Kit and Kitty

Kit and Kitty is an 1890 Victorian novel by R.D. Blackmore set in the rural landscape of Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex. The story centers around a market gardener's nephew named Kit and his relationship with Kitty, the daughter of a scientist. The plot follows Kit and Kitty's romance as they face obstacles from Kitty's stepmother and stepbrother Donovan. The narrative unfolds in and around the grounds of Uncle Corny's garden, where much of the central action takes place. The three-volume work contains elements characteristic of Victorian literature - family conflicts, questions of marriage, and moral struggles between good and evil characters. Reviews at the time were mixed, with some publications praising Blackmore's storytelling abilities. The novel explores themes of class dynamics in rural England and the tension between scientific progress and traditional agricultural life. Through its romantic plot, it examines how family obligations and social expectations can impact personal happiness.

Limited reader reviews exist for this obscure 1890 Blackmore novel. The few available reviews emphasize that it is one of the author's lesser-known works, receiving far less attention than his famous "Lorna Doone." Readers who discussed the book pointed to its pastoral English countryside setting and romance elements as strengths. A Goodreads reviewer noted it contains "charming descriptions of rural life." Critics found the plot meandering and the pacing slow compared to Blackmore's other works. Multiple readers mentioned struggling to finish it. Available Ratings: Goodreads: 3.0/5 (5 ratings, 1 review) No ratings found on Amazon No ratings found on other major book review sites Note: Due to the book's age and relative obscurity, comprehensive review data is limited. Most modern discussions of Kit and Kitty appear in academic contexts examining Blackmore's complete works rather than reader reviews.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The romance between Elizabeth and Darcy faces comparable family interference and social class barriers in rural England.

Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Set in rural Victorian England, this tale of farmer Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene mirrors the agricultural setting and complex relationship dynamics.

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot The story of Maggie Tulliver navigates similar themes of family obligations and rural life affecting romantic possibilities.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell The relationship between Margaret Hale and John Thornton encounters parallel obstacles of class division and family expectations.

The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy Set against a rural backdrop, this novel presents a comparable exploration of how landscape and community shape romantic relationships.

🌿 R.D. Blackmore was also a market gardener himself, running a successful fruit farm in Teddington, which likely influenced the detailed horticultural descriptions in "Kit and Kitty" 📚 While best known for his novel "Lorna Doone" (1869), Blackmore wrote 14 novels in total, with "Kit and Kitty" being one of his later works 🏰 Sunbury-on-Thames, where the story is set, has a rich history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times and was a popular retreat for wealthy Victorians seeking escape from London 🌺 Three-volume novels, known as "triple-deckers," were the standard format for Victorian fiction, typically rented from circulating libraries for a fee of one guinea per year 🎨 The market garden setting reflects a crucial part of Victorian London's food supply system, with areas like Middlesex providing much of the city's fresh produce through an extensive network of small farms