A complete issue · 272 pages · 1888
The Bride Elect: or, The Doom of the Double Roses
A complete, restored issue of Penny Dreadfuls from 1888 — all 272 pages of cheap serialized Victorian sensation fiction — crime, horror, and lurid melodrama, free to page through at ComicBooks.com.
A complete issue · 272 pages · 1888
This romance serial, authored by Annie (surname partially obscured in OCR), follows the story of Glencora Calvert on the eve of her wedding to Alexander Buccleugh, a successful bank manager in Edinburgh. The narrative opens at Lady-Bank, the estate where Glencora and her younger sister Florice live under the guardianship of Mrs. Ellathorne. As bridesmaids prepare wedding garments, Glencora anticipates her marriage while Alexander visits to present pearl bracelets as a wedding gift. The couple takes a private walk beyond the estate gates despite Mrs. Ellathorne's objections. The title's reference to "doom" and "double roses" suggests complications may follow this seemingly serene romantic setup. The story emphasizes Glencora's noble character and the sisters' close emotional bond as preparations advance toward the impending ceremony.
Each page has its own page — the cartoon, who’s in it, and what the satire means.