East Lynne

East Lynne is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood. A Victorian bestseller, it is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centring on infidelity and double identities. There have been numerous stage and film adaptations.

The much-"quoted" line "Gone! And never called me mother!" (variant: "Dead! Dead! And never called me mother!") does not appear in the book; both variants come from later stage adaptations.

The book was originally serialised in The New Monthly Magazine between January 1860 and September 1861, being issued as a three-volume novel on 19 September 1861.

Plot summary

Lady Isabel Carlyle, a beautiful and refined young woman, leaves her hard-working lawyer-husband, Carlyle, and her infant children to elope with an aristocratic suitor, Francis Levison, after wrongfully suspecting and becoming jealous of his friendship with Barbara Hare. However once abroad with Levison she realises he has no intention of marrying her, despite her now having had his child, now illegitimate. After he deserts her, and she bears their illegitimate child, Lady Isabel is disfigured in a train accident and the child is killed. Following this Isobel is able to take the position of governess in the household of her former husband and his new wife allowing her to be close to her children but which also becomes a source of great misery. The pressure of keeping up a facade and being constantly reminded that her husband has moved on eventually physically weakens her. On her deathbed she tells all to Carlyle who forgives her.

East Lynne (1913 film)

East Lynne is a 1913 British silent drama film directed by Bert Haldane and starring Blanche Forsythe, Fred Paul and Fred Morgan. It is based on the 1861 novel East Lynne by Ellen Wood.

Cast

References

External links

East Lynne (1931 film)

East Lynne is a 1931 American Pre-Code film version of Ellen Wood's eponymous 1861 novel, which was adapted by Tom Barry and Bradley King and directed by Frank Lloyd. The film is a melodrama starring Ann Harding, Clive Brook, Conrad Nagel and Cecilia Loftus. Only one copy of the film is known to exist, although, somehow, bootleg DVD copies exist, minus the final scene.

This print is in good shape, although several frames have an "X" on them, indicating they were to be removed in the film editing stage. One frame has a "crosshairs" on it while several frames have ink marks. People may view the film at University of California Los Angeles's Instructional Media Lab, Powell Library, after arranging an appointment.

Synopsis

The trophy wife of a stodgy man of wealth yearns for a more interesting life.

Cast