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In the Roar of the Sea #2
In the Roar of the Sea
Judith, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, finds herself orphaned and tasked with the care of her developmentally delayed twin brother. The two are sent to live with their aunt in a small town along the wild and sinister coast of Cornwall, where smugglers lurk and wreckers lure ships to their doom to pilfer stolen goods. Captain Coppinger, the reputed head of the wreckers, is equal parts feared and respected among the townspeople. When he sees the lovely Judith, he falls madly in love. In the Roar of the Sea is a captivating romance filled with adventure.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1891
7 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Sabine Baring-Gould
888 books69 followersSabine Baring-Gould was born in the parish of St Sidwell, Exeter. The eldest son of Edward Baring-Gould and his first wife, Sophia Charlotte (née Bond), he was named after a great-uncle, the Arctic explorer Sir Edward Sabine. Because the family spent much of his childhood travelling round Europe, most of his education was by private tutors. He only spent about two years in formal schooling, first at King's College School in London (then located in Somerset House) and then, for a few months, at Warwick Grammar School (now Warwick School). Here his time was ended by a bronchial disease of the kind that was to plague him throughout his long life. His father considered his ill-health as a good reason for another European tour.
In 1852 he was admitted to Cambridge University, earning the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in 1857, then Master of Arts in 1860 from Clare College, Cambridge. During 1864, he became the curate at Horbury Bridge, West Riding of Yorkshire. It was while acting as a curate that he met Grace Taylor, the daughter of a mill hand, then aged fourteen. In the next few years they fell in love. His vicar, John Sharp, arranged for Grace to live for two years with relatives in York to learn middle class manners. Baring-Gould, meanwhile, relocated to become perpetual curate at Dalton, near Thirsk. He and Grace were married in 1868 at Wakefield. Their marriage lasted until her death 48 years later, and the couple had 15 children, all but one of whom lived to adulthood. When he buried his wife in 1916 he had carved on her tombstone the Latin motto Dimidium Animae Meae ("Half my Soul").
Baring-Gould became the rector of East Mersea in Essex in 1871 and spent ten years there. In 1872 his father died and he inherited the 3,000 acre (12 km²) family estates of Lew Trenchard in Devon, which included the gift of the living of Lew Trenchard parish. When the living became vacant in 1881, he was able to appoint himself to it, becoming parson as well as squire. He did a great deal of work restoring St Peter's Church, Lew Trenchard, and (from 1883 – 1914) thoroughly remodelled his home, Lew Trenchard Manor.
In 1852 he was admitted to Cambridge University, earning the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in 1857, then Master of Arts in 1860 from Clare College, Cambridge. During 1864, he became the curate at Horbury Bridge, West Riding of Yorkshire. It was while acting as a curate that he met Grace Taylor, the daughter of a mill hand, then aged fourteen. In the next few years they fell in love. His vicar, John Sharp, arranged for Grace to live for two years with relatives in York to learn middle class manners. Baring-Gould, meanwhile, relocated to become perpetual curate at Dalton, near Thirsk. He and Grace were married in 1868 at Wakefield. Their marriage lasted until her death 48 years later, and the couple had 15 children, all but one of whom lived to adulthood. When he buried his wife in 1916 he had carved on her tombstone the Latin motto Dimidium Animae Meae ("Half my Soul").
Baring-Gould became the rector of East Mersea in Essex in 1871 and spent ten years there. In 1872 his father died and he inherited the 3,000 acre (12 km²) family estates of Lew Trenchard in Devon, which included the gift of the living of Lew Trenchard parish. When the living became vacant in 1881, he was able to appoint himself to it, becoming parson as well as squire. He did a great deal of work restoring St Peter's Church, Lew Trenchard, and (from 1883 – 1914) thoroughly remodelled his home, Lew Trenchard Manor.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 12, 2023
Huh?? What?? Wow! 😂 This was such a unique read. It almost reminded me of Treasure Island more than anything. Treasure Island has one of the best villains in Long John Silver, and I’d say that Captain Cruel Coppinger is firmly in his category. On the one hand, he’s an obvious villain. On the other hand, he’s oddly sympathetic and likable. It’s very confusing. 😂 I’m longing to know what others make of the ending. Judith Trevisa, the protagonist, is superb. She’s brave and self sacrificing and kind and determined. (Actually you know who the real villain is? HER AUNT!) I have a great fondness for the Menaidas but I’m not sure the ending for one of them was wholly satisfying. Someone please read this! Ah but Oliver is a great hero nonetheless! But then I come back to Coppinger. What on earth to make of him??
Thank you for reading this very inconclusive review. 😜
Thank you for reading this very inconclusive review. 😜
October 23, 2021
Kate Howe said she adored this book on her Youtube channel, it was a freebie, a Victorian story taking place in Cornwall with shipwrecks and smugglers, so I had to give it a try.
It seems many other people loved this novel, but I just liked it, it was nice, I wasn't in a hurry to pick it up when I had to stop reading. The beginning was original, with the chapel progressively buried in the sand, but I could tell what was going to happen from a mile away. Except at the end - which made me wonder if the male author thought that women were that fickle and silly ?...
Anyway, it was nice, other readers really loved it though, so you may want to give it a try (or not, after what I just wrote !).
It seems many other people loved this novel, but I just liked it, it was nice, I wasn't in a hurry to pick it up when I had to stop reading. The beginning was original, with the chapel progressively buried in the sand, but I could tell what was going to happen from a mile away. Except at the end - which made me wonder if the male author thought that women were that fickle and silly ?...
Anyway, it was nice, other readers really loved it though, so you may want to give it a try (or not, after what I just wrote !).
October 25, 2021
If Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera had a Victorian baby, it would be this book.
Judith, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, is orphaned at the opening of the story. She and her developmentally-delayed twin brother are cast upon the charities of their not-very-charitable aunt. There is a somehow-related uncle who also figures in as a guardian, but he has his shortcomings too. The small, coastal village where they live in Cornwall is a character in itself; intriguingly, we learn right off that the church is being slowly buried by blown sand. How the author used this imagery was very effective. Judith’s father, the town’s rector, had expended much effort until his death in regular digging, trying to keep the church from being overcome altogether.
The town is terrorized by a local “wrecker” (a sort of smuggler), by the name of Captain Coppinger. Among the townspeople, Coppinger is equal parts feared and respected. This story is as much his as it is Judith’s. Their scenes together were so tense, and their dialogue so well-written, that whenever they were on screen I was practically holding my breath.
Thanks to Kate Howe for discovering and recommending this hidden gem. I rather enjoyed it. It wasn’t as powerful as it promised to be, but it was deliciously pacey, and in spots the writing really shone. As it turns out, this will be my only completed Victober read, and I’m glad I didn’t miss it.
Judith, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, is orphaned at the opening of the story. She and her developmentally-delayed twin brother are cast upon the charities of their not-very-charitable aunt. There is a somehow-related uncle who also figures in as a guardian, but he has his shortcomings too. The small, coastal village where they live in Cornwall is a character in itself; intriguingly, we learn right off that the church is being slowly buried by blown sand. How the author used this imagery was very effective. Judith’s father, the town’s rector, had expended much effort until his death in regular digging, trying to keep the church from being overcome altogether.
The town is terrorized by a local “wrecker” (a sort of smuggler), by the name of Captain Coppinger. Among the townspeople, Coppinger is equal parts feared and respected. This story is as much his as it is Judith’s. Their scenes together were so tense, and their dialogue so well-written, that whenever they were on screen I was practically holding my breath.
Thanks to Kate Howe for discovering and recommending this hidden gem. I rather enjoyed it. It wasn’t as powerful as it promised to be, but it was deliciously pacey, and in spots the writing really shone. As it turns out, this will be my only completed Victober read, and I’m glad I didn’t miss it.
May 19, 2017
One of SB-G's best novels. A story of a young girl who finds herself an orphan upon the death of her father. The story takes place against the background of life on the coast of Cornwall where there are smugglers and wreckers. Very readable although sometimes marred by repetition.
The edition I read was issued by The Perfect Library and was very sloppily produced
Published in 1891.
The edition I read was issued by The Perfect Library and was very sloppily produced
Published in 1891.
September 12, 2015
Five stars all the way. I picked this up in a second hand book store in Truro as I wanted something local and this is great. A proper, good, gripping page turner of a novel. I can see it as a TV series. How can Baring Gould not me more famous?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews