# The Past and Memory in The Nebuly Coat

> Theme guide for The Nebuly Coat by John Meade Falkner.

The narrative is steeped in history—both personal and architectural—with characters haunted by past events, such as Sophia's abandonment of her family and the abbey's dissolution, which shape present conflicts.

## Where it surfaces

- [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/iv): Janaway's detailed recollection of the Joliffe family history and the lingering impact of past events on the present.
- [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/v): Miss Joliffe's attachment to the painting is rooted in family memory—her father's pride, her mother's talent, and the link to a more comfortable past. Sharnall critiques how family loyalty distorts memory and judgment.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/vii): Anastasia's memories of her father Martin Joliffe and his obsession with the nebuly coat connect the present events to the family's past.
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/xix): The bells evoke memories of historical events, and the 'nebuly coat' legend continues to haunt the present.
- [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/xx): Westray's study of Martin's papers and the heraldic window connects the present to the tangled history of the Blandamer and Joliffe families.
- [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/xxi): The portrait brings the past to life, and Lord Blandamer's memories of his youth and his grandmother's unfinished work highlight the persistence of the past.
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/xxii): The portrait of Lord Blandamer's grandfather and the discussion of ancestral property highlight how the past haunts the present and shapes identity.
- [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/chapters/epilogue): The brass plate and reconstruction serve as acts of remembrance for Lord Blandamer's sacrifice.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/themes/the_past_and_memory
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nebuly_coat_se/themes