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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... Read Full Overview

'Brighter and better than Thomas Hardy . . . a marvellous writer' Eloise Millar, Guardian Prudence Sarn was born with her 'precious bane', a cleft palate, for which she is persecuted as a witch by her superstitious neighbours. Hiding from daily ridicule, Prue takes refuge in... Read Full Overview

It was at a love-spinning that I saw Kester first. And if, in these new-fangled days, when strange inventions crowd upon us, when I hear tell there is even a machine coming into use in some parts of the country for reaping and mowing, if those that mayhappen will read this don't... Read Full Overview

This is the story of us all at Sarn, of Mother and Gideon and me, and Jancis, and Wizard Beguildy, and the two or three other folk that lived in those parts, that I did set out to tell. There were but a few, and maybe always will be, for there's a discouragement about the... Read Full Overview

Mary Webb's "Precious Bane" invites readers into a world of rural enchantment and profound challenges. Set in the picturesque Shropshire countryside, this novel unfolds the poignant story of Prue Sarn, a young woman with a unique physical deformity, her "precious bane." Despite... Read Full Overview

In the early 19th century, young Prue and Gideon Sarn live with their mother on a farm around a mere deep in the Shropshire countryside. Their life is full to brimming with the agricultural round, the seasons dominating. Also crucial is all the lore which underlies life -... Read Full Overview

Winner of the Prix Femina literary award for its ground-breaking themes, Precious Bane by romanticist Mary Webb is a story of finding beauty in being different.

Set in the Western English countryside during the French Revolution, Prue Sarn is a teenage girl... Read Full Overview

This is the story of us all at Sarn of Mother and Gideon and me and Jancis and Wizard Beguildy and the two or three other folk that lived in those parts that I did set out to tell. There were but a few and maybe always will be for there's a discouragement about the place. It... Read Full Overview

A haunting tale of passion set in Shropshire in the 1800s

Born at the time of Waterloo in the wild countryside of Shropshire, England, Prudence Sarn is a passionate girl, cursed with a harelip--her "precious bane." She is cursed for it, too, by the superstitious... Read Full Overview