Cast A Long Shadow

Content appears as new, unopened, unread and unblemished with fine blue boards in DJ displaying minor surface/edge wear, as shown. Bump Front at heel of spine

Kirkus Review: Pearce's plumb-line soundings of turn-of-the-century England--its mores, diction, and countryside--continue to provide a convincing arena of hills, field-paths, and waterways for her tales of doughty men and women coping with Fate's more unpleasant surprises. The marriage of Ellen and Richard Lancy in 1873 begins happily enough: go-getter Richard is determined to restore the ruins of the mill left by his drunkard father; his insistence on success and perfection, dressing his wife like a queen and wee son John like a prince, certainly seems admirable. But Richard's hairline crack of paranoia gapes to the full abyss of madness when, on a greedy errand to steal some abandoned tools, he is accidentally trapped in the cellar of a burned-out mill for 16 days--and is just as accidentally rescued. Once home Richard is still imprisoned--this rime by "an excitement of the mind": he becomes abusive, drinks, terrorizes John. . . and on one freezing January night he sends Ellen and John naked into the cold. Happily, however, they're rescued by good-natured bachelor/blacksmith Will Gale, who offers warmth and love; eventually Ellen will bear Will a son, Peter; John is apprenticed to Will, whom he adores--though Peter, edgy about his "bastard" status and insistent on his blood-rights to smithing, is a most impatient, restless apprentice. And through the years neither Ellen nor John can forget the "Mad Miller": Richard, a scarecrow figure with ""slithering eyes"" who appears from time to time to claim his son and make threats--with a nightmarish, self-destructive finale. Pearce gives this simple story of autumnal fate-fall a grave momentum, enriched by clinking sounds of the smithy, the wash and chatter of the mill; and her empathic, sensual pastoral setting is nicely balanced with sinister shadows.

Insurance & handling is included free. Extra Charges/Fees apply on Shipments Outside The U.S. and Expedited Shipments. Overs-Size and/or heavy books may require additional fees. Will advise. Written 11.20.2023SG Biblio.12.08.2023, #7446.120823 Img.8920