Queen of the Rushes is a 1906 novel by the Welsh writer Allen Raine, written in the English language and first published by Hutchinson & Co.
It was the eighth of Allen Raine's novels, and is considered by many to be her best. It is set against the events of the recent 1904–1905 Welsh revival, and is subtitled A Tale of the Welsh Revival. Evan Roberts, the leader of the revival, appears as a character in the book.
Plot
The book begins with the sinking of a small vessel, resulting in the deaths of several agricultural labourers. The incident orphans two of the main characters: Gwenifer, who is struck dumb by the sight of seeing her mother drown, and Gildas, who inherits his father's farm. Gwenifer becomes devoted to Gildas, but he instead marries the vivacious Nance Ellis, granddaughter of one of his tenants; Nance becomes caught up in the revival, as does a sea captain, Jack Davies, with whom she falls in love, whilst Gwenifer and Gildas remain aloof from what they consider the excessive zeal of the local congregation.
References
- Lorna Doran (27 April 2013). "Reviving a women's classic: Jane Aaron on Allen Raine". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
- Ashlie Sponenberg (1 March 2006). Encyclopedia of British Women’s Writing 1900–1950. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-0-230-37947-3.
- M. Joannou (22 October 2012). The History of British Women's Writing, 1920-1945: Volume Eight. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 189–. ISBN 978-1-137-29217-9.
- Sally Roberts Jones (1979). Allen Raine. University of Wales Press. p. 61.
- Katie Gramich (1998). Introduction to Queen of the Rushes by Allen Raine. Honno. pp. 1–21.
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