Precious Bane

''Brighter and better than Thomas Hardy . . . a marvellous writer'' Eloise Millar, Guardian

Prudence 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 ho...