Reading Sir Walter:

Peveril of the Peak 

(Chapter 14) Bridgenorth's Story

Read by Lee A. Simpson

Back in 1995 I felt like I was living in a vacuous world... and was in need of something of substance to cling on to. A peculiar incident put a copy of Peveril of the Peak into my hands...  I took it as a sign... It was hard work, and many times I had to re-read a passage just to get the gist of it. But, I was determined and pushed on. Once I got past chapter 7 (as with most Scott books -- except Kenilworth) I really started to engage with the characters and loved the style of dialogue.

Now, almost 30 years later I must have read the book at least a dozen times..   I like how each time I return to it I find new things to relate to. It never fails to satisfy.


I have chosen this passage because it is a rather neat self-contain story within the book. I feel that Bridgenorth (the Puritan) was telling it as part of an attempt to politically subvert Julian Peveril (the Cavalier's son). Julian had unwitting given Bridgenorth a sympathetic ear as he is secretly in love with his daughter -- but, little does he realise how much of a fanatic he really is, as the hero of this passage is actually wanted for Regicide!


This recording was done in one-take and from memory.

March 2024.

 The Meeting of Peveril & Alice Interrupted by Bridgenorth. 1832. Engraving by J. Mitchell after a drawing by T. M. Wright.

Image used here with the permission of the [Walter Scott Digital Archive Image Collection].