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Dark Tower
From the heart of industrial England we quickly pass to the beauty and mystery of a land hardly changed over time immemorial - the Welsh Marches - which surround this story of little more than half a dozen characters. As the mountains and valleys blend together in their beauty throughout the seasons, so the brothers, Charlie and Alaric make their impact upon life in Trecastel - the home of the Grosmont family. The dark tower in which Alaric dwells dominates all around. It suggests the conflicting moods of the occupants. A local girl, Judith, charming but innocent, and taken there as a child bride links the characters. George Meredith, the local family doctor, and his wife, bring sanity and common sense to this fascinating and. gripping story. Francis Brett Young writing in the first quarter of the twentieth century inspires the reader in many ways to enter the magical setting of a unique area.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
15 people want to read
About the author
Francis Brett Young
129 books22 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 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 29, 2016
Oh dear. This one just didn't work for me.
The story is very simple. Two brothers, one wife. The handsome husband hangs with the wrong crowd and slowly kills himself with drink throughout the course of the book. The "good" brother is a social misfit, unattractive and generally misunderstood, but kind; so not too surprisingly he falls in love with his brother's wife in an effort to give her support.
A death, an inquest, a mild mystery/ twist at the end which leaves one wondering but not sufficiently invested in any of the characters to really care one way or the other.
My biggest peeve:
The WHOLE story was told second and third hand. Ugh.
Francis Brett Young, my hero, what we're you thinking?
The story is very simple. Two brothers, one wife. The handsome husband hangs with the wrong crowd and slowly kills himself with drink throughout the course of the book. The "good" brother is a social misfit, unattractive and generally misunderstood, but kind; so not too surprisingly he falls in love with his brother's wife in an effort to give her support.
A death, an inquest, a mild mystery/ twist at the end which leaves one wondering but not sufficiently invested in any of the characters to really care one way or the other.
My biggest peeve:
The WHOLE story was told second and third hand. Ugh.
Francis Brett Young, my hero, what we're you thinking?
June 10, 2012
An unusual and passionate love story set in the hauntingly atmospheric Welsh marshes. Quite some heavy reading, surely not a flowing book. But if one hangs on in there the story becomes more and more interesting, less pedantic. This book was written in 1915 so one has to forgive the style of writing, or maybe take pleasure in it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews