Calidore

Calidore by Thomas Love Peacock

Calidore is a novel by Thomas Love Peacock, first published in 1819. It tells the story of Calidore, a young man who is sent to the court of King Arthur to learn the ways of chivalry. He soon finds himself embroiled in a series of adventures, including a quest to find the magical Sword of Truth, a battle against a giant, and a romance with the beautiful Lady Florimel. Along the way, he learns the importance of courage, loyalty, and honor. In the end, Calidore is able to prove himself a true knight and win the heart of his beloved.

By Thomas Love Peacock · First published 1816 · Genre: Romantic Comedy, Satire, Romance · 5 chapters · 9,887 words

First lines

NOTWITHSTANDING the great improvements of machinery in this rapidly improving age, which is so much wiser, better, and happier than all that went before it, every gentleman is not yet accommodated with the convenience of a pocket boat. * We may therefore readily imagine that Miss Ap-Nanny and her sister Ellen, the daughters of the Vicar of Llanglasrhyd, were not a little astonished in a Sunday evening walk on the sea shore, when a little skiff, which, by the rapidity of its motion had attracted their attention while but a speck upon the waves, ran upon the beach, from which emerged a very handsome young gentleman, dressed not exactly in the newest fashion, who, after taking down the sail and hauling up the boat upon the beach, carefully folded it up in the size of a prayer-book and transferred it to his pocket: after which he turned himself to the sea, and, scooping up some water in the hollow of his hand, poured it down again in the manner of a libation, calling on the names of Neptune and Bromian* Jupiter and Proteus and Triton and the Nereids. Then turning towards the rocks he spread open his arms and invoked the Nymphs, the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the fields, the springs, the woods, and the sea-shore, by the several appellations of Oreads, and Naiads, and Limniads, and Limoniads, and Ephydriads, and Dryads and Hamadryads. He did not notice the young ladies till he had completed this operation, and when he looked round and discovered them he seemed a little confused, but made them a very courteous bow in a fine but rather singular style of ancient politeness. From the moment of his first landing, and the commencement of the curious process of folding up his boat, Miss Ap-Nanny had been dying with curiosity, and had consulted her sister Ellen as to the propriety of addressing the stranger, having, however, fully made up her mind beforehand as usual with young ladies when they ask advice.

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romance · satire · poetry · adventure · chivalry · knighthood · idealism · social commentary · fantasy · humor · character study · moral dilemmas

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