Come Rack! Come Rope! edition by Robert Hugh Benson Literature Fiction eBooks
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Come Rack! Come Rope! edition by Robert Hugh Benson Literature Fiction eBooks
This story creates a very clear picture of the persecution of Catholics under Queen Elizabeth in the 1500's. The story begins as Robin becomes engaged to Marjorie - just as his father announces his intention to repudiate his Catholic faith in the face of heavy fines (which eventually resulted in the transfer of large estates and lands to the Crown) levied by the Queen on anyone who refused to attend Protestant church services.As the story develops, Robin's refusal to do the same estranges him from his hot-tempered father. At the same time, he is powerfully moved by the courageous witness of priests who serve the faithful in secret, and in danger of their lives. He becomes a priest with Marjorie's support. Through love of him, she gradually becomes a key person, protecting Catholic priests and arranging their access to the frightened faithful.
Queen Elizabeth's persecution gains momentum as plots develop around her. In England of the 1500's, being charged with treason as a Catholic meant torture on the rack, public hanging, and finally death by quartering. Meanwhile, Robin's father has become a magistrate for the Queen... it is his duty to hunt down the priests who once gave him the sacraments.
I was barely aware of this period in Catholic history in Britain when I first opened this book (in fact, the Wikipedia entry for Queen Elizabeth considerably downplays the seriousness of the persecution; the legalized taking of hereditary lands, and the frequent torture and death of captured Catholics, especially priests). Now I feel like I saw it with my own eyes, with understanding of the significance of each part of the persecution... its political implications, its real and spiritual effects on the church and the faithful, and the increasingly deadly danger priests faced in confirming their allegiance to God above their allegiance to the Queen.
Robert Hugh Benson was a Catholic priest. I am a Catholic reader. I was fascinated by this story, which taught me so much in such a vivid way. I struggled with wanting to give it 5 stars, because I think a lot more people should read it, but in some ways it did fall below the coveted 5 for me. Some of this author's works are better, and raised the bar.
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Come Rack! Come Rope! edition by Robert Hugh Benson Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
This is truly a work of historical fiction, but emphasis on the historical. The age of Elizabeth I and the deadly anti-Catholicism that was part and parcel of it did occur; however, this set of characters is fictional. That being said, I was on the edge of my seat reading about just how the anti-Catholic efforts were carried out and almost unbelieving that there could be such open hatred of one's fellow citizens. As a Catholic myself, I can see only too well the parallels to the modern-day potential loss of religious freedom. The stroke of a pen could do it....we all need to read something like this to wake us up and make us pray!
Not many novels are written about the persecution of English Catholics under Queen Elizabeth. This was done very well. The writing delves into the thoughts and emotions of these suffering Catholics as well as the dangers priests underwent to administer the sacraments and lay persons to receive them. The last chapters of the book are very touching.
Sometimes, the book's plot seems to meander or drag, and that is the book's main downside.
R. H. Benson's Come Rack! Come Rope! is a tightly plotted masterpiece. Benson weaves a fictional and dramatic story of divine and human love into the historic fabric of Elizabethan England in which Catholic priests are hunted and tortured for their faith and lay Catholics are hounded to deny their faith as Elizabeth, abetted by sadistic and greedy henchmen, fashions a populace loyal to herself and to her vision for England free of the ancient faith (and her sister, Mary Queen of Scots).
Benson's attention to historical accuracy, period detail, the crises of conscience during the Elizabethan reign, and the rhythms of life in the latter part of the sixteenth century draw the reader into the era and the story. Those who view Elizabethan England as the high point of civilized culture will be forced to think further.
Msgr. Robert Hugh Benson is greatly overlooked and underrated as a writer. He has a beautiful writing style and the ability to create a vivid world within the reader's mind. This historical novel made the Catholic persecution under Queen Elizabeth in England come alive. He weaves a lovely story of two fictional protagonists into the historical facts of the era. This ugly aspect of English history is usually minimized and omitted from history classes. What comes out in this novel is the call to agape, true Christian love, that is completely unselfish and desires only to serve God, and to suffer for God. The drama of the priests being hunted down, the betrayals, the punishment, and the martydom of Mary Queen of Scots are depicted with great detail. Like Msgr. Benson's Lord of the World (still my favorite work by him), the ending is breathtaking and poignant.
As an historical novel, this book accomplishes what it set out to do. To the Benson's contemporary readers this book probably did not resonate in the same way that as it would today. The time he wrote about was indeed a period of horrific religious persecution on all (I was about to write both but the situation was more complex) sides. Beginning with Henry VIII, who persecuted Protestants before he decided to persecute Roman Catholics, this book tells of a period when religion and culture were taken quite seriously.
For today's reader, this book will come as a surprise and the situation of the recusant population will show that England did not move from Ivanhoe to Upstairs Downstairs without a great deal of pain. If there is one character who haunts me still if the father of our priestly hero who keeps to himself his change of allegiance from Rome to London regardless of the consequences which are truly tragic.
Approach this book as a primer to the beginning of modern English history, a story of religious faith, a love story, moral parable or sociological study of Benson's times but whatever your convictions or beliefs you will not be disappointed
This story creates a very clear picture of the persecution of Catholics under Queen Elizabeth in the 1500's. The story begins as Robin becomes engaged to Marjorie - just as his father announces his intention to repudiate his Catholic faith in the face of heavy fines (which eventually resulted in the transfer of large estates and lands to the Crown) levied by the Queen on anyone who refused to attend Protestant church services.
As the story develops, Robin's refusal to do the same estranges him from his hot-tempered father. At the same time, he is powerfully moved by the courageous witness of priests who serve the faithful in secret, and in danger of their lives. He becomes a priest with Marjorie's support. Through love of him, she gradually becomes a key person, protecting Catholic priests and arranging their access to the frightened faithful.
Queen Elizabeth's persecution gains momentum as plots develop around her. In England of the 1500's, being charged with treason as a Catholic meant torture on the rack, public hanging, and finally death by quartering. Meanwhile, Robin's father has become a magistrate for the Queen... it is his duty to hunt down the priests who once gave him the sacraments.
I was barely aware of this period in Catholic history in Britain when I first opened this book (in fact, the Wikipedia entry for Queen Elizabeth considerably downplays the seriousness of the persecution; the legalized taking of hereditary lands, and the frequent torture and death of captured Catholics, especially priests). Now I feel like I saw it with my own eyes, with understanding of the significance of each part of the persecution... its political implications, its real and spiritual effects on the church and the faithful, and the increasingly deadly danger priests faced in confirming their allegiance to God above their allegiance to the Queen.
Robert Hugh Benson was a Catholic priest. I am a Catholic reader. I was fascinated by this story, which taught me so much in such a vivid way. I struggled with wanting to give it 5 stars, because I think a lot more people should read it, but in some ways it did fall below the coveted 5 for me. Some of this author's works are better, and raised the bar.
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