Precious Bane

[OrmIrian]

by Mary Webb, Just finished this. Got it from the library purely by chance as I sort of recognised the title, and it was a gem of a book. Like Hardy but not quite so bloody miserable - although it tried. Really enjoyable.

Anyone else read it?

Yes, read it for the first time when I was 17, and it has sort of "lived" with me ever since. Fantastic book.

Read it years ago, thanks for reminding me of it Orm - I ought to reread it.
There was a pretty good tv version with Janet McTeer as Prue IIRC.

It's meant to be one of the books that inspired Cold Comfort Farm, isn't it?

It did make me think of Cold Comfort Farm a little. But no matter how I tried I couldn't see the farm itself as anything but idyllic. She might have struggled and suffered but her love for the place was greater.

My absolute favourite book!
Is Kester Woodseaves the most fanciable male hero ever?
I love the Way Mary Webb's characters are so bound up in their habitat. I read it almost every year and it makes me cry every time.

I'm now trying to get hold of a copy of Gone To Earth which isn't as good (very Tess of the D'Urbervilles) but good escapism ayway. I think it's out of print