Queen of the Rushes is a 1906 novel by the Welsh writer Allen Raine, written in the English language and first published by Hutchinson & Co.
It was the eighth of Allen Raine's novels,[1] and is considered by many to be her best.[2] It is set against the events of the recent 1904–1905 Welsh revival,[3] and is subtitled A Tale of the Welsh Revival. Evan Roberts, the leader of the revival, appears as a character in the book.
The book begins with the sinking of a small vessel, resulting in the deaths of several agricultural labourers. The incident orphans two of the main characters: Gwenifer, who is struck dumb by the sight of seeing her mother drown, and Gildas, who inherits his father's farm.[4] Gwenifer becomes devoted to Gildas, but he instead marries the vivacious Nance Ellis, granddaughter of one of his tenants; Nance becomes caught up in the revival, as does a sea captain, Jack Davies, with whom she falls in love, whilst Gwenifer and Gildas remain aloof from what they consider the excessive zeal of the local congregation.[5]