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The third of Buchanan's novels, God and the man first appeared in 1881. As well as being "A Romance" it is, in Buchanan's own words "a study of the vanity and folly of individual Hate." Perhaps significantly, it is dedicated to Dante Gabriel Rossetti, "an old enemy". This dedication signalled an end to the ill-feeling that had arisen after the publication of an article by Buchanan inveighing against the 'Fleshly School of Poetry', and aimed at the Pre-Raphaelites.
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The novel opens with a description of the "great frosty chill" which subsists between the families of the Orchardsons and Christiansons. The atmosphere becomes more and more hostile, fomented by the rivalry between Christian Christianson and Richard Orchardson for the love of Priscilla Sefton, and the seduction and betrayal of Christian's sister Kate by Richard Orchardson. Not surprisingly, Christian's mother makes him swear to perpetuate the feud.
Swear on the Book, that you will never again willingly exchange words with any of that name or that blood; swear that in sickness and in health, as long as life lasts, you will never take the hand of an Orchardson or knowingly worship under the same roof with any of that blood or name; swear that your prayers shall rise nightly against them, wherever you may be.
The main protagonists then take ship to America, only to be shipwrecked. Will Christian and Richard eventually be reconciled, and will Christian ever see his beloved Priscilla again? Snow, ice, and polar bears have to be overcome first…
Page created 6 December 2002 and last
updated 6 December 2002
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