Precious Bane

Mary Webb (1881 - 1927)

Published in 1924, Precious Bane is a novel by Mary Webb (1881 - 1927) which touches on ambition, prejudice and hatred but also on the power of love. Prue Sarn is a farm girl in rural Shropshire during the period of the Napoleonic Wars and is viewed with suspicion by the local community because of having been born with a harelip. Her ambitious and domineering brother betrays her and her superstitious neighbours accuse her of witchcraft. An itinerant weaver Kester Woodseaves, makes his living by weaving for the local people in their homes. Like Prue, he loves the natural world and comes to recognises Prue's inner strength and beauty. ( Noel Badrian)

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Romance

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction and Foreword NoelBadrian
00:13:49
Play 01 Book 1 Ch. 1 Sarn Mere NoelBadrian
00:10:29
Play 02 Book 1 Ch. 2 Telling The Bees NoelBadrian
00:27:06
Play 03 Book 1 Ch. 3 Prue Takes The Bidding Letters NoelBadrian
00:07:50
Play 04 Book 1 Ch. 4 Torches And Rosemary NoelBadrian
00:17:23
Play 05 Book 1 Ch. 5 The First Swath Falls NoelBadrian
00:20:34
Play 06 Book 1 Ch. 6 ''Saddle Your Dreams Before You Ride ’Em'' NoelBadrian
00:20:12
Play 07 Book 1 Ch. 7 Pippins And Jargonelles NoelBadrian
00:15:51
Play 08 Book 2 Ch. 1 Riding To Market NoelBadrian
00:30:11
Play 09 Book 2 Ch. 2 The Mug Of Cider NoelBadrian
00:21:19
Play 10 Book 2 Ch. 3 ''Or Die In ’Tempting It'' NoelBadrian
00:15:38
Play 11 Book 2 Ch. 4 The Wizard Of Plash NoelBadrian
00:13:38
Play 12 Book 2 Ch. 5 The Love-Spinning NoelBadrian
00:14:30
Play 13 Book 2 Ch. 6 The Game Of Costly Colours NoelBadrian
00:24:01
Play 14 Book 2 Ch. 7 ''The Maister Be Come'' NoelBadrian
00:10:49
Play 15 Book 2 Ch. 8 Raising Venus NoelBadrian
00:13:34
Play 16 Book 2 Ch. 9 The Game Of Conquer NoelBadrian
00:29:11
Play 17 Book 3 Ch. 1 The Hiring Fair NoelBadrian
00:25:59
Play 18 Book 3 Ch. 2 The Baiting NoelBadrian
00:22:13
Play 19 Book 3 Ch. 3 ''The Best Tall Script, Flourished'' NoelBadrian
00:30:18
Play 20 Book 3 Ch. 4 Jancis Runs Away Part 1 NoelBadrian
00:24:38
Play 21 Book 3 Ch. 4 Jancis Runs Away Part 2 NoelBadrian
00:26:13
Play 22 Book 3 Ch. 5 Dragon-Flies NoelBadrian
00:22:55
Play 23 Book 4 Ch. 1 Harvest Home Part 1 NoelBadrian
00:21:08
Play 24 Book 4 Ch. 1 Harvest Home Part 2 NoelBadrian
00:22:12
Play 25 Book 4 Ch. 2 Beguildy Seeks A Seventh Child Part 1 NoelBadrian
00:23:39
Play 26 Book 4 Ch. 2 Beguildy Seeks A Seventh Child Part 2 NoelBadrian
00:23:35
Play 27 Book 4 Ch. 3 The Deathly Bane NoelBadrian
00:26:42
Play 28 Book 4 Ch. 4 All On A May Morning Part 1 NoelBadrian
00:21:55
Play 29 Book 4 Ch. 4 All On A May Morning Part 2 NoelBadrian
00:22:36
Play 30 Book 4 Ch. 5 The Last Game Of Conquer NoelBadrian
00:25:40
Play 31 Book 4 Ch. 6 The Breaking Of The Mere NoelBadrian
00:31:04
Play 32 Book 4 Ch. 7 ''Open The Gates As Wide As The Sky'' NoelBadrian
00:10:30