The struggle between Ishmael and his eldest brother, Archelaus, is mainly psychological, but not for years has there been in fiction a plot so shocking. The shock at the end is the refreshing one of sheer cold water no common quality in psychological narrative.
inally declared his mind made up, and then for Lawyer Tonkin, only to be excluded from the conference that followed, Annie felt her resentment surge up. If it had not been for the fact that the Parson and Tonkin had been appointed guardians to the boy, Ishmael would, in all probability, never have lived beyond babyhood. A little neglect would soon have ended the matter, and even if any local magnate had bestirred himself to make a fuss, no Cornish jury would have convicted. All this Boase knew, and he managed to make Annie aware of the fact that he meant his ward to thrive or he would make trouble, and she was one of those women who tremble before a spiritual pastor and master. Therefore she comforted herself by the reflection that at least Cloom would always be her home, and a home of which she meant to be mistress as long as possible. Under his father's will Ishmael came into the property at eighteen, an additional grievance to Annie, but she told herself that at least a boy of that age would not be able to
not unusual for a novel to be burdened with a slow start. reader needs to understand that different authors have varying methods of character portrayal.
stay with it and you will be rewarded with a very good story.
i would recommend this one to any serious reader who also likes to find a new viewpoint.
The epic story of the life and loves of Ishmael Ruan, the youngest and only legitimate son of a Cornish landowner. This long pastoral novel follows the somewhat introspective Ishmael from birth to death, but he never rises to notable interest. A deathbed wedding just before his birth made Ishmael the heir -- over his full siblings -- and his eldest brother therefore hates him and schemes against him.
For its time, I suppose, the novel touches on some extraordinary subjects -- you could say that fornication is one of its main themes. Yet I found much of it dull, probably because I couldn't warm up to any of the characters.
