THE ROBE OF HONOUR

by Alexander Cordell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 7, 1960

Perhaps not quite as exciting as The Rape of the Fair Country, but still a strong novel is laid in Wales again, in 1839 when the oppressed farmers formed a secret society- ""The Rebecca"" -- which roamed the countryside by night, burning the hayricks and tollgates of the gentry. Jethro Mortymer, 14, comes to his Grandfer's farm with his widowed mother Mam (Jethro's father had died of work in the iron mills), his fierce, beautiful sister Morfydd (her lover killed in the Rebellion), and gentle sister-in-law Mari (Jethro's brother was killed escaping imprisonment). The three lovely widows stir the community variously. Morfydd talks rebellion and courts with local men; an old admirer of Mam's reappears; Jethro falls in love with Tessa, the Squire's crippled daughter. But perpetually mixed with the social gaiety is hard work and sorrow. Jethro and Morfydd go to work in the mines and Jethro joins the Rebecca. Tessa dies of t.b. in his arms. Grandfer dies, drunk and frozen in the peat bog. Mam marries her old friend and Jethro has a brief, passionate affair. This intense struggle, of joy against bitter poverty, ends when the beloved Morfydd is killed in a horrible mine disaster and the Rebecca is betrayed. The writing is a clipped, dialect-tuned poetry, full of haunting scenes and a hard Celtic sadness and humor.

Pub Date: Oct. 7, 1960

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1960

Categories: FICTION