ALBION AND MARINA
Reading edition
ALBION AND MARINA
This is Charlotte Brontë’s first love story. It was printed by permission of Mr. Clement Shorter, the owner of the copyright of all the unpublished Brontë manuscripts, in the Brontë Society Publications, Part xxx., 1920, and is now reprinted for the first time.
C. W. H.
ALBION AND MARINA
A TALE BY LORD WELLESLEY
PRINCIPAL PART POSSESSING FACT FOR ITS FOUNDATION.
PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY SERGEANT TREE AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS IN THE CHIEF GLASS TOWN, PARIS, &C.
PREFACE
I have written this tale out of malignity for the injuries that have lately been offered to me. Many parts, especially the former, were composed under a mysterious influence that I cannot account for.
My reader will easily recognise the characters through the thin veil which I have thrown over them. I have considerably flattered Lady Zelvia Ellrington. She is not nearly so handsome as I have represented her, and she strove far more vigorously to oust some one from another person’s good graces than I say. But her endeavours failed. Albion has hitherto stood firm. What he will do I cannot even pretend to guess; but I think that Marina’s incomparable superiority will prevail over her Frenchified rival, who, as all the world knows, is a miller, jockey, talker, blue-stocking, charioteer, and beldam united in one…
The conclusion is wholly destitute of any foundation in truth, and I did it out of revenge. Albion and Marina are both alive and well for aught I know.
One thing, however, will certainly break my heart, and that is the admission of any scandal against Tree (the publisher); but I hope my readers will pardon me for it, as I promise to make amends with usury the next time I write a book.
C. Wellesley,
October 12th, 1880.
I wrote this in four hours.—C. B.