Kirjahaku

Born at the time of Waterloo in the wild country of Shropshire, Prudence Sarn is a wild, passionate girl, cursed with a hare lip -- her 'precious bane'. Cursed for it, too, by the superstitious people amongst whom she lives. Prue loves two things: the remote countryside of her birth and, hopelessly, Kester Woodseaves, the weaver. The tale of how Woodseaves gradually discerns Prue's true beauty is set against the tragic drama of Prue's brother, Gideon, a driven man who is out of harmony with the natural world.

'Brighter and better than Thomas Hardy . . . a marvellous writer' Eloise Millar, GuardianPrudence Sarn was born with a cleft palate, her 'precious bane', for which she is persecuted as a witch by her superstitious neighbours. Hiding from daily ridicule, she takes refuge in the wild Shropshire countryside, developing a profound love of nature. Furtively, Prue longs to be loved and harbours a hopeless passion for Kester Woodseaves, the weaver.Prue's brother, Gideon, is engaged to her only friend, but in his ambition for wealth at any cost, he incurs the wrath of his would-be father-in-law whose act of vengeance results in Prue being accused of murder. Only Kester, who has perceived her true worth, can defend her from the wrath of her accusers. Winner of the 1926 Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Prize, Precious Bane is a novel that enchants with its beauty and its timeless truths.'With the publication of Precious Bane, a substantial readership came to respect Mary Webb's quiet genius . . . When she died at the age of 46, literature lost a voice that promised to speak for Shropshire as poignantly as Thomas Hardy had spoken for Wessex, Emily Bronte for Yorkshire - New York Times

The daughter of a Welsh gypsy and a crazy bee-keeper, Hazel Woodus is happiest living in her forest cottage in the remote Shropshire hills, at one with the winds and seasons, protector and friend of the wild animals she loves. But Hazel's beauty and innocence prove irresistible to the men in her orbit. Both Jack Reddin, the local squire and Edward Marston, the gentle minister, offer her human -- and carnal -- love. Hazel's fate unfolds as simply and relentlessly as a Greek tragedy as a child of nature is drawn into a world of mortal passion in which she must eternally be a stranger.

Precious Bane is a novel by Mary Webb, first published in 1924. Set in rural Shropshire in the early 19th century, the story follows the life of Prue Sarn, a young woman born with a harelip, which gives her a ""precious bane"" of a speech impediment. Despite her physical deformity, Prue is a strong and independent character, with a deep connection to nature and the countryside around her.As the novel progresses, Prue faces a number of challenges, including poverty, prejudice, and romantic entanglements. She falls in love with a local farmer, Kester Woodseaves, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Kester is already engaged to another woman. Prue also becomes embroiled in a bitter feud with her own brother, Gideon, who resents her for being born with a harelip.Throughout the novel, Webb explores themes of love, loss, and the struggle for acceptance in a society that values physical beauty above all else. She also paints a vivid picture of rural life in 19th century England, capturing the beauty and brutality of the countryside, and the complex social dynamics of a small, close-knit community.Overall, Precious Bane is a powerful and moving novel, filled with richly drawn characters and a deep sense of empathy for those who are marginalized by society. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.This is a new release of the original 1924 edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

In 'The Sunshine Sleuths' Mary Webb introduces us to a likeable group of youngsters who are out for adventure - and find it. 'Why don't we form a sort of crime fighting gang, ' Luca suggested enthusiastically, 'we could keep our eyes open for anything suspicious and investigate it.' 'But nothing suspicious ever does happen round here, ' said Isabella. 'That's only because we're not looking for it, ' argued Luca, 'I bet if we really kept our ears and eyes open and took notice of things, we'd find there are loads of suspicious things going on.' And so Luca and his younger brother Paolo form 'The Sunshine Sleuths' and sure enough before too long they all find themselves investigating something suspicious at a deserted villa. A self-confessed homage to Enid Blyton, the book has a timeless feel that even today's streetwise youngsters will find appealing.