# Alere Flamma's Retreat to Coombe Oaks explained — Amaryllis at the Fair

> Chapter companion for Amaryllis at the Fair by Richard Jefferies.

## What happens

The chapter describes Alere Flamma's life in Fleet Street, his generosity to the poor and to printer's boys, and his periodic retreats to Iden's garden at Coombe Oaks to recover his health with good ale. It contrasts the failure of modern medicines with the restorative power of genuine old ale, and shows Flamma's bond with the Iden family.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art, Ambition, and Failure

Flamma is an engraver and artist who carries sketchbooks and engraving tools, yet he is without ambition and business-avarice, content with a modest life.

### Social Class and Money

Flamma's ten-pound notes and his generosity to the poor contrast with the harsh realities of poverty in London.

### Nature and the Pastoral Ideal

Coombe Oaks is described as a spa among apple-bloom, finches, and rustling leaves, a pastoral retreat from the city.

## Character check-ins

### Old Flamma

Alere Flamma is the central figure, a kind-hearted man who gives away his money and cares for the unfortunate, and who retreats to Coombe Oaks to restore his health with ale.

### Amaryllis Iden

Amaryllis is present in the summerhouse with Flamma, Amadis, and Iden, listening and sharing in the conversation.

### Amadis Iden

Amadis is present in the summerhouse with Flamma, Amaryllis, and Iden.

### Mr. Iden

Iden is present in the summerhouse, and his family is noted for brewing famous ale for generations.

## Key lines

> The embrace of iron is death.

Being crushed by the printing press is fatal.

_Describes the fatal accident of a printer's boy._

> There is no medicine in nature, or made by man, like good ale.

Good ale is the best remedy, superior to any manufactured medicine.

_Expresses the chapter's central idea about ale's restorative power._

> Throw physic to the dogs, get a cask of the true Goliath, and 'drenk un down to the therd hoop.'

Abandon medicine and drink a cask of Iden's ale down to the third hoop.

_Advocates ale over medical prescriptions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters/xxx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/amaryllis_at_the_fair_se/chapters