HomeHistorical FictionPrecious bane

Cover of Precious bane

Historical Fiction · 1998 · PG-13

Precious bane

by Mary Webb

She was born with a harelip. The village called it a witch's mark. She called it her soul.

For14+GenreHistorical FictionLength296 pagesRead time~7.5 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

Flag an inaccuracy →

What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

A lot

Violence of the period; a drowning, desperation, and rural brutality

Language

None

Period Shropshire dialect; clean

Sexual Content

Barely any

Brief romantic content; tasteful

Substance Use

None

No substance use

Emotional Intensity

Some

Themes of female worth beyond physical beauty and the cruelty of superstition

What this book is about

Prue Sarn, a Shropshire farm girl in the early 19th century, is marked from birth by a harelip that the villagers associate with witchcraft. As her brother's ambition grows into obsession and tragedy, Prue's interior life — her faith, her love, her connection to the land — is rendered with extraordinary lyrical beauty. Webb's 1924 masterpiece.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Historical violence

Disability and prejudice themes

Reader Verification

Be the first to verify
this rating

Have you read Precious bane? Submit a community rating to confirm or correct the AI estimate. Your review helps other readers make an informed choice.

Rate this book →

Free · ~5 minutes · No account required

Similar reads

More Historical Fiction books from the catalog.

Think this AI estimate is off?

Flag an inaccuracy →

Where to Buy

Affiliate links — BookLens earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Buy on Amazon →