Antonia Susan Byatt

POSSESSION.

Vincenzo D’Angelo 5°A

CHAPTERCHAPTER I I

Quote: Randolph Henry ASH, The Garden of ProserpinaSeptember 1986 – London LibraryROLAND MITCHELL 29, literary researcher, Ph. D. in LiteratureResearching R.H. ASH Victorian PoetHis boss: scholar James BLACKADDER – British MuseumRoland is reading G. VICO’s Principi di Scienza Nuova Principi di Scienza Nuova He finds two DRAFTS of a letter to an UNKNOWN LADY he met at Crabb ROBINSON’s breakfastROLAND steals the drafts and does not tell Blackadder

CHAPTER IICHAPTER II

Mortimer CropperMortimer Cropper – Trustee of the Stant Collection at Robert – Trustee of the Stant Collection at Robert Dale Owen University, Harmon City, New Mexico. Curator ofDale Owen University, Harmon City, New Mexico. Curator of R.H. ASH’s correspondence and memorabilia.

Robert’s sense of failure in his life with Val and their unhappy relationship

Fergus WolffFergus Wolff – Roland’s departmental rival. – Roland’s departmental rival.

Roland wonders who ASH was writing to in his drafts

CHAPTER CHAPTER IIIIIIRoland at Bloomsbury: photocopies draftsRoland at Bloomsbury: photocopies draftsConsultation of CRABB Robinson’s diaryConsultation of CRABB Robinson’s diary

June 1858 June 1858 Ash met Miss La Motte and Miss Glover at Crabb’s Ash met Miss La Motte and Miss Glover at Crabb’s breakfastbreakfast

Roland informs Blackadder of the existence of the two draftsRoland informs Blackadder of the existence of the two drafts

From Blachadder Roland comes to know about:From Blachadder Roland comes to know about: Isadore La Motte’s father wrote Isadore La Motte’s father wrote Mythologies (legend of Brittainy)Mythologies (legend of Brittainy)

Miss la Motte’s and her writingsMiss la Motte’s and her writings

Ash’s wife Ellen Best’sAsh’s wife Ellen Best’s personal journal andpersonal journal and Helpmeets, Helpmeets, a book a book about the wifes of great menabout the wifes of great men

He knows about Christabel’s The Fairy Melusina and about MAUD at He knows about Christabel’s The Fairy Melusina and about MAUD at Lincoln’s Women’s Resources CentreLincoln’s Women’s Resources Centre

CHAPTER IVCHAPTER IV

At Lincoln Womens’ Centre Roland visits Maud and learns about La At Lincoln Womens’ Centre Roland visits Maud and learns about La Motte’s family and Christabel’s life with Blanche Glover, an artist Motte’s family and Christabel’s life with Blanche Glover, an artist who drowned in 1861.who drowned in 1861.

After Blanche’s death Christabel goes to live with her sister Sophie. After Blanche’s death Christabel goes to live with her sister Sophie. She no longer wrote poetry.She no longer wrote poetry.

Maud, a Bailey is tall, cold, perhaps hostile. She only knows about a Maud, a Bailey is tall, cold, perhaps hostile. She only knows about a few letters kept by George Bailey at Seal Court.few letters kept by George Bailey at Seal Court.Roland shows Maud the letters he stole and she is intriguedRoland shows Maud the letters he stole and she is intrigued

CHAPTER VCHAPTER V

Maud and Roland visit the area and see Seal Court and they vist La Motte’s Maud and Roland visit the area and see Seal Court and they vist La Motte’s grave in the nearabouts.The two are unvited at Seal Court . They mention grave in the nearabouts.The two are unvited at Seal Court . They mention Christabel. Christabel.

Maud and they notices the dolls remind her of the poem Maud and they notices the dolls remind her of the poem “Dolly keeps a “Dolly keeps a secret”.secret”.They find the packet of letters in side the doll’s cot. The letters are taken by They find the packet of letters in side the doll’s cot. The letters are taken by Sir George the owner.Sir George the owner.

Maud and Roland want to convince George to let them study the letters.Maud and Roland want to convince George to let them study the letters.

CHAPTER VICHAPTER VI

Cropper interest in having everthing from ASHCropper interest in having everthing from ASH

Ash’s letter about the occult and spirit communicationAsh’s letter about the occult and spirit communication

Hints at Ash’s wedding and honeymoon at Fontaine de Valcluse, France.Hints at Ash’s wedding and honeymoon at Fontaine de Valcluse, France.Cropper believes EMBLA represents a real woman in Ash’s life.Cropper believes EMBLA represents a real woman in Ash’s life.Cropper set a meeting with Miss Beatrice NestCropper set a meeting with Miss Beatrice Nest

CHAPTER VIICHAPTER VII

Miss Beatrice NEST is interested in Ellen Best Miss Beatrice NEST is interested in Ellen Best Ash’s papersAsh’s papers

Ellen wrote a journal. Roland reads it before Ellen wrote a journal. Roland reads it before CropperCropper

Roland comes to know Maud and he can study Roland comes to know Maud and he can study Christabel’s letters.Christabel’s letters.

CHAPTER CHAPTER VIIIVIII

Maud and Roland read the letters in Sir George Bailey’s library.Maud and Roland read the letters in Sir George Bailey’s library.They come to know La Motte is worried somebody might be They come to know La Motte is worried somebody might be seen by other people.seen by other people.

The letters unveil the two poets’ interest in poetry, the The letters unveil the two poets’ interest in poetry, the difference between romance and novel.difference between romance and novel.

Leonora Stern visits the winter garden La Motte loved.Leonora Stern visits the winter garden La Motte loved.Maud and Roland remain at Seals Court and Roland feels Maud and Roland remain at Seals Court and Roland feels attracted to Maudattracted to Maud

CHAPTER IXCHAPTER IX

CHAPTER CHAPTER XX

Christabel La Motte’s The Treshold is quoted.

Roland and Maud go on reading The Corriespondence Ash sends Christabel a poem. Ash wants to write a poem about insect life.

CHAPTER CHAPTER XIXI

Swammerdam

The poem is quoted

CHAPTER XIICHAPTER XII

Maud and Roland have gone to Bethany in Richmond where Maud and Roland have gone to Bethany in Richmond where Christabel lived.Christabel lived.

Maud starts suspecting that Ash was accompanied by La Motte in Maud starts suspecting that Ash was accompanied by La Motte in his journey to Yorkshire in 1859 during his natural history expedition. his journey to Yorkshire in 1859 during his natural history expedition. (Darwin’s influence)(Darwin’s influence)

Reference to “HOB” in one of Ash’s letters to Ellen.Reference to “HOB” in one of Ash’s letters to Ellen.The two researchers come across the same mention in Blanche’s The two researchers come across the same mention in Blanche’s notes.notes.Their meeting with Beatrice to review Ellen’s journal for June 1859.Their meeting with Beatrice to review Ellen’s journal for June 1859.

Ellen receives a strange letter from Blanche.Ellen receives a strange letter from Blanche.

CHAPTER CHAPTER XIIIXIII

Maud and Roland went to Yorkshire seaside.Maud and Roland went to Yorkshire seaside.They read about their heroes and come across a They read about their heroes and come across a coincidence: they both write about gloves.coincidence: they both write about gloves.They visit shops in the area and it comes out Maud is They visit shops in the area and it comes out Maud is wearing a jet hair brooch by an artist: she has inherited the wearing a jet hair brooch by an artist: she has inherited the brooch from Christabel. brooch from Christabel.

CHAPTER XIVCHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XVCHAPTER XV

Ash’s letter to Ellen. Maud and Roland go to Boggle Hole.

The railway trip to Yorkshire by Ash and The railway trip to Yorkshire by Ash and La Motte:La Motte:

Their stay Their stay They love They love Their walk to Boggle HoleTheir walk to Boggle Hole

CHAPTER CHAPTER XVIXVI

Quotation of the whole poemQuotation of the whole poem

CHAPTER CHAPTER XVIIXVIIBlackadder’s studies on Ash’s Mummy Blackadder’s studies on Ash’s Mummy Possest.Possest.Fergus looks for Maud and Roland and to Fergus looks for Maud and Roland and to Val.Val.Meeting Fergus and CropperMeeting Fergus and Cropper

CHAPTER XVIIICHAPTER XVIII

Christabel’s poem about glovesChristabel’s poem about glovesDiscovery of Christabel’s stay in FranceDiscovery of Christabel’s stay in FranceThe value of their letters and George BaileyThe value of their letters and George BaileyMaud and Roland go to BrittanyMaud and Roland go to Brittany

CHAPTER XIXCHAPTER XIX

Maud and Roland are on a ship to France.

They read Sabine’s journal from October 1959

CHAPTER XXCHAPTER XX

The meeting of spiritualists is at the centre of attention. La Motte and Ash were present and Ash asks Christabel where the child is. Blackadder wants to be sure all papers concerning the Vitorian poets’correspondence remaiuns in England.

CHAPTER XXICHAPTER XXI

Quotation of Mummy Possest

CHAPTER CHAPTER XXIIXXII

Val and her new boyfriend are at the horse races . Val and her new boyfriend are at the horse races .

They are joined by Toby Byng and they discuss his They are joined by Toby Byng and they discuss his involvement in the Ash-La Motte correspondence.involvement in the Ash-La Motte correspondence.

Discussion of legal copyright and ownership problems.Discussion of legal copyright and ownership problems.

CHAPTER CHAPTER XXIIIXXIII

Maud and Roland still in BrittanyMaud and Roland still in Brittany

Their growing love relationshipTheir growing love relationship

Discuss destiny of Christabel’s child.Discuss destiny of Christabel’s child.

Leonora’s arrival at their hotelLeonora’s arrival at their hotel

CHAPTER XXIVCHAPTER XXIV

They go back to LincolnThey go back to Lincoln

Meeting with Val, her boyfriend, and all others Meeting with Val, her boyfriend, and all others Discussion of how La Motte wanted all her books and Discussion of how La Motte wanted all her books and copyright should go to Maia Thomasine Bailey .copyright should go to Maia Thomasine Bailey .

The letters belong to Maud.The letters belong to Maud.

Beatrice Nest is worried about Cropper and FergusBeatrice Nest is worried about Cropper and Fergus

CHAPTER XXVCHAPTER XXV

Ellen’s journal: the day of Ash’s deathEllen’s journal: the day of Ash’s deathMortimer Cropper knows in Ash’s grave a box is hidden, the one Mortimer Cropper knows in Ash’s grave a box is hidden, the one laid by Ellenlaid by EllenChristabel letter to Ash: she wanted it to be given to himChristabel letter to Ash: she wanted it to be given to himMention to Ash’s visit to Brittany and his meeting with SabineMention to Ash’s visit to Brittany and his meeting with SabineEllen recalls her failed attempts at sex with her husbandEllen recalls her failed attempts at sex with her husbandEllen places the unopened letter into Ash’s grave.Ellen places the unopened letter into Ash’s grave.

CHAPTER XXVICHAPTER XXVI

Roland is given a job offer from Hong Roland is given a job offer from Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Barcelona.Kong, Amsterdam and Barcelona.Blackadder sends him a generous letterBlackadder sends him a generous letter

CHAPTER XXVIICHAPTER XXVII

The grave robbery by CropperHe is caught by Roland, Maud, leonora, Blackadder and Nest.Maud wants to learn the end of the storyFrom the unopened letter Ash is described as a flaming presence causing Christabel to catch fire