Precious Bane is a novel by Mary Webb, first published in 1924. Set in rural Shropshire in the early 19th century, the story follows the life of Prue Sarn, a young woman born with a harelip, which gives her a ""precious bane"" of a speech impediment. Despite her physical deformity, Prue is a strong and independent character, with a deep connection to nature and the countryside around her.As the novel progresses, Prue faces a number of challenges, including poverty, prejudice, and romantic entanglements. She falls in love with a local farmer, Kester Woodseaves, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Kester is already engaged to another woman. Prue also becomes embroiled in a bitter feud with her own brother, Gideon, who resents her for being born with a harelip.Throughout the novel, Webb explores themes of love, loss, and the struggle for acceptance in a society that values physical beauty above all else. She also paints a vivid picture of rural life in 19th century England, capturing the beauty and brutality of the countryside, and the complex social dynamics of a small, close-knit community.Overall, Precious Bane is a powerful and moving novel, filled with richly drawn characters and a deep sense of empathy for those who are marginalized by society. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.This is a new release of the original 1924 edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.