What does Lady Audley say to Sir Michael?
Robert confronts Lady Audley at Audley Court and says that he will now reveal her identity unless she chooses to confess to Sir Michael. Lady Audley says that she is mad, and did indeed kill George; she asks Robert to get Sir Michael. Robert brings Sir Michael and Lucy (i.e. Lady Audley) begins her story.
What was Lady Audley's secret?
Lady Audley's Secret Summary. Lady Audley arranged for her father to rent rooms in Ventnor for himself, his dying daughter, and his grandson. Matilda was introduced to everyone as Helen Talboys, and when she died, her death was recorded under the same name.
Who is Sir Michael Audley's wife Lucy Graham?
It is the home of Sir Michael Audley, his daughter Alicia, and his second wife. Sir Michael is a baronet, who has married for a second time at age 55, seventeen years after the death of his first wife. The woman he married is named Lucy Graham.
Who is Sir Michael Audley and his daughter Alicia?
It is the home of Sir Michael Audley, his daughter Alicia, and his second wife. Sir Michael is a baronet, who has married for a second time at age 55, seventeen years after the death of his first wife.
How does Lady Audley's Secret end?
The narrative ends with the death of Lucy abroad, and Clara and Robert happily married and living in a country cottage with George and his son. Robert's formerly infatuated cousin Alicia marries her once-spurned suitor, Sir Harry Towers, and Audley Court is left abandoned along with all of its unhappy memories.
Does George die in Lady Audley's Secret?
At the end of the novel, it is revealed that, fearing discovery, Lady Audley had pushed her husband down a well; unbeknownst to her, George survived the fall.
How is Lady Audley described?
With her blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and bouncing golden curls, she possesses a childlike beauty that she uses to manipulate and deceive those around her. Having grown up in poverty, Lady Audley is extremely concerned with elevating her social and financial status.
What did Lady Audley do?
Among her secrets of bigamy, child abandonment, arson, and two counts of attempted murder, perhaps her most infamous is that of “madness.” The novel's wayward heroine, Lucy Audley, confesses that she is “mad” in an effort to explain her crimes and why she assumed a new identity before marrying Michael Audley.
Who wrote Lady Audley's Secret?
Mary Elizabeth BraddonLady Audley's Secret / AuthorMary Elizabeth Braddon was an English popular novelist of the Victorian era. She is best known for her 1862 sensation novel Lady Audley's Secret, which has also been dramatised and filmed several times. Wikipedia
When was Lady Audley's Secret published?
1862Lady Audley's Secret / Originally publishedEnglish novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1835-1915). At the time of its publication in 1862, Lady Audley's Secret scandalised the nation with its "accidental" bigamy and ferocious female social ambition.
Is Lady Audley's Secret a melodrama?
Adapted from the 1862 novel of the same name, Lady Audley's Secret is a classic example of Victorian melodrama.
What specific aspects of the characterization of Phoebe Marks demonstrate her importance to the novel as a whole?
Check out the link below. Scroll down to #3. https://estherhawdon.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/misogyny-and-patriarchy-in-lady-audleys-secret-2/
What are Lady Audley's Secret techniques?
Miss. Lucy Graham was simply the picture of innocence and sweet to boot. She did not need "techniques." Everyone loved her. People who observed thi...
What is the effect of the opening description of Audley Court?
It was out of the way in a very pristine and prime setting: "It lay down in a hollow, rich with fine old timber and luxuriant pastures; and you ca...
Where did Lady Audley and Robert go?
Lady Audley immediately sets off to London, where the letters were kept, and Robert follows after her. However, by the time he arrives, he discovers that George's possessions have been broken into with the help of a local locksmith and that the letters have vanished.
Who played Lady Audley in Aurora Floyd?
The part of Lady Audley was played by (Dame) Flora Robson and the performance was produced by Tyrone Guthrie.
What is the book that George's wife wrote that matches Lady Audley's handwriting?
One possession, however, remains – a book with a note written by George's wife that matches Lady Audley's handwriting. This confirms Robert's suspicion that Lady Audley is implicated in George's disappearance; it also leads Robert to conclude that Lady Audley is actually George's supposedly dead wife.
Where was Aurora Floyd set?
A follow-up novel, Aurora Floyd, appeared in 1863. Braddon set the story in Ingatestone Hall, Essex, inspired by a visit there.
Who wrote Lady Audley's Secret?
Lady Audley's Secret is a sensation novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon published in 1862. It was Braddon's most successful and well-known novel. Critic John Sutherland (1989) described the work as "the most sensationally successful of all the sensation novels". The plot centres on "accidental bigamy " which was in literary fashion in the early 1860s.
When was Lady Audley's secret published?
It was published in 1862 in three volumes by William Tinsley.
Who is the lady that avoids meeting George?
While at the country manor Audley Court, Lady Audley avoids meeting George. When the two seek an audience with the new Lady Audley, she makes many excuses to avoid their visit, but he and Robert are shown a portrait of her by Alicia Audley, Robert's cousin. George appears greatly struck by the portrait, unbeknownst to Robert (who credits the unfavourable reaction to that evening's storm). Shortly thereafter, George disappears during a visit to Audley Court, much to Robert's consternation. Unwilling to believe that George has simply left suddenly and without notice, Robert begins to look into the circumstances around the strange disappearance.
Why is Lady Audley's Secret so effective?
Lady Audley’s Secret is all the more effective because it appears to start out as a conventional novel of polite society. A rich widowed landowner with a country estate marries a beautiful young woman who is popular with everyone in his circle. Some members of his family become involved in amorous relationships and vaguely mysterious searches for information. The novel could in its early stages be a production out of the Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, or George Eliot tradition.
Who is Audley's maid?
III Lady Audley and her maid Phoebe Marks have returned from a European tour. Phoebe shows her cousin and lover Luke Marks around Audley Court and its lavish furnishings. They discover a baby’s shoe and some hair in a secret drawer – which Phoebe keeps.
Why does Robert ask Alicia to accompany her father in his exit from Audley Court to London and onwards?
IV In order to avoid scandal, Robert asks Alicia to accompany her father in his exit from Audley Court to London and onwards. Robert telegraphs for details of a psychiatric physician.
Where did Robert and George go in the book of Audley?
VII A year later Robert and George go to Audley village, where Lady Audley avoids meeting them. She sends Phoebe Marks to London on a secret errand. A telegram arrives calling Lucy to London, where .
What genre is Lady Audley's Secret?
It belongs to a literary genre known as the ‘sensation novel’ which preceded (and overlapped with) the vogue for Gothic horror stories that became popular later in the century.
When was Lady Audley's Secret published?
It was then serialized as monthly instalments in the Sixpenny Magazine between January and December 1862. The first three-volume book edition was published by Tinsley Brothers in October 1862. Elizabeth Braddon made substantial additions (and some deletions) as the novel passed through new editions. For a detailed account of these changes see the Oxford University World’s Classics edition.
Who is Sir Michael Audley in love with?
I Rich widower Sir Michael Audley falls in love with young governess Lucy Graham. She harbours some secret reservations, but accepts his proposal of marriage.
Why was Audley so friendly to Henry VIII?
It is easy to see that Audley was friendly toward Henry VIII’s agenda. One could say this is why he was given so many great titles , especially Lord Chancellor. He backed the King on his desire to divorce Katherine of Aragon and his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
Why was Audley a good Chancellor?
One could say this is why he was given so many great titles, especially Lord Chancellor. He backed the King on his desire to divorce Katherine of Aragon and his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Audley presided at the trials of Fisher and More in 1535, and was again part of the trials in 1536, during the downfall of Anne Boleyn and the men around her.
Who was Henry VIII's daughter?
Today we focus on one of the daughters of Margaret and Henry Grey – Elizabeth Grey, who was born around 1510. To gain some perspective, in 1510, Henry VIII had been King of England for roughly a year and was married to Katherine of Aragon.
What is Lady Audley's personality?
She is very attached to luxury items like elegant furniture, jewels, and clothes. Lady Audley is skilled at deceiving and manipulating people, and she also has a very cunning and crafty intellect, which allows her to plot and scheme. At the same time, she can be violent and impulsive.
Why does Luke continue to resent Lady Audley?
He continues to resent Lady Audley because she does not give him as much money as he wanted. Throughout the novel, Luke keeps the secret that George Talboys survived after falling into the well. After being hurt in the fire and then developing a fever due to shock and his alcoholism, Luke tells Robert Audley the truth.
What is Lucy Audley's real name?
She assumes a new identity as Lucy Graham and then marries again, becoming Lucy Audley. Her final identity shift happens when she is placed in the madhouse in Belgium under the pseudonym Madame Taylor. She is very beautiful, and gives an impression of fragility and childlike innocence in her appearance.
What does George fear when he learns Helen has died?
George is always fearful that something bad will happen while he is away, and once he learns that Helen has apparently died, he sinks into a deep depression. He is quite sensitive and moody, and his habit of concealing his plans and not communicating with others often results in misunderstanding.
What is George's anger at George marrying Helen?
He is wealthy, but also very proud and stubborn. He is angry when George marries Helen, who comes from a poor family, and cuts off contact. However, he is finally relieved to learn that George is not dead, and reconciles with his son.
Who is Michael Audley?
Sir Michael Audley is the wealthy owner of Audley Court. He was married and had one child, Alicia. After his first wife died, he lived as a widower for seventeen years, before falling in love with Lucy Graham and marrying her. Sir Michael is a good man who is highly respected by everyone around him. His deep love for Lucy, however, makes him blind to her faults, and he always trusts her and takes her side. Sir Michael is deeply shaken by the discovery of Lucy's deception and crimes.
Is Lady Audley a good piano player?
Although she comes from humble origins, she has received a good education and is a particularly skilled piano player with a keen appreciation of music. Lady Audley has always been haunted by the anxiety that she will one day go mad, like her mother did.
Who is Alicia Audley?
Alicia Audley is the daughter of Sir Michael, the stepdaughter of Lady Audley, and the cousin and admirer of Robert Audley. She is the opposite of Lady Audley in appearance, with dark… read analysis of Alicia Audley
Who is Sir Michael Audley?
Sir Michael is the second husband of Lady Audley, the father of Alicia Audley, and the uncle of Robert Audley. At the beginning of the novel, he is an old, wealthy widower… read analysis of Sir Michael Audley
Where does Monsieur Val run the asylum?
Monsieur Val runs the asylum in Belgium to which Robert commits Lady Audley at the end of the novel.
Who is Robert Audley?
Robert Audley is the nephew of Sir Michael, the cousin of Alicia Audley, the friend of George Talboys, and eventual husband of Clara Talboys. At the beginning of the novel, Robert… read analysis of Robert Audley
Who is Harcourt Talboys?
Mr. Harcourt Talboys is the father of George and Clara Talboys. Wealthy, judgmental, and prideful, Harcourt disowns George for marrying Lucy Maldon, a person of a lower class. He also refuses to help… read analysis of Mr. Harcourt Talboys
Who is Miss Morley?
Miss Morley is a governess with whom George Talboys converses on the ship from Australia to England. They both have someone in England with whom they are anxious to meet, but Miss Morley is far more pessimistic than George is when predicting how her lover will welcome her.
Who is Matilda Plowson's mother?
Mrs. Plowson is Lieutenant Maldon ’s housekeeper and the mother of Matilda Plowson .
Pity, George Talboys, and Motherhood
Lucy confronts George Talboys in the 2000 BBC made-for-TV film adaption of the novel.
Works Cited
Braddon, Mary Elizabeth. Lady Audley’s Secret. Digireads.com Publishing, 2020.
Why does Lady Audley tell Robert that George's body lies at the bottom of the well?
(full context) Lady Audley says she is making this confession now because she knows Robert would not put Sir Michael through a criminal trial, and no trial could sentence her... (full context) Volume 3, Chapter 7.
Who is Mr Audley?
Mr Audley is a rising man upon the home circuit by this time, and has distinguished himself in the great breach of promise case of Hobbs v. Nobbs.
What did Maldon tell Robert about George?
Maldon tells Robert that George stopped by late the previous evening but left after an hour. According to... (full context)
Why did Maldon pawn the watch?
Maldon reveals to Robert that he pawned the watch because he needed the money. He says that George and... (full context)
What does Robert write to Alicia?
Robert writes to Alicia asking if he and George can visit. Alicia writes back saying that... (full context)
What does Robert wake up to find?
Robert wakes up to find George missing. When he cannot find George near the stream, he... (full context)
Why do I hope no one will take objection to my story?
I hope no one will take objection to my story because the end of it leaves the good people all happy and at peace. If my experience of life has not been very long, it has at least been manifold; and I can safely subscribe to that which a mighty king and a great philosopher declared, when he said that neither the experience of his youth nor of his age had ever shown him ‘righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.’
What is Lady Audley's secret about?
Lady Audley’s Secret is a story about gender and class and the efforts of a young woman desperate to escape abject poverty and achieve wealth and status. Madness is a key issue and the question of whether the female protagonist is insanely driven or a skilled strategist is central to the story. Likewise, the willingness of an aristocratic family to banish her to a foreign asylum under a thinly-veiled diagnosis to avoid the disgrace and publicity of a trial adds another dimension to the question.
Where did Sir Michael and Lady Audley go to visit?
Some time later, the two set off to visit Sir Michael at Audley Court, his country manor. Lady Audley goes to great length to avoid meeting George, but when the two are shown a portrait of her, George appears greatly struck by it, though he does not say why. Shortly thereafter, George disappears.
Overview
Lady Audley's Secret is a sensation novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon published in 1862. It was Braddon's most successful and well-known novel. Critic John Sutherland (1989) described the work as "the most sensationally successful of all the sensation novels". The plot centres on "accidental bigamy" which was in literary fashion in the early 1860s. The plot was summarised by literary critic Elaine Showalter (1982): "Braddon's bigamous heroine deserts her child, pushes hus…
History
Lady Audley's Secret was partly serialised in Robin Goodfellow magazine July–September 1861, then entirely serialised in Sixpenny Magazine January–December 1862 and once again serialised in The London Journal March–August 1863. It was published in 1862 in three volumes by William Tinsley.
Braddon initially sold the rights to the Irish publisher John Maxwell, with whom Braddon also live…
Plot
The novel opens with the marriage in June 1857, of Lucy Graham, a beautiful, childlike blonde who enchants almost all who meet her, to Sir Michael Audley, a middle-aged, rich, and kind widower. Lucy was a governess for the local doctor, Mr. Dawson, until her marriage. Previous to that Lucy was in service with Mrs. Vincent, but very little is known about her past before this. Around the time of t…
Analysis and themes
Lady Audley's Secret plays on Victorian anxieties about the domestic sphere. The home was supposed to be a refuge from the dangers of the outside world, but in the novel, the seemingly perfect domestic lady turns out to be a violent criminal who has not only tried to commit murder but who has also committed bigamy and abandoned her child. This unsettled Victorian readers because it indicated that the concepts of "the perfect lady/mother" and "domestic bliss" were mo…
Adaptations
Films
• Lady Audley's Secret, 1912 (USA, black and white, silent)
• Lady Audley's Secret (aka Secrets of Society), 1915 (USA, black and white, silent, directed by Marshall Farnum)
• Lady Audley's Secret, 1920 (UK, black and white, silent, directed by Jack Denton)
In popular culture
Lady Audley's Secret is involved in a subplot of Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, the fourth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Betsy has read it and other books in the same genre, and aspires to write similar works.
External links
• Lady Audley's Secret at Standard Ebooks
• Lady Audley's Secret at Project Gutenberg (ebooks, plain text and HTML)
• Lady Audley's Secret public domain audiobook at LibriVox
• Lady Audley's Secret at Internet Archive (scanned books original editions)