Brimstone

by Richard Masefield

Brimstone is a story of temptation, ambition and their consequences. The year is 1793. The Terror is at its height in France, Britain is at war with her old enemy once more, and along the coast of Sussex the smugglers' trade in spirits and tobacco is flourishing. The novel's two heroes are brothers bound by love, but separated by opposing characters which come to represent two the two faces of eighteenth century England - its brutality and its enlightenment. For the reckless Aaron Corbyn, there are adventures to be had and profits to be made from contrabanding. While his elder brother Rafe, a sobrely steadfast physician, runs the family estate of Chalkdean, Aaron builds an illegal empire as master smuggler across the Channel, at Fecamp in Normandy. Ellin Rimmer, daughter of a 'fire and brimstone' preacher, marries one brother to escape the loneliness of life in a parsonage, only to find herself hopelessly attracted to the other - and to be compelled through him to an impetuous decision that will have drastic consequences for all three. Sweeping from the open downland and flintstone villages of Sussex to the coast of revolutionary France, from Newgate prison and the subhuman conditions of a convict transport ship to the penal colony of New South Wales, Brimstone weighs the destructive aspects of sexual obsession against the healing power of generosity to bring its heroine an unexpected redemption.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 1987

Reviews

[Angela Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the Georgian times, this story follows the lives of Ellin Rimmer, a parson's daughter and her love and attraction to two brothers, Rafe and Aaron Corbyn.

Rafe is the more straightlaced of the two and Aaron is the reckless younger brother. Although the Corbyn's are easily the most affluent family in the area, Rafe falls for and marries Ellin. Ellin is a bit flighty in her affections and desires but settles into married life.

Aaron refuses to be tamed and is part of a big smuggling ring, courting death and danger and many of the local girls as he can get his hands on. Ellin is still attracted to him in her way, as one is to forbidden fruit. Foolishly she tries to warn him that he is in danger from being arrested and as a results it leads to him and her being arrested and through false witness they are both transported to Australia.

Ellin and Aaron manage to make something of a life together out there, but Ellin's heart remains in England with her husband, Rafe. Much is told of the hardships of the prison ships and their passage to Australia. There is much tragedy along the way and one or two murders. 3 and a half stars.