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The Rust Of Rome
From Warwick Deeping, best-selling Edwardian era author comes genuine golden age romance. There are no lords and ladies in Deeping's novels. His heroes and heroines come from middle, upper middle class backgrounds.
Benjamin Herriot is a well-to-do young man who recently came out of his majesties penitentiary. Full of shame and remorse over his past debaucheries, he buried himself in a piece of woodland he bought. There he built himself a cabin, discovered Roman relics and recused his love interest from the bullying and uncouth neighbor.
Benjamin Herriot is a well-to-do young man who recently came out of his majesties penitentiary. Full of shame and remorse over his past debaucheries, he buried himself in a piece of woodland he bought. There he built himself a cabin, discovered Roman relics and recused his love interest from the bullying and uncouth neighbor.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1910
49 people want to read
About the author
Warwick Deeping
179 books21 followersGeorge Warwick Deeping was a prolific novelist and short story writer, who is best known for his 1925 novel "Sorrell and Son."
Deeping was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, then Trinity College, Cambridge to study medicine and science, and then to Middlesex Hospital to finish his medical training. During the First World War, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He later gave up his job as a doctor to become a full-time writer.
Deeping's early work was primarily historical romances. His later novels can be seen as attempts at keeping alive the spirit of the Edwardian age. He was one of the best selling authors of the 1920s and 1930s, with seven of his novels making the best-seller list. His short fiction also appeared in several US magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post and Adventure.
Deeping was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, then Trinity College, Cambridge to study medicine and science, and then to Middlesex Hospital to finish his medical training. During the First World War, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He later gave up his job as a doctor to become a full-time writer.
Deeping's early work was primarily historical romances. His later novels can be seen as attempts at keeping alive the spirit of the Edwardian age. He was one of the best selling authors of the 1920s and 1930s, with seven of his novels making the best-seller list. His short fiction also appeared in several US magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post and Adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 2, 2015
This is what I describe as an "I-want-to-live-inside-it" book. It's unhurried (but not slow), almost like the author is giving you a teaspoon to eat a dessert that they know youre going to want to savor.
And I did. I LOVED this book.
One reader online (I think there's a total of two short blurbs in all of cyberspace) suggested that this book was only for seasoned Warwick Deeping fans. But I would disagree. It IS wordy, but most readers who enjoy old fashioned storytelling won't have a problem with this. Of course, if you are a WD fan (as I am) it's just pure heaven.
Basically, a wild young man of ease has one too many drunken sprees and ends up spending a year or two in prison. On release, he has one night of "the good ol days" and wakes up with self hate and remorse. Lacking purpose, he travels the continent and eventually finds a measure of peace connecting with nature in a forest, where he builds a cabin with his own hands.
His nearest neighbors are a farming family, a deaf man of all trades, and a struggling author, his tubercular wife and a capable daughter who eventually becomes a love interest.
But this isn't simply a love story, sub plots are money grabbing land owners, Roman ruins, treasure, sabotage, suicide etc.
A wonderful story and a new favorite for my pile.
CONTENT:
PROFANITY: D's
VIOLENCE: A few fist fights
MY RATING: G
And I did. I LOVED this book.
One reader online (I think there's a total of two short blurbs in all of cyberspace) suggested that this book was only for seasoned Warwick Deeping fans. But I would disagree. It IS wordy, but most readers who enjoy old fashioned storytelling won't have a problem with this. Of course, if you are a WD fan (as I am) it's just pure heaven.
Basically, a wild young man of ease has one too many drunken sprees and ends up spending a year or two in prison. On release, he has one night of "the good ol days" and wakes up with self hate and remorse. Lacking purpose, he travels the continent and eventually finds a measure of peace connecting with nature in a forest, where he builds a cabin with his own hands.
His nearest neighbors are a farming family, a deaf man of all trades, and a struggling author, his tubercular wife and a capable daughter who eventually becomes a love interest.
But this isn't simply a love story, sub plots are money grabbing land owners, Roman ruins, treasure, sabotage, suicide etc.
A wonderful story and a new favorite for my pile.
CONTENT:
PROFANITY: D's
VIOLENCE: A few fist fights
MY RATING: G
January 4, 2016
This is by far my favorite Warwick Deeping yet.
Mr, Benjamin Herriot has many regrets, his debauched youth, the two years he spent at His Majesty's expense, the total waste of time. Now, he's starting new. In Hindleap Wood nobody knows him, or of him so he can start with a clean slate. He makes friends, good ones, the kind he never had.
His first is John Lavender, a fifteen year old boy who brings him milk and eggs and does odd jobs for him. Then there's David Love, a deaf man who carries a slate around and does all kinds of work for a living. And then there's the author Thorkell in Bilberry Wood and his daughter Eve with dull, jet black hair, porcelain skin and strength of character...the kind person that makes him regret even more what might have been.
But this isn't just about Mr. Ben finding himself. It's also about Eve, her troubles, her hopes and something she discovers from long ago, the Rust of Rome.
Mr. Burgoyne wants Bliberry Wood and Hindleap Wood for himself, all the land around is his and he cringes to see it broken up by other people's land. He tirelessly wears on the landowners to sell, and soon stoops to another way of getting what he wants.
How could I not love this? We have and intriguing main character, a sweet yet strong heroine and a lovely set of villagers, baring Burgoyne. Even better, we have treasure. And that ending, may I say everyone got their just deserts? I just can't pass such an excellent mix up, and if this book wasn't so expensive I would get my very own copy right now so it could be with my other favorite books. Wholeheartedly recommend!
G I didn't notice any swears, there were a few punches, a murder and mention of debauchery.
Mr, Benjamin Herriot has many regrets, his debauched youth, the two years he spent at His Majesty's expense, the total waste of time. Now, he's starting new. In Hindleap Wood nobody knows him, or of him so he can start with a clean slate. He makes friends, good ones, the kind he never had.
His first is John Lavender, a fifteen year old boy who brings him milk and eggs and does odd jobs for him. Then there's David Love, a deaf man who carries a slate around and does all kinds of work for a living. And then there's the author Thorkell in Bilberry Wood and his daughter Eve with dull, jet black hair, porcelain skin and strength of character...the kind person that makes him regret even more what might have been.
But this isn't just about Mr. Ben finding himself. It's also about Eve, her troubles, her hopes and something she discovers from long ago, the Rust of Rome.
Mr. Burgoyne wants Bliberry Wood and Hindleap Wood for himself, all the land around is his and he cringes to see it broken up by other people's land. He tirelessly wears on the landowners to sell, and soon stoops to another way of getting what he wants.
How could I not love this? We have and intriguing main character, a sweet yet strong heroine and a lovely set of villagers, baring Burgoyne. Even better, we have treasure. And that ending, may I say everyone got their just deserts? I just can't pass such an excellent mix up, and if this book wasn't so expensive I would get my very own copy right now so it could be with my other favorite books. Wholeheartedly recommend!
G I didn't notice any swears, there were a few punches, a murder and mention of debauchery.
October 18, 2015
Warwick Deeping seems to have a style all his own. His prose is very deliberate; in other words, allow yourself time to linger on passages. He builds up a rich inner life for his characters. This book took me a while to finish, but in no way was it dull.
Benjamin Heriot is released after a couple years in prison. Full of self-loathing, he wonders if his life is even worthwhile. Eventually he buys an isolated, wooded piece of land and begins to build himself a cabin. He's seeking satisfaction in life the only way he can think of: hard work, and keeping a judicious distance from society. The hard work part is a success. The antisocial bit, not so much. It's impossible to avoid comradeship with a few of his neighbors. It proves equally impossible to avoid strife, with one neighbor in particular. Throw in a bit of British-Roman amateur archaeology and you have the story. Everything in this story lives and breathes; it's enjoyable reading.
Benjamin Heriot is released after a couple years in prison. Full of self-loathing, he wonders if his life is even worthwhile. Eventually he buys an isolated, wooded piece of land and begins to build himself a cabin. He's seeking satisfaction in life the only way he can think of: hard work, and keeping a judicious distance from society. The hard work part is a success. The antisocial bit, not so much. It's impossible to avoid comradeship with a few of his neighbors. It proves equally impossible to avoid strife, with one neighbor in particular. Throw in a bit of British-Roman amateur archaeology and you have the story. Everything in this story lives and breathes; it's enjoyable reading.
September 29, 2020
A great meandering story that heats up dramatically in the last 50 pages or so. Very enjoyable and I will probably reread it in some winter down the road. I'm so glad book friends on here put me onto Warwick Deeping. Thanks!
There were a couple clumsy sentences that brought me up short: the color of the {object} was the color of blood...the scene was white with the white of snow...that sort of thing. Plus one n-word and a couple denigrating references to Jews. Beyond that, it's a wonderful book to read when accepted on its own terms, those of the early 20th Century.
There were a couple clumsy sentences that brought me up short: the color of the {object} was the color of blood...the scene was white with the white of snow...that sort of thing. Plus one n-word and a couple denigrating references to Jews. Beyond that, it's a wonderful book to read when accepted on its own terms, those of the early 20th Century.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews