Undergrowth

by Francis Brett Young, E Brett Young (Creator)

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Fiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Francis Brett Young was born in 1884 at Hales Owen, Worcestershire, the eldest son of Dr Thomas Brett Young.

Educated at Iona Cottage High School, Sutton Coldfield and Epsom College, Francis read Medicine at Birmingham University before entering general practice at Brixham in 1907. The following year he married Jessie Hankinson whom he had met during his medical studies. She was a singer of some repute, having appeared as a soloist in Henry Wood's Promenade Concerts.

Francis based one of his earliest novels Deep Sea (1914) in Brixham but was soon to be caught up in the Great War. He served in the R.A.M.C. in East Africa, experiences recorded in Marching on Tanga.

After the war Francis and Jessie went to live in Capri where a number of novels with African as well as English backgrounds were produced. Popular success came in 1927 when Francis was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Portrait of Clare.

The Brett Youngs returned to England in 1929, staying for a while in the Lake District before settling at Craycombe House in Worcestershire in 1932. During this period Francis was at the height of his fame and his annually produced novels were eagerly awaited.

During the Second World War Francis laboured on his long poem covering the spread of English history from prehistoric times. Entitled The Island, it was published in 1944 and regarded by Francis as his greatest achievement.

Following a breakdown in his health Francis and Jessie moved to South Africa where he died in 1954. His ashes were brought back to this country and interred in Worcester Cathedral.

Reviews

[Dorcas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my 18th FBY book and the only one I abandoned. Collaboratively written with Francis' brother Eric, Undergrowth was FBY's first published work, written in 1913 and extremely rare. I borrowed this from a university library and I can't tell you how excited I was to finally have it in my hands.

Unfortunately, it's just weird.

A hydroelectric dam is in being built in the Welsh mountains. But the mountains resent this rape and will do anything to stop it. Accidents happen, sheep go missing, there is activity in the ancient stone circles sprinkled on the mountain tops, characters become delirious and start babbling an ancient Celtic language. Nightmares in the form of trees crowding in on one, entangling..strangling...taking back their own... an old shepherd whose family goes back over 800 years and who is at one with the mountains and the ancient ways.

Yeah, I just wasn't feeling this one at all. I'm moving on to the next.