Vestal Fire
 First edition (US) | |
| Author | Compton Mackenzie |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Publisher | Cassell (UK) George H. Doran (US) |
| Publication date | 1927 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | |
Vestal Fire is a 1927 comedy novel by the British writer Compton Mackenzie.[1] It was inspired by the time Mackenzie had spent living in Capri before and after the First World War. War is never directly mentioned, but tone changes considerably in the last of three books. Plot is based on loose collection of anectodes about a massive cast of characters, centering on Count Marsc and Virginia and Maimie Pepworth-Northon.
Characters
[edit source]- Virginia and Maimie Pepworth-Norton: Old American spinsters. Loose relatives. Based on Sarah "Saidee" Morrison Wolcott-Perry and Kate Wolcott Perry
- Count Marsac: Rich French Count, based on Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen
- Carlo: Marsac's secretary, based on Nino Cesarini
- Herbert Bookham: English churchwarden, based on Harold Trower
- Cyril Acott: New Anglican chaplain, based on Rev. Francis Burra
- Joseph Neave: Translator of Dante into American[sic], based on William Page Andrews
- Archibald (Archie) Macadam: Scottish alcoholic, but well liked member of the community. Based on Alexander (Sandie) Grahame.
- Effie Macadam: His wife, based on Sophie Grahame.
- Nigel Dawson: Effeminate young American, based on Vernon Andrews
- Christopher Goldfinch: American painter, based on Charles Caryl Coleman
- Anthony Burlingham: Old English officer, based on Godfrey Thornton
- Mrs. Ambrogio: English expatriate, married to a local lawyer, based on Gwen Galata
- Peter Ambrogio: Local lawyer, based on Giovanni Galata
- John Scudamore: American scholar. Tiberius apologist John Ellingham Brooks?
- Simon Pears: American poet, old friend of Christopher
- Angela Pears: Simons granddaughter
- Anthony Burlingham: American Painter, based on Godfrey Henry Thornton
- Duncan Maxwell: Scottish naturalist, based on Norman Douglas
- Hector Macdonnell: Scottish widow, based on Emilie Fraser, widow of William Langland Fraser
- Alberto and Enrico Jones: Brothers, sons of English expatriate.
- Luigi Zampone: Local businessman.
See also
[edit source]References
[edit source]- ↑ Linklater p.210-12
Bibliography
[edit source]- John Champagne. "Are Italians brown? Categorical Miscegenation and Early Twentieth Century Italian Homosexuality." Giornale di Storia, 38, 2022. ISBN/ISSN: 2036-4938.
- David Joseph Dooley. Compton Mackenzie. Twayne Publishers, 1974.
- Andro Linklater. Compton Mackenzie: A Life Hogarth Press, 1992.
External links
[edit source]
 | This article about a comedy novel of the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. |