Hosts Of Rebecca

Mortymer Trilogy #2

by Alexander Cordell

A novel of 19th-century Wales, with its passion, humour and Celtic sadness. It is the story of a people's struggle, and particularly of young Jethro Mortymer, striving to keep his family alive and tortured by a guilty love for his brother's wife. The author also wrote "Rape of the Fair Country".

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Novels, British Literature, 20th Century

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Anglo-Welsh writer born to an army family in what was then Ceylon.

After retiring from the army he adopted Wales as home and began to write of the country and its history. His first, and best-known novel, the Rape of the Fair Country (first in the Mortymer Trilogy) was a million selling best-seller in its day.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now admittedly I haven't actually read The Rape of a Fair Country which is the first in this triology, however the way Cordell has written this and his other works, I don't think this is necessary as everything is explained through the story and the characters with superb ease.

This book continues to follow the Mortymer Family as they struggle to make ends meet, deal with the loss of family and friends and their own complicated emotions, all against the backdrop of the Rebecca Riots of the 1830s and 1840s. Cordell has once again managed to perfectly capture the mood of the time as families fight against constantly rising taxes, injustice and the constant threat of starvation and mine collapse. The internal struggles that many must have felt at the time, torn between protecting and providing for their families and fighting the injustices of the time, is portrayed with vivid prose that captures the reader's heart as well as their imagination. This is a superb tale that shows the humanity that drove the Rebeccas and the people behind them who ultimately paid the price.

[Jonathan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great sequel following the Mortymer family.

This is a powerful imagining of the injustice and pain in West Wales during the Rebecca riots.

This book makes a welshmans heart break and soar.

[Sian Taylor]

loved this

[Hesel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Welsh girl who is interested in family history so i read this book on the recommendation a family member. Quite a sad story but Well worth reading .

[Love Me A Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Alexander Cordell books. They give me such a sense of understanding the lives of my Welsh forefathers. The writing is so true that it almost sings.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Mortymer trilogy and we see Iestyn transported for his part in the Chartist movement and the rest of the family are trying to get by.
In this installment we see Jethro the second son taking over as head of the household trying to look after his sister Morfydd, his mam and two nephews.
Jethro is trying to keep the farm, Cae White going and secretly be part of the Rebecca movement smashing toll gates.
In his heart he is in love with Mari Iestyn's wife but he tries hard to hide his burgeoning feelings against a background of unhappiness and poverty.
Powerful story telling and a rich historical background make this a credible sequel.

[Zareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, gripping, extremely well written. A novel filled with pathos. Alexander Cordell continues the tale of the Mortymer family. The second part of the trilogy. The focus is on Jethro the youngest I the family. His loves & losses. His growing up tale., his exile. All within the context of 19th Century Welsh history.
Joy intermingled with sadness
The two,prominent themes are:
Bereavement & loss
Banishment & exile.
I look forward to beginning the final part of the trilogy.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 5 stars, but it's not quite as good as the first book

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent sequel to 'Rape of the Fair Country.'

[Margaret]

After reading the first you needed to know more about your own history.

[Lauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mortymeride perekond (järelejäänud liikmed, tähendab) kolivad maale, mitte küll teab mis kaugele rauatööstusest ja Nantyglost, tegevuspaik on endiselt Lõuna-Wales. Teravik pole enam lõõmavad martäänahjud või õieti nende eellased vaid hoopis talupidajad ja nende võitlus teetollide ja põllumajandustrustide vastu, seda Rebecca nimelise mässu abil. Maskeeritud mehed ratsutavad öösiti ringi, põletavad tolliputkasid ja karistavad moraalirikkujaid, näiteks rongaisasid. Keel on väga poeetiline, sündmustik aga terav-traagiline, romaani lõpus pole enam ka kange Walesi naise võrdkuju Morfyddi ja Walesist lahkub ka Jethro. Etteruttavalt öeldes kirjutas Cordell Mortymeridest kaks triloogiat ja teises triloogias naasevad nii Iestyn kui Jethro, kuid seda me hetkel ju veel ei tea. Poeetiline ja kurb, kurb ja ülev, viis punni.

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much

[Jayne Barrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read