Page "Lorna Doone" Paragraph 6

According to the preface, the work is a romance and not a historical novel, because the author neither " dares, nor desires, to claim for it the dignity or cumber it with the difficulty of an historical novel.

" As such, it combines elements of traditional romance, of Sir Walter Scott's historical novel tradition, of the pastoral tradition, of traditional Victorian values, and of the contemporary sensation novel trend.

The basis for Blackmore's historical understanding is Macaulay's History of England and its analysis of the Monmouth rebellion.

Along with the historical aspects are folk traditions, such as the incorporation of Judge Jeffreys and the many legends based around both the Doones and Tom Faggus.