Sylvie and Bruno Concluded
by Lewis Carroll
Sylvie and Bruno, first published in 1889, and its 1893 second volume Sylvie and Bruno Concluded form the last novel by Lewis Carroll published during his lifetime. Both volumes were illustrated by Harry Furniss.
The novel has two main plots: one set in the real world at the time the book was published (the Victorian era), the other in the fictional world of Fairyland. While the latter plot is a fairytale with many nonsense elements and poems, similar to Carroll’s most famous children’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the story set in Victorian Britain is a social novel, with its characters discussing various concepts and aspects of religion, society, philosophy and morality.
Source: Carroll, L. (1893). Sylvie and Bruno Concluded. London: Macmillan and Co.
- Preface
- The preface to the book.
- Chapter 1: “Bruno’s Lessons”
- The narrator goes to his Club and meets up with an old friend. Later, the narrator walks through the gardens and imprisons an elf and discovers it to be Bruno.
- Chapter 2: “Love’s Curfew”
- The narrator spots Lady Muriel seated on a bench. She explains about her engagement to her cousin Eric and how it ended.
- Chapter 3: “Streaks of Dawn”
- The narrator and Arthur go for a walk and chat about Bazaars.
- Chapter 4: “The Dog-King”
- The narrator, Sylvie, and Bruno come upon Nero.
- Chapter 5: “Matilda Jane”
- Bruno tells a story to the farmer’s wife while the narrator and Sylvie meet up with the farmer’s children in the orchard.
- Chapter 6: “Willie’s Wife”
- The narrator, Sylvie, and Bruno meet Willie’s wife.
- Chapter 7: “Mein Herr”
- Lady Muriel gets a visit from a German man.
- Chapter 8: “In a Shady Place”
- Arthur and the others get ready for the big party. Lady Muriel discusses right and wrong.
- Chapter 9: “The Farewell-Party”
- They all attend the party.
- Chapter 10: “Jabbering and Jam”
- Sylvie and Bruno meet the young female pianist on the way to the drawing-room.
- Chapter 11: “The Man in the Moon”
- Main Herr talks to Sylvie and Bruno
- Chapter 12: “Fairy-Music”
- Sylvie plays the piano.
- Chapter 13: “What Tottles Meant”
- Mein Herr begins to sing and Tottles replies (and he means every word).
- Chapter 14: “Bruno’s Picnic”
- The narrator tells Bruno a story. Bruno then tells the narrator his story.
- Chapter 15: “The Little Foxes”
- Bruno continues his story.
- Chapter 16: “Beyond These Voices”
- Mein Herr finishes his song to thanks and compliments of the crowd. Sylvie and Bruno disappear.
- Chapter 17: “To the Rescue!”
- Sylvie and Bruno go to sleep outdoors.
- Chapter 18: “A Newspaper-Cutting”
- The author shares a relevant newspaper clipping.
- Chapter 19: “A Fairy-Duet”
- The year ends and Muriel and the narrator mourn the death of Arthur.
- Chapter 20: “Gammon and Spinach”
- The narrator returns home.
- Chapter 21: “The Professor’s Lecture”
- The Professor gives a lecture to the narrator about science.
- Chapter 22: “The Banquet”
- The narrator takes a walk in the country lost in his memories. He visits the old man sitting on the porch.
- Chapter 23: “The Pig-Tale”
- The Professor remembers about the Pig-Tale.
- Chapter 24: “The Beggar’s Return”
- The beggar returns to visit the Emperor.
- Chapter 25: “Life Out of Death”
- The narrator receives a letter from Lady Muriel. Eric has returned.
- Year Published: 1893
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: England
-
Readability:
- Flesch–Kincaid Level: 6.5
- Word Count: 79,605
- Genre: Fantasy
- Keywords: 19th century literature, british literature, chapter 1: “bruno’s lessons”, chapter 23: “the pig-tale”, chapter 24: “the beggar’s return”, chapter 25: “life out of death”, lewis carroll