{"product_id":"precious-bane-by-mary-webb-9780349015644","title":"Precious Bane","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Brighter and better than Thomas Hardy . . . a marvellous writer' Eloise Millar, \u003cem\u003eGuardian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrudence Sarn was born with a cleft palate, her 'precious bane', for which she is persecuted as a witch by her superstitious neighbours. Hiding from daily ridicule, she takes refuge in the wild Shropshire countryside, developing a profound love of nature. Furtively, Prue longs to be loved and harbours a hopeless passion for Kester Woodseaves, the weaver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrue's brother, Gideon, is engaged to her only friend, but in his ambition for wealth at any cost, he incurs the wrath of his would-be father-in-law whose act of vengeance results in Prue being accused of murder. Only Kester, who has perceived her true worth, can defend her from the wrath of her accusers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWinner of the 1926 Prix Femina Vie Heureuse Prize, \u003cem\u003ePrecious Bane\u003c\/em\u003e is a novel that enchants with its beauty and its timeless truths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'With the publication of \u003cem\u003ePrecious Bane\u003c\/em\u003e, a substantial readership came to respect Mary Webb's quiet genius . . . When she died at the age of 46, literature lost a voice that promised to speak for Shropshire as poignantly as Thomas Hardy had spoken for Wessex, Emily Bronte for Yorkshire - \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47597530775788,"sku":"9780349015644","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780349015644-precious-bane.jpg?v=1777956077","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/precious-bane-by-mary-webb-9780349015644","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}