Torn Sails: A Tale of a Welsh Village

by Allen Raine

Between two rugged hills, which rose abruptly from the clear, green waters of Cardigan Bay, the Gwendraeth, a noisy little river, found its way from the moors above to the sands which formed the entrance from the sea to the village of Mwntseison. In the narrow valley, or "cwm," through which the fussy little streamlet ran, the whole village lay. It looked like nothing more than a cluster of white shells left by the storm in a chink of the rocks, the cottages being perched in the most irregular confusion wherever sufficient space could be found between the rocky knolls for a house and garden. At the end of the village nearest the sea, and not far from the top of the cliff, stood a large, wooden building, which seemed to attract much of the energy and interest of the place, for in and out of its wide-open doors there was always somebody passing. Within its boarded walls was carried on the thriving business of sail-making, which gave employment and comfort to almost every household in the village. Hard by, in a cleft of the great hillside, stood the house of the master, Hugh Morgan, "Mishteer," as he was called, for he was the owner of more than half of Mwntseison.

Genres: Classics, Victorian, 19th Century

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1968

About the author

Allen Raine, the pen name of Anne Adaliza Puddicombe, was one of the best-selling authors of the late Victorian/early Edwardian age.

She spent time in London for her education and marriage, but eventually returned to her Welsh roots. Wales features largely in her romantic fiction, with titles like A Welsh Singer (1896) and A Welsh Witch (1902).

Her books sold millions of copies, not only across Wales but in the whole of Britain, and yet these days she is largely forgotten or ignored.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise! I went into this with low expectations as this is my first Allen Raine novel. I was immediately swept up in the gorgeous imagery of the coastal town and the daily life of its inhabitants. The first half of the book was lovely, and I enjoyed the ride. The second half ramped up in drama. Was it a bit overdramatic at times? Yes. Was it hyperbolic? Yes. Did that take away from my enjoyment? Absolutely not. The second half tackled some heavy topics and really connected me with the characters and their struggles. I flew through the last chunk of the book because I had to know what happened. So good!

TW: child loss, mental illness