Basil

Basil recalls his younger days when he and his ennobled British family live at their Cornwall estate Windermere Hall. His father, Father Frederick, is a firm believer that people should know their place in society. Clara Fairfax is an orphaned daughter of Basil’s father’s friend, and she comes to live with Basil’s family. Basil’s older brother, Ralph, is banished to a distant, derelict family manor in Yorkshire for his transgression with a local girl. Later, Basil is home from Oxford University when he is rescued by a London merchant, John Mannion. Basil comes to think of John as his friend.

While staying at his family’s London home, Basil attempts to reconnect with John, and instead meets Julia Sherwin, the daughter of John’s employer. Julia Sherwin rejects Basil, but shortly before Basil is to come of age and inherit money and property, he secretly weds her. Julia sets her intentions on taking Windermere Hall in exchange for her affections.

Basil finds Julia in bed with John; Basil beats him until he cannot get up. John disappears. Basil tells his father of the marriage, and is banished. Basil makes his way to his brother in Yorkshire. It is there that Basil receives a letter from John telling him of the scheme involving Julia to avenge the death of John’s pregnant sister after Ralph was banished years before.

Julia is at Windermere; Basil helps deliver her newborn baby. John, with his face wrapped in cloth, arrives. Julia dies. John leaves the child behind when Basil chases him towards a cliff with a zulfiqar sword. During the scuffle, John’s face is revealed, and he sees his disfigured reflection in the sword; he takes his own life by falling off the seaside cliff.

Basil takes the newborn child and, naming her Clara after his childhood friend, escapes to Ireland. There, Basil returns to the writing, telling the stories he had started as a youth and eventually returning to London where the stories are to be published. Walking beside a pond, Basil and Clara come upon Basil’s older friend Clara, who encourages Basil to make amends with his father, who happens to be sitting nearby. The elderly Father Frederick explains that he loved Basil’s dead mother, and that the banishments were the result of having seen mirrored in his sons his own treatment of his dead wife. Basil and Clara make London their home.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:14