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The Virginians

By WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY Condensation by SARA WARE BASSETT VIRGINIA in the days of Washington's early manhood; Virginia with its vast tobacco plantations sloping to the river, its myriads of slaves, its great estates where, loyal to the king, the master was above all else a gentleman and a sportsman, and the mistress a lady who directed the affairs of her household with the imperiousness of a princess of the blood; a Virginia of stiff brocades, of hoops and powdered wigs; a land where hospitality ran free and good wine was never wanting--such is the setting chosen by Thackeray for his sequel to Henry Esmond, the tale entitled The Virginians. It was a picturesque period in history, and the author of the novel was indeed daring to present to us in the first pages of his book George Washington, the young Colonial colonel, who comes hither in his coach from his adjoining estate to visit Madam Esmond, the daughter of our old friend Henry Esmond, at her American home, "Castlewood," and there meet her nineteen-year-old twin sons, George Esmond Warrington and Harry Warrington. Hither, also, comes General Braddock, the English commander who expects with the aid of his forces to bring about an end to the French and Indian wars; and in his company is Benjamin Franklin, the Philadelphia printer.

Ah, Thackeray had courage to present to us in the flesh these familiar celebrities!

But he does it delightfully.