The Ruinous Face E-Book

Maurice Hewlett

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

In "The Ruinous Face," Maurice Hewlett intricately weaves a narrative that explores the turbulent emotions and moral dilemmas faced by its characters against the backdrop of a decaying aristocracy. The novel is marked by Hewlett'Äôs masterful prose, blending romanticism with a keen psychological insight into the human soul. The story unfolds in a richly imagistic style, evoking the sensuality and decay of a bygone era, skillfully reflecting the societal shifts of the early 20th century. Hewlett'Äôs attention to detail and evocative descriptions invite readers to immerse themselves in the characters'Äô poignant struggles, as they navigate love, betrayal, and existential despair within a landscape that mirrors their inner turmoil. Maurice Hewlett, an English author who flourished in the early 1900s, was deeply influenced by the social and cultural transformations of his time. His background in history and literature informed his exploration of themes such as identity, morality, and the inevitable decline of societal norms. This novel, like many of his works, showcases his fascination with the interplay of human emotion and the broader narrative of history, drawing on his own experiences and observations of a changing world. "The Ruinous Face" is highly recommended for those seeking a profound exploration of humanity'Äôs darker tendencies set against a vivid historical canvas. Hewlett'Äôs nuanced characterizations and his ability to evoke atmosphere make this work a compelling read for lovers of literary fiction. Delving into the complexities of love and loss, this novel stands as a testament to Hewlett'Äôs legacy as a masterful storyteller.

Leseprobe

Maurice Hewlett

The Ruinous Face

Published by Good Press, 2019

[email protected]

EAN 4064066162467

Table of Contents

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS

ILLUSTRATIONS

THE RUINOUS FACE

ILLUSTRATED

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS

Table of Contents

NEW YORK AND LONDON MCMIX

Copyright, 1909, by Harper & Brothers.

All rights reserved.

Published October, 1909.

"Hence there is in Rhodes a sanctuary of Helen of the Tree."—Pausanias, iii., 19, 9.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Table of Contents

Helen and EutychesFrontispieceThe Abduction of HelenFacing p. 8From the painting by Rudolph von Deutsch.Helen of Troy " 20From the painting by Sir Frederick Leighton.Paris and Helen " 30From the painting by Jacques Louis David in the Louvre.

THE RUINOUS FACE

Table of Contents

When the siege of Troy had been ten years doing, and most of the chieftains were dead, both of those afield and those who held the walls; and some had departed in their ships, and all who remained were leaden-hearted; there was one who felt the rage of war insatiate in his bowels: Menelaus, yellow-haired King of the Argives. He, indeed, rested not day or night, but knew the fever fretting at his members, and the burning in his heart. And when he scanned the windy plain about the city, and the desolation of it; and when he saw the huts of the Achæans, and the furrows where the chariots ploughed along the lines, and the charred places of camp-fires, smoke-blackened trees, and puddled waters of Scamander, and corn-lands and pastures which for ten years had known neither plough nor deep-breathed cattle, nor querulous sheep; even then in the heart of Menelaus was no pity for Dardan nor Greek, but only for himself and what he had lost—white-bosomed Helen, darling of Gods and men, and golden treasure of the house.

The vision of her glowing face and veiled eyes came to him in the night-season to make him mad, and in dreams he saw her, as once and many times he had seen her, lie supine. There as she lay in his dream, all white and gold, thinner than the mist-wreath upon a mountain, he would cry aloud for his loss, and throw his arms out over the empty bed, and feel his eye-sockets smart for lack of tears; for tears came not to him, but his fever made his skin quite dry, and so were his eyes dry. Therefore, when the chiefs of the Achæans in Council, seeing how their strength was wearing down like a snowbank under the sun, looked reproachfully upon him, and thought of Hector slain, and of dead Achilles who slew him, of Priam, and of Diomede, and of tall Patroclus, he, Menelaus, took no heed at all, but sat in his place, and said, "There is no mercy for robbers of the house. Starve whom we cannot put to the sword. Lay closer leaguer. So shall I win my wife again and have honor among the Kings, my fellows." So he spake, for it was so he thought day and night; and Agamemnon, King of Men, bore with him, and carried the voices of all the Achæans. For since the death of Achilles there was no man stout enough to gainsay him, or deny him anything.