home and allowing Lady Pelham a good evening she confronts her aunt. The woman’s temper flares so high that she strikes Laura hard.
Laura returns to her room and writes a note to Mrs De Courcy where she promises to visit at breakfast. That night her aunt threatens her with throwing her out and Laura accepts. This makes Lady Pelham’s rage worse and she locks Laura in.
After spending the night cooling down, Lady Pelham does all she can to get Laura to forgive and attend the trip with her. She gets forgiven but Laura stays firm and leaves for Norwoods for the duration of her aunts stay at Lady Belthrusts.
Later that day Lady Pelham fails to be able to get word to Hargrove of Laura not attending. He is restraint in his understanding and work together to figure out how to conquer Laura’s stubbornness on their way to Lady Belthrust for Hargrove also promised to visit to which he can’t pull out of.
Laura and Montague dance around the topic of his love for her. She helps Harriet get married and detests the day that she must return to her aunt. Montague puts
up with Hargrove’s persistence with her and his rudeness to him. Laura fears a fight is brewing.
Laura is tested and teased by the other women at Harriet’s wedding about Montague’s love for her. She can’t be sure and fights the notion tooth and nail. She even scolds herself for being so foolish.
Montague believes he will share his love for Laura the moment she is due to leave however chickens out.
Hargrave continues his endless presuits and the De Courcy are her only refuge. Lady Pelham teases continuously about the De Courcy. She plans to take Laura back to London and has a better plan in place this time.
De Courcy declares his love for Laura who responds in fear and withdraws. They agree on friendship only when Laura returns home she wants more and fears she made a big mistake reaches out to Mrs Douglas.
After discovering Laura’s savings she hatched a plan to obtain the money. She manages to and does not repay the loan that worries Laura as it’s her only means of escape to London.
Mrs Douglas writes telling her from the information provided that she approves of the man that Laura has referred to as De Courcy. That she must overcome her fears in order to have real love and affection that friendship is not enough.
Mrs Douglas gives Laura hope that if she wishes to just be friends that it will be possible due to the mans sensibilities and Christianity. He will further her mind.
Laura is ambushes by a restrained Hargrave that gives the impression he has quit his persuits. Instead he is going along with a plan Lady Pelham and an old family friend came up with in response to Laura. They plan to degrade her into marrying Hargrave. He feels guilty about this.
Laura survives her latest scheme from her aunt. Her aunt holds her against her will by not returning the money she was lent. Hargrove plans a new scheme to make Laura indebted to him but still she sticks to her beliefs even if it means being whisked away to jail.
Laura manages to get away from the men and Hargrove where she locks herself away in the apartments. She sends her maid but she is returned without seeing the outside world. She works out Hargrave’s plan and suspects her aunt. She refuses to leave her refuge.
Laura is saved by a friend and the men Hargrove employed admitted all to the servants. This led to Lady Pelham pleadings and manipulating Laura into returning to Norwood. There her attachment to De Courcy grows once more.
Hargrove has secret meetings with Lady Pelham. She refuses to give up in her attempts at that union so she does her best to sow seeds of scandal and manipulation. Laura though grows closer to him by the day. For his actions show him to be a good moral abiding man.
Laura discovers through Harriet a secret that her aunt tries to use to pull her apart from Montague. Instead what she learns and shares with her aunt, the brutal attack that Hargrove did to Montague’s nurses daughter is enough to make the aunt think twice. This makes Laura even more disgusted by Hargrove.
Montague wonders what has Laura so distracted when he joins Laura and his sister on their return walk to the manor. He sighs when Laura stresses the term friend after his sister teases her friend about them being lovers.
Montague discloses his feelings for Laura after being tipped off by his sister. He is interrupted by Hargrave’s unwanted visit. The pair dance around the idea of a duel. Laura reappearing stops that and she proclaims her fears of losing Montague which gives him hope. Allows him to realise that she loves him back. He returns her to the house.
Montague informs Hargrave he will not duel him and this does not sit well. Later that evening Montague and Laura proclaim their love, they discuss marriage. Laura reveals this to her aunt Lady Pelham and her hopes to return to Scotland until Mrs De Courcy and herself are ready for her return. This sparks rage in Lady Pelham.
Lady Pelham calls Hargrave to her and tells him of the scheme. His violent and reaction to the news scares her more than losing her niece. She wants Hargrave and Laura to be together however none of speeches impacts Laura.
Hargrave draws his pistol and shoots Montague De Courcy leaving a Nast neck wound. Laura does all she can to save him and when Hargrave sends a surgeon to her he tells her that she saved Montague. Hargrave vanishes.
During Laura’s struggle her aunt takes an attack which sends her to her bed where Betty must attend her. Laura returns to Walbourne for the night. When she decides to leave the next morning she discovers her fallen aunt. Seven days later her aunt takes a fit and does. Laura all the while attending to her spirit, mind and body.
Montague recovers and the will is settled. Laura plans to go to Scotland however is kidnapped. Montague finds out and gets sick before going in search of her, he finds no trace of her.
Laura is kidnapped and taken into a series of captors hands. She is taken on boat ship and they sail to Canada or at least believes so. She is taken off the boat and up a river, through the forest towards what she believes to be her final destination.
She is taken to a cabin where she is guarded closely. Laura grows weak and frail. They stop watching her so closely as Laura continues to long for death. She writes a letter to Mrs Douglas and responds to Hargrave’s own telling her of his delay even his intent.
Laura comes across a canoe and launches into an escape. Her worn out frame means she can’t make it to the village and Indian cornbread is all she has to eat. She is swept away into rougher waters. Her body loses the oar and exhaustion prevents her getting to safety.
She attaches her cloak to the canoe and prays for deliverance. She is found by a farmer and with the families aid, a Scottish Captain she finds her way back to Scotland, he then sees her into a couch that takes her back to Mrs Douglas.
Welcomed back by Mrs Douglas she returns to her fathers farm and tries to accept her new life. One day not long after the man who helped to hold her comes with a letter to her. He tells them what happened to Hargrave, unable to hear the end Mrs Douglas hears it for her.
Hargrave writes a letter of her innocence, pays three hundred pounds for it to be delivered and takes his own life after thinking Laura had taken hers.
Mrs Douglas convinces Laura to write to Mrs De Courcy to explain her new situation after she had informed them of her safe return. How she was freeing Montague from his engagement since she could not prove of her purity.
In the end Montague shows up and they are reunited. Laura married him and finds happiness in marriage even if she had to work at keeping her virtues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
Well I’ll tell you- at times this book had me so emotionally worn out that I had to take a break and switch over to another book for a couple of days.
There is so much strife and angst that at times I felt really anxious about it.
Also I was so frustrated at the heroine for her lack of being able to tell Hargrove to take a hike! I well understand during this time that wasn’t proper, but I would have sure had a difficult time with that role.
I’ve never had a problem telling someone to scram, and I never felt un-Christian-like about it, either.
There are times where the plot seemed to go on & on just for the sake of length.
But I must say I love a happy ending. I felt I deserved it as much as I had gone through with Laura, and she endured so much in her young life, I’m certain it made her appreciate the good things during the remainder of her life even more.
Although some reviewers are less kind regarding this one, don’t let that stop you from reading this, especially if you enjoy Victorian fiction as much as I do.
I listened to the free LibriVox audiobook, Version 2, read by the very capable Simon Evers.
There is so much strife and angst that at times I felt really anxious about it.
Also I was so frustrated at the heroine for her lack of being able to tell Hargrove to take a hike! I well understand during this time that wasn’t proper, but I would have sure had a difficult time with that role.
I’ve never had a problem telling someone to scram, and I never felt un-Christian-like about it, either.
There are times where the plot seemed to go on & on just for the sake of length.
But I must say I love a happy ending. I felt I deserved it as much as I had gone through with Laura, and she endured so much in her young life, I’m certain it made her appreciate the good things during the remainder of her life even more.
Although some reviewers are less kind regarding this one, don’t let that stop you from reading this, especially if you enjoy Victorian fiction as much as I do.
I listened to the free LibriVox audiobook, Version 2, read by the very capable Simon Evers.
December 28, 2012
You can see why Mary is said to be the mother of Romantic Fiction and the Stoic Heroine. Predates Pride and Prejudice. Writing is a little naive but the structure, flow, purpose and pace are all there.
April 23, 2011
Quite terribly written I think, especially in the first bit. It gets slightly better as we go on, except for the absurd ending.
June 20, 2020
I mean is not Austen but it is well written and entretaining
Read
January 28, 2024“So true it is, that concealment is the bane of friendship.”
While the book certainly has merits, it also has enough detractors to discourage modern audiences, though most of those detractors were also criticisms leveled at the book upon its release, for the circumstances and situations within it do grow more and more unlikely and melodramatic as the story progresses. At the same time, the story is scattered with examples of well-written lines and genuinely good insights into human character. It also gives an unexpectedly sympathetic view of a family whose lives have been affected by sexual assault, and when we are often told about how women were always treated by society at large more as objects and property in previous eras, seeing evidence in that era’s novels that there was still a large population of people who condemned that behavior is a refreshing view. Not that there are not attitudes within the story that many of us might find hard to take, but the novel treats its characters as realized people regardless of gender, and its heroes are always respectful of women, while the lack of it it is a clear and obvious flaw of its villains.
(In fact, the behavior of the book’s ultimate hero holds up better than many a man in a modern romcom, for Montague de Courcy does not press his attentions or even tell Laura of them while her situation would make a refusal of him uncomfortable due to constant contact; and then when he is refused, he is true to his word and doesn’t make Laura feel bad about rejecting him or try to manipulate friendship into making her fall in love with him.)
From a social perspective, Laura’s precarious situation is exacerbated by being a young woman with no protector, no wealth, and no advantage of a high position in society. That being said, her trials do linger on in a way that becomes, quite frankly, tiresome (and increasingly more unbelievable, as her aunt's dogged pressure for her to marry our villain Hargrave even in the face of worse and worse evidence of his depravity, for example, begins to feel more like plot armor than convincing motive) until they finally conclude in a most unlikely manner.
In truth, the faults of this novel are especially disappointing because there are so many glimmers of promise within the pages; had it committed to a more realistic plot without falling into pits of melodrama, it could have, I believe, better withstood the tests of time.
My personal favorite parts of the novel were when the author would drag her own characters in the most delightfully insulting way- Mrs. Brunton seemed to have a particular displeasure for bad and incompetent mothers, and described Laura’s in particular as having a heart that was a “mere pulsation of the left side.” Perhaps I also loved these moments because it’s proof that people never really change, and I can tell you I’ve certainly known modern versions of the sorts described below:
“Having no character of her own, Julia was always, as nearly as she was able, the heroine whom the last read novel inclined her to impersonate. But as those who forsake the guidance of nature are in imminent danger of absurdity, her copies were always caricatures.”
or:
“Colonel Hargrave had been the spoiled child of a weak mother, and he continued to retain one characteristic of spoiled children: some powerful stimulant was with him a necessary of life. He despised all pleasures of regular occurrence and moderate degree; and even looked down upon those who could be satisfied with such enjoyments, as on beings confined to a meaner mode of existence.”
and finally:
Lady Pelham could amuse–could delight; she said many wise, and many brilliant things; but her wisdom was not always well-timed, and her brilliant things were soap-bubbles in the sun, sparkling and highly colored, but vanishing at the touch of him who would examine their structure.
One last, notable thing: we have Jane Austen’s surviving opinion of it. In 1813 she wrote, "I am looking over Self Control again, and my opinion is confirmed of its being an excellently-meant, elegantly-written work, without anything of nature or probability in it.” Truth be told, I think Miss Austen pretty much had the right of it, and her opinion stands just as well today as it did then.
While the book certainly has merits, it also has enough detractors to discourage modern audiences, though most of those detractors were also criticisms leveled at the book upon its release, for the circumstances and situations within it do grow more and more unlikely and melodramatic as the story progresses. At the same time, the story is scattered with examples of well-written lines and genuinely good insights into human character. It also gives an unexpectedly sympathetic view of a family whose lives have been affected by sexual assault, and when we are often told about how women were always treated by society at large more as objects and property in previous eras, seeing evidence in that era’s novels that there was still a large population of people who condemned that behavior is a refreshing view. Not that there are not attitudes within the story that many of us might find hard to take, but the novel treats its characters as realized people regardless of gender, and its heroes are always respectful of women, while the lack of it it is a clear and obvious flaw of its villains.
(In fact, the behavior of the book’s ultimate hero holds up better than many a man in a modern romcom, for Montague de Courcy does not press his attentions or even tell Laura of them while her situation would make a refusal of him uncomfortable due to constant contact; and then when he is refused, he is true to his word and doesn’t make Laura feel bad about rejecting him or try to manipulate friendship into making her fall in love with him.)
From a social perspective, Laura’s precarious situation is exacerbated by being a young woman with no protector, no wealth, and no advantage of a high position in society. That being said, her trials do linger on in a way that becomes, quite frankly, tiresome (and increasingly more unbelievable, as her aunt's dogged pressure for her to marry our villain Hargrave even in the face of worse and worse evidence of his depravity, for example, begins to feel more like plot armor than convincing motive) until they finally conclude in a most unlikely manner.
In truth, the faults of this novel are especially disappointing because there are so many glimmers of promise within the pages; had it committed to a more realistic plot without falling into pits of melodrama, it could have, I believe, better withstood the tests of time.
My personal favorite parts of the novel were when the author would drag her own characters in the most delightfully insulting way- Mrs. Brunton seemed to have a particular displeasure for bad and incompetent mothers, and described Laura’s in particular as having a heart that was a “mere pulsation of the left side.” Perhaps I also loved these moments because it’s proof that people never really change, and I can tell you I’ve certainly known modern versions of the sorts described below:
“Having no character of her own, Julia was always, as nearly as she was able, the heroine whom the last read novel inclined her to impersonate. But as those who forsake the guidance of nature are in imminent danger of absurdity, her copies were always caricatures.”
or:
“Colonel Hargrave had been the spoiled child of a weak mother, and he continued to retain one characteristic of spoiled children: some powerful stimulant was with him a necessary of life. He despised all pleasures of regular occurrence and moderate degree; and even looked down upon those who could be satisfied with such enjoyments, as on beings confined to a meaner mode of existence.”
and finally:
Lady Pelham could amuse–could delight; she said many wise, and many brilliant things; but her wisdom was not always well-timed, and her brilliant things were soap-bubbles in the sun, sparkling and highly colored, but vanishing at the touch of him who would examine their structure.
One last, notable thing: we have Jane Austen’s surviving opinion of it. In 1813 she wrote, "I am looking over Self Control again, and my opinion is confirmed of its being an excellently-meant, elegantly-written work, without anything of nature or probability in it.” Truth be told, I think Miss Austen pretty much had the right of it, and her opinion stands just as well today as it did then.
June 30, 2021
TW: male entitlement, sexual harassment, attempted rape, sexual assault
Anyway, I made it to the end, which was as "improbable" as Wikipedia suggests, and it wasn't a terrible listen. 2-star rating is because I honestly don't want Good Reads to recommend me anything like it.
Anyway, I made it to the end, which was as "improbable" as Wikipedia suggests, and it wasn't a terrible listen. 2-star rating is because I honestly don't want Good Reads to recommend me anything like it.
May 27, 2024
I feel like this is the novel that Mansfield Park wanted to be but failed.
Yeah it was trashy and there were parts that were ridiculous AF that Jane Austen jested about in her letters, but hey, this was a fun time even if its original purpose was to moralize.
I feel like this is so underrated especially on how criticizes romance tropes that still persist to this day--particularly the idea of the reformed rake becoming a good husband. Brunton makes it clear here that one can't really change terrible men. Also, despite this being an "evangelical novel" the novel does make a clear statement of "No means NO." It is proto-feminist AF and I wonder if Charlotte Bronte read this. There are moments where I felt like the main character's head feels like Jane Eyre (the part where Jane goes "I care for myself"). But maybe that's just me. I feel that this is one story we need now, and I want more stories like this.
Yeah it was trashy and there were parts that were ridiculous AF that Jane Austen jested about in her letters, but hey, this was a fun time even if its original purpose was to moralize.
I feel like this is so underrated especially on how criticizes romance tropes that still persist to this day--particularly the idea of the reformed rake becoming a good husband. Brunton makes it clear here that one can't really change terrible men. Also, despite this being an "evangelical novel" the novel does make a clear statement of "No means NO." It is proto-feminist AF and I wonder if Charlotte Bronte read this. There are moments where I felt like the main character's head feels like Jane Eyre (the part where Jane goes "I care for myself"). But maybe that's just me. I feel that this is one story we need now, and I want more stories like this.
Read
March 27, 2025É o primeiro romance de Mary Brunton, publicado em 1811, explora a importância do autocontrole nas emoções e decisões. A história gira em torno de Laura, que se apaixona pelo coronel Hargrave, apenas para descobrir seu caráter libertino. Ela estabelece um prazo de dois anos para que ele se regenere antes de considerar o casamento. O romance contrasta amor e paixão, razão e emoção, e enfatiza a necessidade de afinidades entre casais. Brunton, influenciada por escritores como Samuel Richardson, oferece uma análise psicológica dos personagens, especialmente de Laura, que reflete sobre suas decisões. A autora critica a hipocrisia em relação ao comportamento sexual masculino e feminino, denunciando a glamorização da libertinagem masculina e a exigência de pureza nas heroínas. Ela sugere que as mulheres devem ter independência financeira e que a educação dos meninos e meninas deve ser equitativa, abordando os males da falta de domínio próprio.
August 5, 2024
Some of the adjectives used by other reviewers are fitting . . . absurd, tedious, ridiculous. I listened to this book after reading a biography of Jane Austen and learning that she found the story of interest. Happily, I was busy doing other things while listening, so I don’t consider the listen a total waste of time . . . just almost. 😉
Want to read
November 14, 2024ch2 P18 Each time they’re provided with fruits from it for this tenants, they will say: “This is what we were provided with before!” they will be given similar things and have clean living spouses there. They will live in it forever!
February 3, 2019
I like this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2019
Delightful period novel with a ridiculous end. Leaves the reader with a wry smile.
August 1, 2022
Listened. BBC Sounds.
October 3, 2025
Same old sentimentality
Much of the worst features of 18th-century novels, including perfect heroine and moustache-twirling villains, occasionally interrupted by a good passage.
Much of the worst features of 18th-century novels, including perfect heroine and moustache-twirling villains, occasionally interrupted by a good passage.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews