Read more
Cuthbert Shaw and Jenny Strangfield are secretly in love. His father is a dogmatic schoolmaster, hers a severe Baptist preacher, harsh stalwarts of their small town on the Kent coast. But so convinced are Cuthbert and Jenny of their rightness for one another that they have slipped off separately to London on false pretences, and married there.
Back in Greystone, they must keep up their secret until they can summon the courage to speak to their respective despotic parents. Finally, Cuthbert determines he can wait no longer, and makes a plan with Jenny to deliver the no doubt shocking news, to her father first, one evening.
But this is 1806, and pressgangs prowl British seaside places, compelling young men into the service of the navy, to fight Napoleon's forces. As he makes his way to Jenny's home for the critical conversation, Cuthbert is taken, and disappears overnight. Jenny, unaware, waits and waits on tenterhooks. But, of course, Cuthbert never comes.
Heartbroken, thinking he may have abandoned her, Jenny despairs, and reveals their secret. But she is not believed - the story appears unfeasible, and seems a cover for shame. Her father is incandescent, and Cuthbert's outraged. How will gentle Cuthbert fare aboard ship, heading into battle? How will Jenny survive the vicious innuendo of the Greystone townspeople, let alone own father's savage accusations of bad character? Will Cuthbert ever return to her, or is he lost forever?
W. Clark Russell followed several extremely popular seafaring tales with this elegantly written novel in 1878, proving that he was much more than a novelist of adventure. The extraordinarily poetic prose and rich imagination of Auld Lang Syne confirmed that here was a writer with more than one string to his bow.
About the author
William Clark Russell was an English writer renowned for his nautical novels. Born on February 24, 1844, in New York City, he joined the United Kingdom's Merchant Navy at the age of 13 and spent eight years serving at sea. The harsh realities of life on the ocean took a toll on his health, leaving him with lasting physical damage. However, these difficult experiences provided him with the material and insights that would later fuel his successful writing career. Russell's work, primarily focused on the sea and maritime adventures, drew heavily on his personal experiences, making his narratives rich with authenticity and detail. His novels captivated readers with their vivid depictions of life at sea, exploring themes of duty, courage, and the human spirit in the face of adversity. In addition to his literary achievements, Russell was a father to Herbert William Henry Russell. He passed away on November 8, 1911, at the age of 67 in Bath, United Kingdom, leaving behind a legacy of gripping, sea-based storytelling that continues to resonate with readers today.
