Jules Verne's Scotland by Ian Thompson

Author:Ian Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER FIVE

The Children of Captain Grant

LES ENFANTS DU CAPTAINE GRANT, 1868 (The Children of Captain Grant) is Verne’s ‘geographical’ novel par excellence and a three volume ‘blockbuster’. The novel begins and ends in Glasgow, but the rest of the book is written on a global scale and the ‘Scottish’ element resides mainly in the characters, rather than the setting. The main personalities are Lord Glenarvan and his new wife Lady Helena, residents of Malcolm Castle in Luss on the shore of Loch Lomond. There is no record of a Glenarvan on Lomondside, nor is there a Malcolm Castle. The Malcolm Clan did not have its base on Lomondside. Its headquarters is at Duntrune Castle, north of Crinan on the Atlantic coast.

Lord Glenarvan is more than likely modelled on the Colquhoun clan. The Colquhoun lands were granted by Malcolm, Earl of Lennox to Humphrey of Kilpatrick in the 13th century and he adopted Colquhoun as the clan name. ‘Malcolm’ castle can thus be proposed as being Rossdhu House, near Luss, the head quarters of the Colquhoun Clan, which also contains a ruined medieval castle and chapel in the grounds. Verne had sailed past Rossdhu House in 1859 as the steamer approached the pier at Luss. In 1879 he sailed past Luss from the opposite direction and his diary for that day makes specific mention of Malcolm Castle and Lord Glenarvan. Moreover, it is clear from a reference in Les Indes noires, that he was aware of the association of the Colquhoun clan with Luss. He may also have been aware that Helensburgh, a planned town built in 1780 by Sir James Colquhoun, was named after his wife Helen and therefore a possible origin of Verne’s Lady Helena.

Lord Glenarvan typified Verne’s notion of the Scottish nobleman. He is portrayed as being utterly loyal to his staff, all of whom were born and bred locally, who in turn give him their unreserved respect. Although a peer in the House of Lords and a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, Glenarvan is disdainful of the English. He is first and foremost a Scot, a nobleman and sailor, devoted to his wife, generous to his servants and relishing adventure, especially when it involved his pride and joy, the ss Duncan, his brand new steam yacht. His membership of the Royal Thames Yacht Club was inspired by his wish to compete in sailing in the name of Scotland rather than from any wish to join the snobbish English sailing fraternity. Lady Helena, his wife of three months at the start of the adventure, also a Scot from nearby Kilpatrick, was not from an aristocratic background. Her father William Tuffnel had been an explorer, but she was already an orphan when Glenarvan met her. He recognised her charm, determination and intelligence and at the age of 22 she became Lady Glenarvan and was immediately adored by the household and servants at Malcolm Castle.

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