Mohawks: A Novel. Volume 2 of 3

In Short

This novel is a vivid, atmospheric drama set in the early eighteenth century, revolving around the overlapping lives of aristocrats, ambitious writers, and moral outcasts. It chronicles a clandestine romance hindered by class barriers and the machinations of a wealthy, predatory man with a dark history. As the characters navigate the treacherous social landscape of London and the country estates, they are haunted by the consequences of past transgressions. Braddon’s work remains a compelling read for its sharp, cynical wit and its exploration of how secrets and social status dictate individual happiness.

The Story

The narrative follows the intersecting paths of several figures, most notably the passionate Herrick Durnford, a young man of intellect but limited means, and Lord Lavendale, a disillusioned nobleman. Herrick is deeply in love with Irene Bosworth, a woman of significant fortune. However, Irene’s father, a rigid and status-obsessed squire, forbids the match, viewing Herrick as an unsuitable suitor. Lavendale, who once acted as a reckless rival for Irene’s hand, eventually undergoes a change of heart, choosing to honor his friendship with Herrick and even attempting to use his social influence to aid the couple’s prospects.

The primary shadow hanging over these lives is Vyvyan Topsparkle, a man of immense, mysterious wealth whose outward elegance hides a history of cruelty and possible criminality. Topsparkle has married the beautiful and defiant Lady Judith, who finds herself increasingly trapped in a loveless union with a man she despises. Lavendale, while harboring his own secret affection for Judith, discovers through an old chemist named Vincenti that Topsparkle’s past is stained with the suspicious death of a previous lover—a woman Topsparkle had essentially purchased and then discarded.

As the story progresses, the tension between the characters intensifies. Irene is kept under strict surveillance by her family, forcing her and Herrick to communicate through stolen letters and clandestine meetings. Meanwhile, Lady Judith, living in a gilded cage in Soho, engages in a dangerous game of defiance against her husband. She and Lavendale contemplate a desperate flight, though Lavendale is paralyzed by the realization that his own health is failing and he cannot offer her a secure future.

The plot reaches a critical point as the true, horrifying nature of Topsparkle’s past comes to light. Vincenti’s testimony reveals that Topsparkle, aided by his sinister servant Fétis, was responsible for the death of his granddaughter in a foreign land. Lavendale realizes that Judith is living in the same environment that destroyed Topsparkle’s previous victim. The volume concludes with a sense of impending doom; Lavendale, now aware that his days are numbered, shifts his focus from his own desires to protecting Judith from the husband who has already proven he can progress from vice to murder.

How It Unfolds

The pact of friends Herrick confesses his love for Irene to Lavendale, who initially views the woman as a means to improve his own estate. Moved by his friend's sincerity, Lavendale renounces his claim and pledges to assist Herrick’s career, setting a tone of tragic nobility for the rest of the narrative.

The barrier of wealth Herrick attempts to petition Irene’s father for her hand, only to be rejected with disdain due to his lack of fortune. He is forced into a life of patience and secret correspondence, waiting for the day he can claim her independently of her father’s approval.

The discovery of shadows Lavendale encounters Vincenti, an aging, obsessed chemist who holds the key to the past. Through their collaboration and conversations, the dark history of Vyvyan Topsparkle—the man who bought Irene’s rival and Judith’s husband—is slowly unearthed.

The dance of defiance Lady Judith attempts to maintain her autonomy within a society that treats her as a mere ornament. She and Lavendale plot an escape while Topsparkle is away, yet the fragility of their plan is exposed by the looming influence of the husband’s watchful spies.

The final confrontation The truth regarding the death of Topsparkle’s former companion is laid out in a manuscript, confirming the depravity of the "City Croesus." Lavendale, now resigned to his own mortality, accepts that he must act as a guardian to protect Judith from the very fate that befell the previous victim.

The People

Herrick Durnford is the earnest protagonist, driven by his love for Irene and his ambition to make a mark as a writer. He remains steadfast despite poverty, representing a modern, meritocratic spirit. Irene Bosworth is the devoted object of his affection; she is independent-minded and openly dismissive of the wealth her father prizes, though she is physically constrained by her family.

Lord Lavendale is the most complex figure: a former profligate who has burned through his youth and now faces a premature, inevitable death. He sacrifices his own potential happiness to protect his friend and the woman he loves. In contrast, Vyvyan Topsparkle is the novel’s antagonist—a man of "careful preservation" who uses his vast, ill-gotten wealth to control those around him. He is the "City Croesus," a man whose politeness masks a murderous, predatory nature.

Lady Judith is Topsparkle’s wife, a woman who navigates the upper echelons of society with a defiant, cynical exterior. She is trapped in a marriage that she treats as a battlefield, unaware that she is playing with a man who has already committed the ultimate crime against a woman in his power. Finally, Vincenti serves as the tragic witness, a man consumed by his search for life-extending science and the memory of the granddaughter he could not save.

In Its Own Voice

"I adore Irene Bosworth, for whom you care not a straw."

Herrick defends his genuine affection for Irene against Lavendale’s initial, purely mercenary interest in her as an heiress.

"To Lavendale the very presence of the man inspired loathing, albeit Mr. Topsparkle was generally esteemed a very pretty fellow, and a wonder of careful preservation and artistic treatment."

The narrator captures the visceral disgust Lavendale feels for Topsparkle, whose public facade of youth and elegance hides a rotten core.

"Common humanity is the most uncommon virtue I know of; 'tis rarer than common sense."

Herrick’s acquaintance, Mr. Ludderly, reflects on the coldness of the world when describing the indifference Topsparkle’s kin showed toward a dying relative.

What It's Really About

The book is a study of the clash between human desire and the rigid, transactional nature of an aristocratic society. It explores the question of whether a person’s past—specifically their secret vices—can be entirely hidden behind a facade of wealth and manners. Braddon posits that money in this era acts as a corrosive force, turning marriages into markets and parents into gaolers. The narrative questions the possibility of redemption, contrasting the "short and merry" life of a profligate with the slow, methodical path of an ambitious artist. Ultimately, it suggests that the "atmosphere of crime" generated by those who view people as commodities inevitably creates a trap from which only the most vigilant can hope to escape.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the intricate social maneuvering of Georgian fiction will find this book particularly rewarding. Braddon possesses a sharp, biting wit that makes the dialogue snap; she is a master of the "home-thrust" and the cynical observation. The prose is lush and atmospheric, evoking the dusty, high-stakes world of the 1720s with precision.

However, the modern reader should be prepared for the dense, period-specific references and the sometimes laborious pacing of the subplots regarding inheritance and chemistry. The book reflects the attitudes of its time, particularly in its portrayals of class and gender, which may feel alien or frustrating to contemporary sensibilities. The length of the three-volume structure means the plot unfolds slowly, dwelling on philosophical musings and historical context that some might find excessive.

What stays with the reader is the chilling portrait of Topsparkle—a villain who is not a caricature, but a terrifyingly plausible man who uses "careful preservation" to hide his nature. It is a story about the weight of history and the tragedy of realizing one’s own mortality just as the possibility of true happiness appears on the horizon. If you value a story that combines the melodrama of a high-society romance with the dark, underlying tension of a detective thriller, this book offers a substantial, thought-provoking experience.