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Text kindly supplied by Amy de Gruchy,
and prepared for the website by Esther McGilvray
Publication
1865 1866 serialised in Macmillan's Magazine.
1866 Published by Macmillan in 2 volumes
Contents
The novel is set in Germany towards the end of the 15th
century, a period of change throughout Europe. In Germany the feudal system
had broken down. The rise of the cities had led to a decline in the economic
importance of the countryside. Power resided in the cities and in the
hands of the great nobles. Successive emperors, unwilling to be mere figureheads
like their predecessors, were attempting to impose their authority on
their subjects. A noted figure was the Emperor Maximilian (ruled 1495
- 1516) who tried to unify and pacify the empire, but with limited success,
as he wasted his great energy and abilities on too many other objects.
However, efforts were being made to combat lawlessness and end the private
warfare that had ravaged the countryside. At the same time the influence
of the Church was being undermined by a perception of its great power,
wealth and corruption.
The novel shoes in microcosm two of the major
changes already mentioned, the shift of power from the countryside to
the cities and the ending of violence and anarchy by the establishment
of the rule of law. Yonge only hints at the approaching religious conflict
in the main body of the work, though it is made explicit in the epilogue.
She shows the effect the Emperor Maximilian had on his contemporaries
by the way he affected the lives of her characters.
The title further illustrates the nature and progress
of these changes. The heroine, Christina Sorel is the dove. She is taken
from her uncle's peaceful cultured city home in Ulm to Adlerstein, that
is, Eagle Rock, the castle of robber barons whose emblem is a white eagle.
There the values in which she has been reared are gradually accepted and
assimilated and her sons adopt as their emblem a dove brooding over two
young eagles. C. M. Yonge had discussed with her publisher an alternative
title The Debateable Ford (letter to Macmillan of 25th March 1865), but
left the decision to him. In an earlier letter she had described the subject
of the novel as "the burgher civilisation of the 15th century brought
in contact with the savage robber nobility". (November 21st 1864)
The Debateable Ford is claimed by the barons of Adlerstein and the counts
of Schlangenwald who live on opposite sides of the river, for with it
goes the right to all goods found in the water, which both lords interpret
as the right to pillage passing travellers. The blood-feud between the
two families, which has lasted for generations, is finally healed by the
building of a toll bridge, the Friendly Bridge, by the ford, thus ending
the rule of violence and giving the lords a legitimate method of increasing
their revenues.
The settings underline the historical facts Yonge wishes
to convey. The novel opens in the imperial (i.e. self-governing) city
of Ulm, advantageously situated on the river Danube and on a busy trade
route which passes through the mountains just south of the city to Switzerland.
The city is prosperous and orderly, its inhabitants leading lives of comfort
and even luxury. However, the action quickly moves to Adlerstein and its
environs, south of the city in the mountains. The harsh climate and poor
soil barely support the local population and they and their lords are
sunk in poverty and brutal ignorance, but the lords are proud of their
noble birth and admit no law but their own. The plot is straightforward,
and is more concerned with Christina's sons than with herself. At 16 Christina
is taken by her ne-er do-well father to tend the dying daughter of the
baron of Adlerstein. She wins the love of the baron's only son and they
marry, but secretly for fear of his parents who would never permit a marriage
between a noble and a citizen. A few months later the baron, his son and
their followers are attacked by the hereditary foe. Only one man returns
to Adlerstein to tell the tale. He describes how all the rest were killed
and how his young master, before he died, acknowledged his marriage to
Christina and urged his mother to be good to her and the coming child.
The old baroness spares Christina, for without a direct heir a rival branch
of the family will inherit Adlerstein. The following spring the head of
this branch, Sir Kasimir, indeed arrives, but is told that his kinsman's
young widow has just borne twin sons, the elder of whom is the baron of
Adlerstein. Sir Kasimir offers to be god-father to the babies, who are
christened Eberhard and Friedmund (always called Ebbo and Friedel). Christina
foils an attempt on Sir Kasimir's life by her mother-in-law, and he leaves
the castle safely, and uses his influence at court to protect his godsons
and their inheritance.
C. M. Yonge passes over the next 16 years in three short
chapters. Christina is ill-treated by her mother-in-law, but is able to
bring up her sons in her own values, though the grandmother has a little
influence with Ebbo. The boys are devoted to their mother and to each
other. After the death of the old baroness, Christina's uncle invites
her and her sons to Ulm, so that Ebbo can swear allegiance to the Emperor,
who is about to visit the city. Ebbo's unwillingness to lose his independence
is overcome by his admiration and hero worship of Maximilian, the Emperor's
heir, his contempt for burghers is somewhat lessened as he comes to respect
his great uncle, but his jealous dislike of his godfather Sir Kasimir
is increased when he realises that the latter wishes to marry Christina.
Her uncle and aunt favour the match, but Christina is unwilling, partly
on account of her sons' opposition but also because she wishes to be true
to her long lost husband.
A family breach is just averted, and the trio return to
Adlerstein where Christina's dowry (provided by her uncle) is used to
make the castle more comfortable and to introduce agricultural improvements,
though these are received reluctantly by the peasants.
The count of Schlangenwald now returns to his castle and
begins to harass the peasants of Adlerstein, and then attacks a party
of Ulm merchants at the ford. Ebbo and Friedel ride to the rescue and
drive off the enemy. One of the merchant party, an architect, suggests
a bridge could be built, a three way venture involving both nobles and
the city of Ulm, the former supplying the land and the building materials
while Ulm provided the workmen and technical skills. The count will have
none of this and hints that Ebbo's father is still alive. From then on
the twins have different aims. Friedel wishes to seek his father, while
Ebbo is determined to build the bridge. After the work has started they
are warned of an impending attack by the count. Christina counsels a prudent
retreat and an appeal to Maximilian, but Ebbo is determined to fight.
Charlotte Yonge gives a stirring account of the battle,
in which Ebbo is gravely and Friedel fatally wounded as is the wicked
count. Before he dies Friedel makes him confess what he knows of his father's
fate that he did not die, as was supposed by his follower, but recovered
and was sold as a slave to the Turks. Ebbo slowly recovers from his wounds
and is visited by the Emperor Maximilian, incognito, and soon after, by
Sir Kasimir. Maximilian arranged a reconciliation between Ebbo and the
one survivor of the Schlangenwald family, a military monk. On learning
that Christina's husband is probably alive Sir Kasimir withdraws his suit,
and Maximilian decides to send him on a distant mission. For fear that
his late wife's cruel relations will claim his only child, a little girl
of six and marry her to one of themselves for the sake of her fortune,
Sir Kasimir asks Ebbo to wed her in the presence of the Emperor, thus
ensuring her safety. The reconciliation and marriage ceremonies take place
the following day which Maximilian rounds off by scaling a dangerous crag
and killing a bear which is threatening the Adlerstein and Schlangenwald
communities. He then departs, and unknown to Ebbo and Christina arranges
for the finding and ransoming of Christina's husband. Months later the
latter returns home and is received with joy by Christina. He is bewildered
by the changes that have taken place and realises that Ebbo is better
suited to the new duties of his position than he is. Ebbo accepts that
he is no longer first in his mother's affection and is consoled by the
devotion of his child wife.
The last chapter is an epilogue. It is 1531, the Adlerstein
locality is as peaceful and prosperous as Ulm, and Ebbo's seven offspring
are carefree and happy. Christina at 75 and Ebbo at 58, both long widowed,
have resumed their close relationship and in a long discussion reveal
to the reader the main events of the intervening years, Ebbo's views on
the late Emperor Maxmilian, and his principled moderation in the current
religious strife, which has earned him the hostility of both sides and
the approval of his mother.
The theme of the novel is the overcoming of evil with
good. Christina overcomes external evil by her own goodness. Ebbo has
to overcome the evil within himself, his pride, hatred and jealousy. Minor
characters also overcome evil with good. The Debateable Ford is replaced
by the Friendly Bridge.
For the first third of the novel Christina is the centre
of interest. Thereafter she is replaced by her elder son, to whom she
acts as a kind of external conscience, as does her younger son. Christina
as a young girl is shown as loving, modest and humble, her resolute principles
overcoming her extreme timidity. She is deeply religious, intelligent
and quick-witted. She becomes a loving wife and devoted mother, controlling
her sons by her example and imbuing them with her own love of learning.
The twins are initially described as being identical in
appearance and almost identical in character but Christina's dream of
the two sparks one in the air like a star and one running through the
grass better describes them. Friedel is spiritual, poetic, gentle and
happy, an ideal figure. Ebbo is of the earth, a mixture of bad and good
qualities. In their relationship with their mother, both love her deeply,
but Ebbo at 16 expects to rule her as well as himself, while Friedel respects
her wishes. When the twins are together, Ebbo decides Friedel advises.
With social inferiors Ebbo is imperious, Friedel conciliatory. Ebbo is
initially hostile to possible authority figures, Friedel accepts them.
Ebbo, the chief character, is one of Charlotte Yonge's typical adolescents,
and the tale illustrates how he learns to recognise and overcome his faults.
In one of Yonge's contemporary novels these faults would have been severely
censured but she realises that mediaeval Germany was not Victorian England
and so Ebbo's failings are not taken very seriously and he is given credit
for his good qualities.
Minor characters are well drawn as are their relationships
with the major ones and each other. Maximilian is a convincing figure,
and C. M. Yonge's judgment of him is the same as that of most historians.
C. M. Yonge shows a wide knowledge of the period,
its political, social and cultural life. Her principle aim seems to have
been to share this knowledge with the reader, by a mixture of illustration
and direct authorial comment. Moral and religious teaching is unobtrusive,
good practice being commended or shown to be effective rather than bad
practice receiving strong criticism from the omniscient narrator.
Further Reading
For contemporary reviews see L. Madden, J B Shorthouse
and C. M. Yonge unpublished thesis, University of London Diploma in
Librarianship. 1964.
See also
Coleridge, Christabel. Charlotte Mary Yonge. Her life
and letters. (London: Macmillan, 1903) pp. 225-226
Battiscombe, Georgina. Charlotte Mary Yonge. The story of an uneventful
life (London: Constable, 1943) pp. 130-133
Romanes, Ethel. Charlotte Mary Yonge. An appreciation. (London
and Oxford: Mowbray, 1908) pp. 104-108
de Gruchy, Amy. "C. M. Yonge's Historical Novels - The Influence
of Scott", 1837-1901 Journal of the Loughborough Victorian Studies
Group No 5 pp. 39-40
Fairfax Lucy, Alice. "The Other Miss Yonge", A Chaplet for
Charlotte Yonge. (London: Cresset Press, 1965) pp. 93-94
Mare, Margaret and Percival, Alicia C. Victorian best-seller. The world
of Charlotte M. Yonge (London: Harrap, 1947) pp. 207-8
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Introduction Chapter I:
Master Gottfried's Workshop Chapter II:
The Eyrie Chapter III: The Flotsam and
Jetsam of the Debateable Ford Chapter
IV: Snow-Wreaths When 'Tis Thaw Chapter
V: The Young Freiherr Chapter VI: The
Blessed Friedmund's Wake Chapter VII:
The Schneiderlein's Return Chapter VIII:
Passing the Oubliette Chapter IX: The
Eaglets Chapter X: The Eagle's Prey
Chapter XI: The Choice in Life Chapter
XII: Back to the Dovecote Chapter XIII:
The Eaglets in the City Chapter XIV:
The Double-Headed Eagle Chapter XV: The
Rival Eyrie Chapter XVI: The Eagle and
the Snake Chapter XVII: Bridging the
Ford Chapter XVIII: Friedmund in the
Clouds Chapter XIX: The Fight at the
Ford Chapter XX: The Wounded Eagle
Chapter XXI: Ritter Theurdank Chapter
XXII: Peace Chapter XXIII: The Altar
of Peace Chapter XXIV: Old Iron and New
Steel Chapter XXV: The Star and the Spark
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