The Heart That Knows

by Charles G.D. Roberts

The Heart That Knows is a touching story of passion and loss set against the stunning landscape of New Brunswick's Tantramar Marshes.
On her wedding day Luella Warden is suddenly abandoned without a word of explanation from her sailor fiance. The years pass, and she's left to the life of an outcast, scorned by her community for being a mother but not a wife. Her son grows up without a father, coming of age with a burning need to to seek vengeance on the man who treated his mother so cruelly.

Excerpt from The Heart That Knows

For nearly two hours the girl had waited on the wind-swept dyke, watching the ship. She had been expecting to see a boat put Off from the ship's Side, and head for the mouth Of the creek. The tide had crept in yellow over the red ats, till it brimmed the creek mouth with its broken, white-topped waves and washed foaming along the bases Of the dyke below her feet. After half an hour she won dered and grew impatient. Then, at slack Of tide, She began to grow angry, -for Jim had asked her to meet him out here on the dyke at high tide that they might talk over certain matters Of intimate concern at safe distance from eye and ear Of the village gossips. That night, in Westcock church, a great event was to take place, before the sailing Of the Ship on the morrow's ebb; and Luella felt that on such a day, when she had SO much to do, it ill became her lover to be late.

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts, was a Canadian poet and prose writer who is known as the Father of Canadian Poetry. He was almost the first Canadian author to obtain worldwide reputation and influence; he was also a tireless promoter and encourager of Canadian literature. He published numerous works on Canadian exploration and natural history, verse, travel books, and fiction. At his death he was regarded as Canada's leading man of letters.

Besides his own body of work, Roberts served as an inspiration and a source of assistance for other Canadian poets of his time.

Roberts, his cousin Bliss Carman, Archibald Lampman, and Duncan Campbell Scott are known as the Confederation Poets.

Reviews

[Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old fashioned story. Two people carry the torch for each other for 20 years - unlikely. Good description of life in small town and locale of Fundy.