Helen of Four Gates

by Ethel Carnie Holdsworth

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

322 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2015

About the author

Ethel Holdsworth (née Carnie; 1 January 1886 – 28 December 1962) was a working-class British writer, feminist, and socialist activist from Lancashire. A poet, journalist, children's writer and author, she was the first working-class woman in Britain to publish a novel and is a rare example of a female working-class novelist. She published at least ten novels during her lifetime.

Reviews

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book that inspired 1920 film that is free to see on BFI. Farm set drama where the characters are rather more extreme than the Starkadders, and no Flora Poste to save them. The arrival of a tramp to work at Four Gates farm, is the tool that Helen's father can use to get his revenge on the woman that jilted him, by ruining, as much as he can, the life of Helen, her daughter. Madness in the family, a wild northern landscape with prehistoric stones, and unflinching battles of wills and domestic violence makes for a turbulent read.

[Zareen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The triumph of love over hate, spite, greed. & vengeance.
The setting is evocative though eerie.
The characters were well written. Contrasts were stark.
However, I didn’t enjoy reading it much. The evil & hatred of two of the two main characters was rather off putting. Their malevolence permeated the novel. I couldn’t reach the denouement fast enough.
A dark novel with only a glimmer of light towards the end.