{"product_id":"precious-bane-virago-modern-classics-9780349015644","title":"Precious Bane Virago Modern Classics","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Brighter and better than Thomas Hardy . . . a marvellous writer'' Eloise Millar, \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrudence 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrue''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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWinner of the 1926 Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Prize, \u003ci\u003ePrecious Bane\u003c\/i\u003e is a novel that enchants with its beauty and its timeless truths.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''With the publication of \u003ci\u003ePrecious Bane,\u003c\/i\u003e a subs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrighter and better than Thomas Hardy . . . a marvellous writer -- Eloise Millar * Guardian *\u003cbr\u003eMary Webb need fear no comparison with any writer who has attempted to capture the soul of nature in words -- John Buchan\u003cbr\u003eWith the publication of \u003ci\u003ePrecious Bane,\u003c\/i\u003e a substantial readership came to respect Mary Webb's quiet genius; and it is for this country classic that she has been remembered ever since. 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 *\u003cbr\u003e[Webb] was a great mystic and a master of both \"inscape\" and landscape. Any dull afternoon in London is lifted by being transported to the Mary Webb country of the Shropshire hills and the Welsh borderland * Mail on Sunday *\u003cbr\u003eMary Webb need fear no comparison with any writer who has attempted to capture the soul of nature in words * JOHN BUCHAN *\u003cbr\u003e[Webb] was a great mystic and a master of both \"inscape\" and landscape. Any dull afternoon in London is lifted by being transported to the Mary Webb country of the Shropshire hills and the Welsh borderland. * MAIL ON SUNDAY *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48733642948951,"sku":"9780349015644","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780349015644.jpg?v=1720000987","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/precious-bane-virago-modern-classics-9780349015644","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}