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Colin
From the acclaimed author of Mapp and Lucia comes the gothic tale of a cursed aristocratic family and two brothers vying to claim its dark legacy.
On a visit to the Sussex town of Rye, Queen Elizabeth I found herself captivated—and soon seduced—by a penniless young shepherd named Colin Stanier. According to family legend, their encounter was orchestrated by the devil himself. Colin had made a Faustian bargain to win success in all of life’s endeavors; a bargain that would be kept in the family by generations of eldest sons, so long as they maintain the Satanic covenant.
Centuries later, Raymond Stanier is the rightful inheritor of the family mansion and fortune. But his younger twin brother, Colin, who bears a striking resemblance to the portrait of his namesake, is willing to lie, seduce, and perhaps even kill to take the family seat for himself.
This saga of ambition, evil, and sensuality moves between generations and across the world from Rye to London, Naples, and Capri. “A story of greed and treachery, sibling rivalry, simmering passions and strange desires, Colin is compulsive reading” (Peter Burton).
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
On a visit to the Sussex town of Rye, Queen Elizabeth I found herself captivated—and soon seduced—by a penniless young shepherd named Colin Stanier. According to family legend, their encounter was orchestrated by the devil himself. Colin had made a Faustian bargain to win success in all of life’s endeavors; a bargain that would be kept in the family by generations of eldest sons, so long as they maintain the Satanic covenant.
Centuries later, Raymond Stanier is the rightful inheritor of the family mansion and fortune. But his younger twin brother, Colin, who bears a striking resemblance to the portrait of his namesake, is willing to lie, seduce, and perhaps even kill to take the family seat for himself.
This saga of ambition, evil, and sensuality moves between generations and across the world from Rye to London, Naples, and Capri. “A story of greed and treachery, sibling rivalry, simmering passions and strange desires, Colin is compulsive reading” (Peter Burton).
This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1923
43 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
E.F. Benson
1,028 books354 followersEdward Frederic "E. F." Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer.
E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.
Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.
Last paragraph from Wikipedia
E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.
Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.
Last paragraph from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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November 28, 2019Free download available at Project Gutenberg
June 29, 2016
Normally when I hate the main character in a book I quit reading, but this I could not stop. Mr Benson had me in a grip and would not let go. As far as the alleged homoeroticism, well, I suppose there were parts that could be construed as such, but...
May 14, 2024
Published in 1923, 'Colin' is of its time, telling its tale at a leisurely pace and with a thoroughness unlikely to appeal to many readers Anno 2024.
Its story could be told in a very few pages as a Grimms fairy tale or at greater length as a Romantic tale in the style of Tieck or Hoffmann. But the novel is the form natural to our age, so…
'Colin’s themes—parental favoritism, sibling rivalry, physical beauty coupled with amorality—are universal. They might have been lifted directly out of Shakespeare or the Old Testament.
Benson’s novel awakens many echoes—Jacob and Esau, Pelleas and Melisande, Francesca da Rimini, 'The Portrait of Dorian Gray,' 'Rebecca,' 'Brideshead Revisited,' Faust, to name a few.
It begins with the founding of one of England’s great families, the Staniers, by the first Colin—thanks to a bargain with the Evil One and the eye of Queen Elizabeth the First for a handsome lad.
It then moves to modern times and the second Colin.
Until almost the halfway point I thought, “This is just too improbable. I can’t go on.” Then it struck me, “You dolt! The individuals and situations Benson is writing about are commonplace among the one percent of the one percent!” And so they are.
I’ve said 'Colin' could have been told as a Grimms fairy tale or a Romantic tale a la Tieck or Hoffmann. At the halfway point a pivotal scene depicting the Stanier family awaiting the arrival from abroad of the second Colin made me realize that the ideal form for the tale was in fact opera. Gian Carlo Menotti could have written a superb libretto on 'Colin.'
It could also be made into a great film by the way. Are there any Hollywood types on Goodreads?
NOTE. The back cover of my copy of 'Colin' refers to its 'homoerotic' element. Other than Benson's fulsome description of the modern Colin I noticed nothing of that in the novel, though I suppose if one considered Colin's servant on Capri, Nino, to be a reference to Nino Cesarini, that might be construed as 'homoerotic.'
Its story could be told in a very few pages as a Grimms fairy tale or at greater length as a Romantic tale in the style of Tieck or Hoffmann. But the novel is the form natural to our age, so…
'Colin’s themes—parental favoritism, sibling rivalry, physical beauty coupled with amorality—are universal. They might have been lifted directly out of Shakespeare or the Old Testament.
Benson’s novel awakens many echoes—Jacob and Esau, Pelleas and Melisande, Francesca da Rimini, 'The Portrait of Dorian Gray,' 'Rebecca,' 'Brideshead Revisited,' Faust, to name a few.
It begins with the founding of one of England’s great families, the Staniers, by the first Colin—thanks to a bargain with the Evil One and the eye of Queen Elizabeth the First for a handsome lad.
It then moves to modern times and the second Colin.
Until almost the halfway point I thought, “This is just too improbable. I can’t go on.” Then it struck me, “You dolt! The individuals and situations Benson is writing about are commonplace among the one percent of the one percent!” And so they are.
I’ve said 'Colin' could have been told as a Grimms fairy tale or a Romantic tale a la Tieck or Hoffmann. At the halfway point a pivotal scene depicting the Stanier family awaiting the arrival from abroad of the second Colin made me realize that the ideal form for the tale was in fact opera. Gian Carlo Menotti could have written a superb libretto on 'Colin.'
It could also be made into a great film by the way. Are there any Hollywood types on Goodreads?
NOTE. The back cover of my copy of 'Colin' refers to its 'homoerotic' element. Other than Benson's fulsome description of the modern Colin I noticed nothing of that in the novel, though I suppose if one considered Colin's servant on Capri, Nino, to be a reference to Nino Cesarini, that might be construed as 'homoerotic.'
July 18, 2022
It’s a good gothic thriller but loses its momentum towards the end.
May 28, 2024
1920s response to The Talented Mr Ripley, but Colin lacks the geekiness of Highsmith’s sociopath. Surprisingly compelling.
October 12, 2025
Bloody loved this. Shades of Highsmith, Du Maurier and Zola. Very satisfying.
November 15, 2023
This is totally personal but the more I read Benson, the less I enjoy him. This book started off strong with a great premise--what if a family made a deal with the devil for success and wealth? The 20th century portion of the book, however, was tedious. Was unable to finish.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews