Queen of the Rushes

1906 novel by the Welsh writer Allen Raine

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.

## Plot

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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]

## References

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1. ^ Lorna Doran (27 April 2013). "Reviving a women's classic: Jane Aaron on Allen Raine". WalesOnline. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
2. ^ Ashlie Sponenberg (1 March 2006). Encyclopedia of British Women’s Writing 1900–1950. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-0-230-37947-3.
3. ^ M. Joannou (22 October 2012). The History of British Women's Writing, 1920-1945: Volume Eight. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 189–. ISBN 978-1-137-29217-9.
4. ^ Sally Roberts Jones (1979). Allen Raine. University of Wales Press. p. 61.
5. ^ Katie Gramich (1998). Introduction to Queen of the Rushes by Allen Raine. Honno. pp. 1–21.

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