Weir of Hermiston
Encyclopedia
Weir of Hermiston is an unfinished novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
. Many have considered it his masterpiece. It was cut short by Stevenson's sudden death from a cerebral hemorrhage. The novel is set in Edinburgh
and the Lothians at the time of the Napoleonic Wars
.
sensibilities and sensitivity, Archie is estranged from his father, who is depicted as the coarse and cruel judge
of a criminal court. By mutual consent, Archie is banished from his family of origin and sent to live as the local laird
on a family property in the vicinity of Hermiston (now on Edinburgh
's outskirts, and occupied by Heriot-Watt University
, but then out in the countryside).
While serving as the laird, Archie meets and falls in love with Kirstie (Christina). As the two are deepening their relationship, the book breaks off. Confusingly, there are two characters in the novel called Christina.
song Weird of Hermiston gets its name from the book.
In the film Fahrenheit 451
, one of the characters has memorized the book, and is teaching it to his nephew before he dies.
Ascription (paratext) to Wilson Tucker's Ice and Iron (1974) Fortean SF novel.
The Robert Louis Stevenson website maintains a complete list of derivative works.
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
. Many have considered it his masterpiece. It was cut short by Stevenson's sudden death from a cerebral hemorrhage. The novel is set in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and the Lothians at the time of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Plot summary
The novel tells the story of Archie Weir, a youth born into an upper-class Edinburgh family. Because of his RomanticRomanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
sensibilities and sensitivity, Archie is estranged from his father, who is depicted as the coarse and cruel judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of a criminal court. By mutual consent, Archie is banished from his family of origin and sent to live as the local laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
on a family property in the vicinity of Hermiston (now on Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
's outskirts, and occupied by Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
, but then out in the countryside).
While serving as the laird, Archie meets and falls in love with Kirstie (Christina). As the two are deepening their relationship, the book breaks off. Confusingly, there are two characters in the novel called Christina.
Influence on Popular Culture
The 1969 Jack BruceJack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
song Weird of Hermiston gets its name from the book.
In the film Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451 is a 1953 dystopian novel by Ray Bradbury. The novel presents a future American society where reading is outlawed and firemen start fires to burn books...
, one of the characters has memorized the book, and is teaching it to his nephew before he dies.
Ascription (paratext) to Wilson Tucker's Ice and Iron (1974) Fortean SF novel.
The Robert Louis Stevenson website maintains a complete list of derivative works.