A Laodicean

A Laodicean

"A Laodicean" is a novel by Thomas Hardy, published in 1881. Set in the more modern age of that time, the plot exhibits devices uncommon for Hardy, such as falsified telegrams and faked photographs.

Paula Power inherits a medieval castle from her industrialist father who has purchased it from the aristocratic De Stancy family. She employs two architects, one local and one, George Somerset, newly qualified from London. Somerset represents modernity in the novel.

In the village there is an amateur photographer, William Dare, who is the illegitimate son of Captain De Stancy an impoverished scion of the family. Captain De Stancy represents a dream of medieval nobility to Paula.

She is attracted to both men for their different virtues but William Dare decides to intervene to promote his father in her affections. He fakes the telegram and photograph to make it appear Somerset is leading a dissolute lifestyle. His subterfuge is discovered by Captain De Stancy's sister Charlotte who has befriended Paula.

She decides to tell Paula the truth and Paula pursues Somerset to the continent where he has gone mistakenly believing Paula and the Captain to have been married. She finds him and they are reunited and marry. The castle burns down and Somerset proposes to build a modern house in its place.

The last line has Paula summing up her dichotomy of mind between modernity and romantic medievalism, and thus the two men, also emphasising the title a Laodicean (someone indifferent or half-hearted)"I wish my castle wasn't burnt; and I wish you were a De Stancy!"

ee also

*Epistle to the Laodiceans

External links

*gutenberg|no=3258


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  • Laodicean — La*od i*ce an, a. Of or pertaining to Laodicea, a city in Phrygia Major; like the Christians of Laodicea; lukewarm in religion. Rev. iii. 14 16. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Laodicean — lukewarm in religion, 1560s, from Laodicea, Syrian city (modern Latakia) whose early Christians were chastised in the Bible for indifference to their religion [Rev. iii:14 16]. The city is said to be named for the 3c B.C.E. Syrian queen Laodice,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Laodicean — [lā äd΄ə sē′ən, lā′ə də sēən] adj. 1. of Laodicea 2. indifferent or lukewarm in religion: an allusion to the early Christians of LAODICEA (city in Phrygia): Rev. 3:14 16 3. indifferent or lukewarm about any subject n. 1. a person born or living… …   English World dictionary

  • Laodicean Church — The Laodicean Church was a Christian community established in the ancient city of Laodicea (on the river Lycus, in the Roman province of Asia Minor). The church was established in the earliest period of Christianity, and is probably best known… …   Wikipedia

  • Laodicean — adjective Etymology: from the reproach to the church of the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:15 16 Date: 1633 lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics • Laodicean noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Laodicean — /lay od euh see euhn, lay euh deuh /, adj. 1. lukewarm or indifferent, esp. in religion, as were the early Christians of Laodicea. n. 2. a person who is lukewarm or indifferent, esp. in religion. [1605 15; LAODICE(A) + AN] * * * …   Universalium

  • Laodicean — 1. adjective /leɪədɪˈsiːən/ a) pertaining to b) lukewarm, neither hot nor cold (with reference to Revelation 3:16) 2. noun /leɪədɪˈsiːən/ Somebody from Laodicea …   Wiktionary

  • Laodicean — n. one who is lukewarm, one who is apathetic, one who is indifferent (especially about religion) adj. lukewarm, apathetic (especially about religion) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Laodicean — [ˌleɪə(ʊ)dɪ si:ən] archaic adjective half hearted or indifferent, especially with respect to religion or politics. noun a person with such an attitude. Origin C17: from L. Laodicea in Asia Minor, with ref. to the early Christians there (Rev.… …   English new terms dictionary

  • laodicean — la·od·i·ce·an …   English syllables

  • Laodicean — La•od•i•ce•an [[t]leɪˌɒd əˈsi ən, ˌleɪ ə də [/t]] adj. 1) rel lukewarm or indifferent, esp. in religion, as were the early Christians of Laodicea 2) rel such a lukewarm or indifferent person • Etymology: 1605–15 …   From formal English to slang

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