Beatrice

by H. Rider Haggard

An emotional account of the love affair between Beatrice Granger, an unmarried schoolteacher, and Geoffrey Bingham, an unhappily married barrister who lives in London. This publication from Boomer Books is specially designed and typeset for comfortable reading.

Genres: Romance, Classics, Adventure, British Literature, Fiction, Victorian

Paperback

First published January 1, 1896

About the author

Sir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.

His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.

Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another (the last?) of Haggard's more conventional Victorian (i.e. modern/contemporary at the time of its writing) romance/melodrama novels -- the sort of thing he'd have likely churned out by the bucketload had he not (very fortunately for the rest of us) begun his career with two of the finest adventure novels ever written, King Solomon's Mines and She: A History of Adventure. But we're not reviewing those glorious novels; we're reviewing Beatrice (which I think was a particular favorite of his), and it was ... fine?

The eponymous Beatrice Granger, her (rather horrible) sister Elizabeth, and their father, the Rev. Joseph Granger live in straitened circumstances in the Welsh coastal village of Bryngelly. To this same village comes Geoffrey Bingham, his (rather horrible) wife Honoria and their (somewhat gratingly adorable) daughter Effie -- the Binghams also find themselves in straitened circumstances for reasons that are laid out at great length in the early chapters of the book.

This being a Haggard novel, the meet-cute between Beatrice and Geoffrey happens when she (paddling the ocean in her canoe) spies him about to be marooned by the tide (he'd gone curlew-shooting and gotten distracted and/or didn't know the first thing about oceans), rescues him in the aforementioned canoe and, when the weather takes a turn for the worse and they're both upsot into the water, barely saves his life (by clinging to his hair as she bobs along the surface until they are rescued).

The more eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that while the chief participants in our romance are Geoffrey and Beatrice, Geoffrey is, in fact, already possessed of a (rather horrible) wife, which is the sort of thing that might (especially in 1890, when the book was first published) ... complicate things.

And yes, complicate things it does, especially when taken in conjunction with the rich, rather horrible local squire who has his own eyes set on fair Beatrice (and the aforementioned rather horrible sister has her own thoughts as regards the squire). And Haggard takes great pains to assure us that neither Geoffrey nor Beatrice are in any way to blame for their growing attraction, and to assure us of how forcefully they resist their throbbing biological urges; and as for the rest, well, the course of true love never did run smooth ...

As I said, it was ... fine?, but at this point of interest only because of all the other, better works that Haggard wrote.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beatrice" was first published in 1890, and was H. Rider Haggard's 10th novel, out of 58 titles. Unlike so many of his other books, "Beatrice" is one that features almost no action scenes whatsoever; no lost races, no adventure, no battles, no supernatural elements. What it IS, is a beautifully written romance novel; indeed, is is one of Haggard's most emotional works. It tells the story of the ill-fated love affair between Beatrice Granger, an unmarried Welsh school teacher, and Geoffrey Bingham, an unhappily married barrister who lives in London. This all starts after Beatrice saves Geoffrey's life in a canoeing accident during a tremendous storm (in the book's only true action set piece), and the two become interested in one another. Trouble awaits, in the form of Bingham's wife Honoria (who's only interested in money and social climbing), Owen Davies (one of the richest men in Wales, who is morbidly obsessed with marrying Beatrice), and Elizabeth (Beatrice's older sister, who will do just about anything to marry Davies herself). So where in other books we might encounter a three-way love triangle, here we have what might be called a love...pentagon?

I said before that this book contains no supernatural elements, but this is not quite true. Beatrice and Geoffrey do seem to have some kind of psychic link with one another, so that at times they can sense each other's thoughts and feelings, even when separated. Haggard's recurring theme of eternal love--of a love that survives beyond the grave--is very much in evidence in "Beatrice." This is a theme that was given play in his very first novel, "Dawn"; was much stressed in the four "She" novels; and appears in so many of his other works. Another theme that "Beatrice" seems to stress is the undesirability of the Victorian marriage state. Apparently, back in the late 19th century, divorce was seen to be a scandalous option, even for the most unhappily married couples. Haggard here shows us one such couple, and the problems that arise when this unfortunate union continues. Strangely, the author seems to have no sympathy for the problems that afflict Beatrice and Geoffrey as their romance continues. He even says so, in so many words. One must read between the lines to realize that Haggard does indeed feel for these poor unfortunates.

Of all the Haggard novels that I have read (two dozen or so), this one seemed to me the most dated. It is hard to believe that so much scandal could attach to a couple because of a love affair. But hold on a moment! Didn't our 42nd president get himself into major "mishegas" as a result of his dalliance with an unmarried woman? Indeed, wouldn't a single school teacher in a small town TODAY find herself embarrassed if her affair with a married man of prominence were to come to light? Perhaps things haven't changed so much after all! (Although it is doubtful that a scandalized woman of today would go to the extremes that Beatrice goes to to put matters right!)

"Beatrice," then, is NOT a novel for those looking for an action and adventure spectacle. But for those wishing a deliciously written novel with characters you can really care for, this might be just the ticket. At one point in this tale, Geoffrey thinks about sitting down one night with a good novel, and Haggard tells us that Bingham was "not above this frivolous occupation." Reading Haggard's "Beatrice," however, does not strike me as a "frivolous occupation." It is a serious-minded novel that the author obviously felt deeply about, and one that I do recommend highly.

[Elijah Oyekunle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the saddest books I ever read. Beatrice could have been patient for 3 more days and she could have gotten the man she loved, but she chose to end her life. Tragic!!!

[James Hold · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars.

H Rider Haggard wrote a ton of books. Mostly they were straight-out adventures. Occasionally he'd mix adventure with a bit of love (the SHE series) and other times he'd mix love with adventure (THE YELLOW GOD). BEATRICE is a flat-out love story. Save for a rousing scene at the beginning where the hero and heroice almost drown in a storm, the tale contains no action whatsoever. Too bad. If HRH had built upon that scene it would have been a nice book. As it is it's an overly-long discussion of religion and morality. Snatches of dialog are followed by essays directed to the reader. It reminded me much of EAST OF EADEN in that sense only HRH is a superior writer.

Geoffrey is married. He meets and falls in love with Beatrice. Beatrice is perfect, she's every man's dream; or every 1890s man's dream. She's beautiful beyond compare, virtuous, pure, knows many languages, is industrious and free-thinking. Her father is a preacher and she's an atheist. I believe that accounted for some shock value when the book was published. We get a lot of philosophic discussions along with HRH essays on the topic. Fabulously wealthy Squire Owen also loves Beatrice and wants to marry her but she finds him loathsome. Meanwhile, Geoffrey and his wife don't get along.

[HERE COMES THE SPOILER]
One night, as Geoffrey visits Bernice's house, she walks in her sleep and enters Geoff's room. Being the proper gentleman he is, Geoff carries her back to her room. Sister Elizabeth sees this and when Owen presses his suit, Elizabeth accuses Beatrice of being Geoff's mistress. Humiliated, Beatrice drowns herself just days before Geoff's wife dies. All live miserably ever after.
[END OF SPOILER]

It's a real soap opera and save for the many essays not terribly bad. My problem was I couldn't understand what Geoff or Owen saw in Bernice. She was beautiful, but beauty needs something to back it up. She was also smart. Or maybe not so much considering her suicide. Why not go somewhere else and start over? Somehow drowning herself was supposed to save Geoff's reputation. To me, that sounds stupid. She's also very contrary and argumentative. Her reason for being an atheist was because she once prayed for a sick person to live and the person died anyway. [Maybe I shouldn't be surprised there. I've heard of many people rejecting God for the same reason: that somehow because he didn't drop everything else he was doing and grant their selfish wish, for that reason he must not exist.]

This is a long book. Too long. It could have been condensed to a short story and lost none of its impact. I recommend it as proof HRH could write something other than Allan Quartermain stories. It's not his best work, however.

[Genoveva Uzunova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and romantic book! I loved the plot and the way that the book is written. Some scenes are described in a very vivid way and the emotions of the characters are very complex. This is an old book written a long time ago and therefore the ways in which the main characters solve their problems is probably very different from what people will do nowadays. Sometimes I felt they cause themselves too much suffering but love sometimes brings with it pain! The love story is amazing and timeless and H. Rider Haggard is a master storyteller!

[Arifa Abid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will simply take you in another world. <3

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Уже порядка пяти лет Хаггард плодотворно писал, создавая за год по два-три сюжета. Вполне очевидно, плодотворность редко идёт на благо всему литературному процессу. В чём-то Райдер оставался силён, может для того и стремясь не утрачивать писательского дарования. Всё же, Хаггард стремился к разнообразию. Раз уж читателю пришлись по нраву его истории про африканские приключения, значит нужно таковые создавать хотя бы по одной в год, чтобы излишне не утомлять и держать в предвкушении. Помогут и произведения на историческую тему, особенно про ещё более далёкое и непонятное, нежели дожившее до современности на африканских просторах. Необходимо писать и про обыденное – про будни Англии. Правда, как не пытайся уразуметь, о близком каждому нативному англичанину Райдер писал отвратно. Пусть он и смел тешить себя, будто на эту тему получались его лучшие романы.

(c) Trounin

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Not his best work. Have to wonder what he was thinking.

[Patty Cepero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Endless

Hard to believe people actually behaved this way! I read through to the end hoping for a happy finale. Not to be!

[NorikoY · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it!
H Rider Haggard, known for King Solmons, yet, I like this story better.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about two people who are thrown together in unexpected circumstances and develop feelings for one another. The problem is they cannot be together as the man is already married, albeit an unhappy marriage. Written before the 1900s, this is a story from a time of propriety and uprightness. Haggard generally writes what we would call action/adventure novels, this story, however, is different from many of his others. He explores more of the human character, developing emotions, love and folly of these two people who try to fight temptation, yet seem bound together. There are other characters in this story who play a role in what I would say is more than just a love triangle, which complicates matters. Although Haggard may draw sympathy from the reader for the couple in this story, I got the feeling he was pointing out (through his narration) that there is folly in failing to resist little temptations and how they can lead to more temptation. I loved the way Haggard explores this and doesn't exactly glorify their love story as would happen in so many stories of today. There's the dilemma of finding "true love", and not being able to have it because of duty and honor. It is almost a cautionary tale in a way. I would recommend this book. It may not be exciting with as much action as Haggard has in other books, but it is exciting in an emotional way, with danger and peril for the soul rather than the body.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though a very good story, this is not a happily ever after account of the plutonic love affair between Beatrice Granger, an unmarried schoolteacher, and Geoffrey Bingham, an unhappily married barrister who lives in London. Beatrice and Geoffery are really 2 well matched soul mates who lives are complicated by Geoffrey's self-centered, money focused titled wife, Beatrice's jealous plotting sister & Owen Davies, the wealthiest man in the area who wants to marry Beatrice and whom she refuses.

[Patty Speight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a new author for me. I liked him very much, so much I have since read several more of his books. If you don't recognise his name, maybe you'll recognise one of his characters: Alan Quartermain. The "Raiders of the Lost Ark" series of movies were based on some Henry Rider Haggard's books. Tempt you to read him?

[Catherine Nicolls · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite of all his books.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't agree with adultery at any level, but this book transcended that theme, for me. This guy can write, and I enjoyed the way he crafted his art.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the flaming ending. Sweet melodrama!