The Trumpet Major
Boy meets girl, another boy meets girl, third boy meets girl. First boy meets another girl, third boy pretends to meet second girl, second boy also meets the same girl. First boy marries first girl, second boy marries second girl, third boy naturally dies tragically. Oh, and middle-aged man marries middle-aged woman.
Well that's the story. One of the lighter novels, set at the time of the Napoleonic wars when all Dorset expected Boney to arrive any minute and the countryside was full of dashing soldiers. In the middle of which, three families indulge in matchmaking, feuds and intrigues.
Or to be more helpful: Anne Garland lives with her widowed mother in half of a mill. The miller, who lives in the other half, is pleased when his son, a soldier, is stationed on the hill nearby. This is the "trumpet major" of the story. His second son comes back from sea. Needless to say, both sons, while acting honourably, are rivals for Anne. They have a further rival, the comic villain Festus Derriman.
The King comes to Budmouth for his holidays, Thomas Hardy's namesake, the admiral who Nelson made the strange request to, pops up for a cameo appearance.
The sailor fights at Waterloo, a woman of loose morals turns up to confuse the issue, and all ends partially happily ever after.
One of the fun things about this story is spotting the links in characters to those in other books. For anyone who's read the Trumpet Major, can I suggest for your consideration:
Miller Loveday = Tranter Reuben (Under the Greenwood Tree)
Festus Derriman = Alec D'Urberville = Captain Troy
John Loveday = Gabriel Oak
Mrs Garland = Tess's Mum
Anne Garland = Fancy Day = Bathsheba Everdene
I know, it wouldn't stand up in a thesis without a bit more evidence, but it's an interesting thought...
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