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Undergrowth
Francis Brett Young's first novel (1913) was written in collaboration with his brother Eric and inspired by the building of the Grywne Fawr dam in Wales. It anticipates his massive best seller House Under the Water written some 20 years later. Forsyth, a young civil engineer, travels to Wales to take command of the building of a dam. But what happened to the previous engineer? His disappearance is shrouded in mystery. Amid the gloomy atmosphere of the Welsh landscape and against the background of the deaths which are an inescapable part of the work, the mystery unfolds. Forsyth discovers the diaries left by his predecessor and, as he reads them, realises he is going the same way. The conclusion is dramatic and unexpected. A remarkable first novel by a newcomer was how Undergrowth was described at the time.
- GenresFiction
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1913
16 people want to read
About the author
Francis Brett Young
137 books23 followersFrancis 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 2, 2016
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.
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.
Displaying 1 of 1 review