No artificial code of honor governs the action of "The Prisoners of Hartling." The reader may wonder at our bringing Mr. Beresford into this company. But this is the Beresford of "The Jervaise Comedy," not him of "Jacob Stahl." He has here written a novel with an idea, rather than a novel of interpretation. He takes a motto from Ecclesiastes, "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun: namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." His is a familiar idea in British fiction, the idea of the enslavement ...
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No artificial code of honor governs the action of "The Prisoners of Hartling." The reader may wonder at our bringing Mr. Beresford into this company. But this is the Beresford of "The Jervaise Comedy," not him of "Jacob Stahl." He has here written a novel with an idea, rather than a novel of interpretation. He takes a motto from Ecclesiastes, "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun: namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." His is a familiar idea in British fiction, the idea of the enslavement of a large circle of blood-relations to the head of the family by reason of his autocratic powers for the ultimate disposal of that sacred possession, the family property. Mr. Beresford gives the situation a romantic turn by investing his ninety-five year old autocrat with almost uncanny powers of persuasion as well as of direct intimidation. His authority is a bubble; but it remains inviolate for generations, and only the dutch courage of love enables our hero to touch and shatter it. To tell the truth, our hero is not much of a hero, romantically speaking, and we don't quite make out what his Eleanor (who does very well as a heroine) sees in him. So far as the Kenyon tribe at-large are concerned, the story ends with a punch worthy of our own most accomplished tale-smiths. - The Independent [1922] This story shows the force of a dominating personality and the inertia produced in those enmeshed in its web. Arthur Woodroffe, a young ex-soldier, now a doctor's assistant in Peckham, is invited by his aunt to spend a week-end at the country house of her father-in-law, Garvice Kenyon. He arrives, is shown into a room crowded with people, and is amazed when his aunt says, "We all live here." Mr. Kenyon, you see, is past ninety and worth about half a million pounds, and has kept the Kenyon clan dangling round him with great expectations for a quarter of a century. Arthur is asked to remain as family physician, and drifts along from week to week, playing golf and billiards, thinking ruefully of his unrealized ambitions, and attending this wonderful old man with "some quality of supremacy." Also, he falls in love with the granddaughter. Only the eldest sister gets a penny of the money; but Arthur gains valuable experience, and will henceforth paddle his own canoe. - The Universalist Leader , Vol. 25 [1922]
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 500grams, ISBN:
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Used-Good. Good hardback in Good dust jacket. New edition in Collins 2/6 Pocket Novels series. Undated-c.1930. Owner's name & pencilled note on front end paper; string mark in edges of front board; spine a little worn at head & foot, with worn & dull gilt lettering. Dust jacket a little shelf-worn & browned, particularly on spine.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Very Good- 8vo 8"-9" tall; 273 pages; HC 1st American edition. Snugly bound in original blue cloth with titles brightly in gilt to spine. Mild crimping to cloth at spine ends; spine just a little out of square. Light shelf soiling to upper board and a few pages opened roughly at the front edge. Uncommon. VG-
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Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.