Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

Ann Radcliffe's novel The Romance of the Forest is a Gothic romance with a fairy tale ending. Distressed heroine Adeline is introduced as an unloved and unwanted orphan. As she is forced to run from those who would have her killed, Adeline meets and loses the love of her life. All is well at the end of the story, however, as Adeline learns she is indeed the daughter of a wealthy marquis. She uses her influence to save Theodore, her true love, from a death sentence, and the two are reunited and married at the conclusion of the novel.

The novel opens with Advocate Nemours bidding farewell to La Motte and his wife as they leave Paris in secret. Although the La Mottes are running from creditors, Nemours has assisted the couple in their escape. Madame de La Motte is saddened...