A Story of a Wedding Tour

1894

Short Fiction

Read it now

In A Widow's Tale      or second source:   1 volume   


The Story

Janey is an orphan and has had no one to love her. When a near-stranger, Mr Rosendale, announces he is "in love" with her, she is so dazzled by having someone love her that she consents readily to the marriage. Now after a week of marriage she has discovered that his "love" is sexual passion and possessiveness - he cares only for her beauty. Her dream of a loving companion is gone.

As the couple travel through France on their wedding tour, an unexpected opportunity arrives for Janey to be alone for a few hours, and to think seriously about what she wants for her future.

This is the first story in the "John R" series - see the link below for more information on the series.


Biographical and other notes

In this story Mrs Oliphant refers to a French village as "St Honorat" (which is actually a small island off Cannes), but refers to the same village in the second story as Cagnes-sur-Mer, a real village located in the south of France on a bay between Antibes and Nice.


British publishing information

Periodical:   St James's Gazette & others   30 June - 3 July 1894

First edition:   William Blackwood and Sons (collected in A Widow's Tale) 1898


Series and Themes

The John R series
Married life
Passion / Love-Hate
Railway stories
Stories set in France


Site creator / administrator:   Joan Richardson           Email:   jxoliphant@gmail.com             © 2014     All rights reserved