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The Twisted Tree
The “twisted tree” is a blackthorn branch, picked by Tansy Penderil, a naive young Cornish girl, on the same day she meets the handsome but diabolical Roger Chailey in the woods for the first time. But it is not the only souvenir of their encounter: eighteen years later, Tansy’s son, David, is the living image of Chailey, sharing not only his father’s good looks but also his immoral ways. David’s resemblance to her first lover triggers powerful feelings in Tansy and leads to a strange relationship between mother and son, as well as a terrible and shocking conclusion . . .
- GenresHorrorBritish Literature
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1935
2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Frank Baker
101 books14 followersFrank Baker was born in Hornsey, London in 1908. He was educated at Winchester Cathedral School, where he enjoyed singing in Cathedral choir. He seems to have inherited a love of music from his grandfather who played the organ at Alexandra Palace. As a young man Frank went into his father's business of marine insurance in the City of London, before leaving after five years to spend a year working at the School of Church Music. With £20 and a small piano he moved from London to Cornwall, and settled in a cottage at St. Just-in-Penwith, earning £1 a week as an organist. There he began to write. His first novel, 'The Twisted Tree' was published in 1935.
Over his life Frank Baker published a series of novels and short stories as well as articles in journals such as the Guardian, Radio Times and Life and Letters. Frank's second novel was 'The Birds' published in 1936. This novel was published before the short story of the same name by Daphne Du Maurier, and before the 1963 movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Although Frank's book had a similar premise and story, Frank was advised not to pursue costly litigation against Universal Studios. The affair led to an interesting correspondence with Du Maurier, and eventually to publication of a popular paperback edition of Frank's novel.
In addition to writing, Frank Baker continued to play both piano and organ, and especially enjoyed playing at the parish church at St Hilary in West Cornwall, where he developed a close friendship with Father Bernard Walke, author of the celebrated biography 'Twenty Years At St Hilary'. Here Frank and Bernard produced the first religious plays to be performed live on BBC Radio.
Frank's third novel, 'Miss Hargreaves', was the most successful. It was republished several times and was also produced as a play in 1952 at the Royal Court Theatre Club in London, with Dame Margaret Rutherford in the starring role. Frank wrote a radio adaptation of the novel which was broadcast in the 1950s, and much later a second adaptation was written by Brian Sibley and broadcast in 1989, six years after Frank's death. For a while Frank became a professional actor. During the Second World War Frank he toured with Dame Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson (whom he understudied) and Paul Scofield, and they played throughout the UK. At this time he met Kathleen Lloyd whom he married in 1943. They were to have three children together, Jonathan, Llewellyn and Jospehine. After they first met, they lived together in Hampstead, and for 18 months Frank worked as the pianst for the Player's Theatre with performers Leonard Sachs, Hattie Jaques and others.
After the Player's Theatre the family returned to live in Mevagissey in Cornwall, for around 5 years. Frank later lived in Surrey before returning to Cornwall, and a home near the village of Goldsithney. Later he moved to Cardiff. During these years he edited scripts and wrote plays for the BBC, and continued to publish fiction. In 1969-1970 he spent some time in the USA and was Artist-in-Residence at the University in Oklahoma.
Frank was drawn back to Cornwall again and again, and eventually he and Kathleen finally settled in Porthleven. Both Frank's daughters, and many of his nine grand children, were born in Cornwall, a county which inspired him throughout his life.
Frank died of cancer in 1983 at the family home, 'Bay Ridge', in Porthleven.
Over his life Frank Baker published a series of novels and short stories as well as articles in journals such as the Guardian, Radio Times and Life and Letters. Frank's second novel was 'The Birds' published in 1936. This novel was published before the short story of the same name by Daphne Du Maurier, and before the 1963 movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Although Frank's book had a similar premise and story, Frank was advised not to pursue costly litigation against Universal Studios. The affair led to an interesting correspondence with Du Maurier, and eventually to publication of a popular paperback edition of Frank's novel.
In addition to writing, Frank Baker continued to play both piano and organ, and especially enjoyed playing at the parish church at St Hilary in West Cornwall, where he developed a close friendship with Father Bernard Walke, author of the celebrated biography 'Twenty Years At St Hilary'. Here Frank and Bernard produced the first religious plays to be performed live on BBC Radio.
Frank's third novel, 'Miss Hargreaves', was the most successful. It was republished several times and was also produced as a play in 1952 at the Royal Court Theatre Club in London, with Dame Margaret Rutherford in the starring role. Frank wrote a radio adaptation of the novel which was broadcast in the 1950s, and much later a second adaptation was written by Brian Sibley and broadcast in 1989, six years after Frank's death. For a while Frank became a professional actor. During the Second World War Frank he toured with Dame Sybil Thorndike and Lewis Casson (whom he understudied) and Paul Scofield, and they played throughout the UK. At this time he met Kathleen Lloyd whom he married in 1943. They were to have three children together, Jonathan, Llewellyn and Jospehine. After they first met, they lived together in Hampstead, and for 18 months Frank worked as the pianst for the Player's Theatre with performers Leonard Sachs, Hattie Jaques and others.
After the Player's Theatre the family returned to live in Mevagissey in Cornwall, for around 5 years. Frank later lived in Surrey before returning to Cornwall, and a home near the village of Goldsithney. Later he moved to Cardiff. During these years he edited scripts and wrote plays for the BBC, and continued to publish fiction. In 1969-1970 he spent some time in the USA and was Artist-in-Residence at the University in Oklahoma.
Frank was drawn back to Cornwall again and again, and eventually he and Kathleen finally settled in Porthleven. Both Frank's daughters, and many of his nine grand children, were born in Cornwall, a county which inspired him throughout his life.
Frank died of cancer in 1983 at the family home, 'Bay Ridge', in Porthleven.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 31, 2022
An irritating heroine put me off the novel. More here: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpr...
October 5, 2023
“The Twisted Tree” is a very well-written novel but, while I liked it, it wasn’t my favorite, or was it? I am not sure yet.
The language
Frank Baker was a skillful writer. This is one of my favorite passages from the novel:
"Hatred was very important when there were so few people to love. There was nothing else to do. So let us hate; hate with a malignant, consuming hatred in order to pass the time away. And when the objects of our hatred are out of our presence, let us delight ourselves in crucifying them on the cross of our vicious tongues".
Moreover, his descriptions of the landscape and seasons are like paintings at which you want to stare forever, for they transport you to those same places at those moments.
Tansy, David and Roger
Frank Baker created a character, Tansy, with whom you can empathize and sympathize, because she is trapped in a world that she does not understand or care for. I liked being able to get into Tansy’s mind and feel what she was feeling. Roger was also an interesting character, And the chapters about him and Tansy were also very engaging and provocative. However, my problem with this novel is its pacing. This novel can be slow, and the beautiful descriptions can sometimes put the plot on hold. Moreover, I did not see anything “twisted” about David other than having a mind of his own.
The ending
Except for Tansy’s unexpected, twisted action at the end of the book, I felt that there was something missing in the novel. Or maybe I had the wrong expectations given the premise of the book? However, this book still managed to have me on a spell whenever I was reading it. I would describe this spell as being "haunted"; especially haunted by Tansy's life.
The language
Frank Baker was a skillful writer. This is one of my favorite passages from the novel:
"Hatred was very important when there were so few people to love. There was nothing else to do. So let us hate; hate with a malignant, consuming hatred in order to pass the time away. And when the objects of our hatred are out of our presence, let us delight ourselves in crucifying them on the cross of our vicious tongues".
Moreover, his descriptions of the landscape and seasons are like paintings at which you want to stare forever, for they transport you to those same places at those moments.
Tansy, David and Roger
Frank Baker created a character, Tansy, with whom you can empathize and sympathize, because she is trapped in a world that she does not understand or care for. I liked being able to get into Tansy’s mind and feel what she was feeling. Roger was also an interesting character, And the chapters about him and Tansy were also very engaging and provocative. However, my problem with this novel is its pacing. This novel can be slow, and the beautiful descriptions can sometimes put the plot on hold. Moreover, I did not see anything “twisted” about David other than having a mind of his own.
The ending
Except for Tansy’s unexpected, twisted action at the end of the book, I felt that there was something missing in the novel. Or maybe I had the wrong expectations given the premise of the book? However, this book still managed to have me on a spell whenever I was reading it. I would describe this spell as being "haunted"; especially haunted by Tansy's life.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews