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Επτά για ένα μυστικό
Η Τζίλιαν Λάβκιν είναι ωραία και φιλόδοξη, γοητευτική και εγωίστρια, μεγαλόπρεπη και άσπλαχνη. Ο Ρόμπερτ Ραϊντάουτ και ο Ραλφ Έλμερ είναι δυνατοί, γιγάντιοι, εντυπωσιακοί - είναι οι προσωποποιήσεις του Καλού και του Κακού, του Φωτός και του Σκότους, του ιερού και του χυδαίου έρωτα. Είναι η αντίφαση που αντιμετωπίζει όποιος βλέπει τη ζωή παλλόμενη, δονούμενη.
Ποια λύση μπορεί να δοθεί σε μια τέτοια αντίφαση κι από ποιους δρόμους πρέπει να περάσει κανείς για να τη βρει;
Γραμμένο μετά την Αλεπουδίτσα και αμέσως πριν το Ακριβό Φαρμάκι, το Επτά για ένα μυστικό είναι μια ερωτική ιστορία που η Μαίρη Γουέμπ αφηγείται με μια φλέβα έντονου ρομαντισμού. Οι χαρακτήρες ειναι παραμυθένιοι, η συγκινησιακή φόρτιση και η ποιητική ένατένιση υπέρμετρες-κι ωστόσο η κάθε σκηνή του μυθιστορήματος πείθει και συνεπαίρνει τον αναγνώστη μέσα στην πλοκή της. Γιατί και τούτο το βιβλίο της Γουέμπ είναι ένα μυθιστόρημα: αληθινό μέσα στον μύθο του.
(Από το οπισθόφυλλο)
Ποια λύση μπορεί να δοθεί σε μια τέτοια αντίφαση κι από ποιους δρόμους πρέπει να περάσει κανείς για να τη βρει;
Γραμμένο μετά την Αλεπουδίτσα και αμέσως πριν το Ακριβό Φαρμάκι, το Επτά για ένα μυστικό είναι μια ερωτική ιστορία που η Μαίρη Γουέμπ αφηγείται με μια φλέβα έντονου ρομαντισμού. Οι χαρακτήρες ειναι παραμυθένιοι, η συγκινησιακή φόρτιση και η ποιητική ένατένιση υπέρμετρες-κι ωστόσο η κάθε σκηνή του μυθιστορήματος πείθει και συνεπαίρνει τον αναγνώστη μέσα στην πλοκή της. Γιατί και τούτο το βιβλίο της Γουέμπ είναι ένα μυθιστόρημα: αληθινό μέσα στον μύθο του.
(Από το οπισθόφυλλο)
325 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1922
8 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Mary Webb
92 books97 followersMary Webb (1881-1927) was an English romantic novelist of the early 20th century, whose novels were set chiefly in the Shropshire countryside and among Shropshire characters and people which she knew and loved well. Although she was acclaimed by John Buchan and by Rebecca West, who hailed her as a genius, and won the Prix Femina of La Vie Heureuse for Precious Bane (1924), she won little respect from the general public. It was only after her death that the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, earned her posthumous success through his approbation, referring to her as a neglected genius at a Literary Fund dinner in 1928.
Her writing is notable for its descriptions of nature, and of the human heart. She had a deep sympathy for all her characters and was able to see good and truth in all of them. Among her most famous works are: The Golden Arrow (1916), Gone to Earth (1917), and Seven for a Secret (1922).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 29, 2015
Gillian is the only child of a very wealthy farmer, so whomever she marries will not only be lucky to have a pretty bride, but will also have the added benefit of inheriting a large fortune. Gillian is nineteen when the novel opens and she is a starry-eyed romantic who wants to flirt with men so that they will fall in love with her. Gillian, in many ways, still acts like a child and she is is selfish, narcissistic and silly towards others in her life. The kind and simple shepherd named Robert who is employed by her father is oftentimes the target of her coquetry. But Gillian keeps telling herself that she can never fall in love with Robert because she doesn’t want a simple farm hand for a husband; she wants excitement, passion and a man who can ride a horse bareback. Webb beautifully foreshadows the suffering that Gillian will have to endure before she can have her happily ever after.
Robert is the only son of Mrs. Makepeace who lost her husband when Robert was a very young boy. Mrs. Makepeace has remarried a man named Jonathan who, despite being so clumsy, is a great husband and stepfather. Mrs. Makepeace knows her son Robert well, so she senses it when Robert begins to fall in love with Gillian. Robert is the main farm hand and does the lion’s share of the work for Gillian’s father; he has grown up with Gillian and as they both mature he sees her in a very different light and begins to develop deep romantic feelings for her. It is sweet that since he cannot express his love to her directly, he composes penillion verses about her and his love for her. He is a gifted poet but he never writes his poetry down or shares it with anyone, especially not Gillian.
When another sheep farmer comes to town and buys the local inn, Robert is very suspicions of this mysterious man from the beginning. Ralph Elmer is not married, or so he says, and lives with his servants Fringal and Rwth. Rwth is mute and Robert treats her very badly. Both Robert and Gillian take pity on Rwth and treat Rwth with kindness and compassion; Gillian’s kind treatment of Rwth, for me, was the beginning of her transformation into a mature and less selfish woman.
Unfortunately, Gillian is smitten with Ralph Elmer and despite the warnings from Robert, she continues to spend a lot of time with Ralph. Ralph makes physical advances toward Gillian that show us he is not a gentlemen. But Gillian is too silly and young to make the distinction between passion and physical lust and true love. While she is allowing Mr. Elmer to court and kiss her and do other things to her, she is really thinking about Robert and wishing it was the shepherd-poet who was paying her so much attention.
In the end, Gillian does have to suffer in order to become a better human being; she becomes someone with whom we can sympathize and someone who is finally worthy of Robert’s love. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read another of Webb’s novels and I would like to read even more of her works.
For more of my reviews visit: www.thebookbindersdaughter.com
Robert is the only son of Mrs. Makepeace who lost her husband when Robert was a very young boy. Mrs. Makepeace has remarried a man named Jonathan who, despite being so clumsy, is a great husband and stepfather. Mrs. Makepeace knows her son Robert well, so she senses it when Robert begins to fall in love with Gillian. Robert is the main farm hand and does the lion’s share of the work for Gillian’s father; he has grown up with Gillian and as they both mature he sees her in a very different light and begins to develop deep romantic feelings for her. It is sweet that since he cannot express his love to her directly, he composes penillion verses about her and his love for her. He is a gifted poet but he never writes his poetry down or shares it with anyone, especially not Gillian.
When another sheep farmer comes to town and buys the local inn, Robert is very suspicions of this mysterious man from the beginning. Ralph Elmer is not married, or so he says, and lives with his servants Fringal and Rwth. Rwth is mute and Robert treats her very badly. Both Robert and Gillian take pity on Rwth and treat Rwth with kindness and compassion; Gillian’s kind treatment of Rwth, for me, was the beginning of her transformation into a mature and less selfish woman.
Unfortunately, Gillian is smitten with Ralph Elmer and despite the warnings from Robert, she continues to spend a lot of time with Ralph. Ralph makes physical advances toward Gillian that show us he is not a gentlemen. But Gillian is too silly and young to make the distinction between passion and physical lust and true love. While she is allowing Mr. Elmer to court and kiss her and do other things to her, she is really thinking about Robert and wishing it was the shepherd-poet who was paying her so much attention.
In the end, Gillian does have to suffer in order to become a better human being; she becomes someone with whom we can sympathize and someone who is finally worthy of Robert’s love. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read another of Webb’s novels and I would like to read even more of her works.
For more of my reviews visit: www.thebookbindersdaughter.com
October 8, 2025
Siete para un secreto Cuenta la historia de Gillian Lovekin y Robert Rideout: Gillian es la única hija de un granjero rico, mientras que Robert es el vaquero, el pastor y el personal de mantenimiento del granjero.
El lector sabe desde el principio que tanto Gillian como Robert se aman. La gran brecha en su estatus social hace predecible que el padre rico nunca aceptará a un granjero como su yerno. Sin embargo, hay otra brecha significativa que los separa: sus principales rasgos personales. Uno es egoísta e imprudente mientras que el otro es afectuoso, considerado y humilde.
Mary Webb escribe con una sensibilidad poética y una profunda comprensión del alma humana. Su prosa es rica en matices, y los personajes están construidos con una mezcla de ternura y realismo. La ambientación rural, tan característica de su obra, se convierte en un personaje más, envolviendo la trama en una atmósfera melancólica y evocadora.
Mary aporta una mirada al choque entre clases sociales, pasiones humanas y secretos que hieren el interior de las personas, sin excesos melodramáticos. Es una novela que desafía la idea de que el “amor romántico” lo puede todo: aquí hay barreras materiales, morales, de orgullo, de pasado que pesan.
En conclusión, un libro que he disfrutado mucho por la gran ambientación y por como van evolucionado los personajes a lo largo de la novela. Un clásico que no puedes dejar pasar.
El lector sabe desde el principio que tanto Gillian como Robert se aman. La gran brecha en su estatus social hace predecible que el padre rico nunca aceptará a un granjero como su yerno. Sin embargo, hay otra brecha significativa que los separa: sus principales rasgos personales. Uno es egoísta e imprudente mientras que el otro es afectuoso, considerado y humilde.
Mary Webb escribe con una sensibilidad poética y una profunda comprensión del alma humana. Su prosa es rica en matices, y los personajes están construidos con una mezcla de ternura y realismo. La ambientación rural, tan característica de su obra, se convierte en un personaje más, envolviendo la trama en una atmósfera melancólica y evocadora.
Mary aporta una mirada al choque entre clases sociales, pasiones humanas y secretos que hieren el interior de las personas, sin excesos melodramáticos. Es una novela que desafía la idea de que el “amor romántico” lo puede todo: aquí hay barreras materiales, morales, de orgullo, de pasado que pesan.
En conclusión, un libro que he disfrutado mucho por la gran ambientación y por como van evolucionado los personajes a lo largo de la novela. Un clásico que no puedes dejar pasar.
April 18, 2012
In the 1970s, Virago books reissued many books by women authors that had been out of print. I loved the books by Mary Webb and own several of them.
They offer a vivid picture of rural life not unlike Thomas Hardy, but far more lushly described.
Seven for a Secret is the story of a young girl maturing into herself as a compassionate, passionate, loving woman as seen through the eyes of the shepherd-poet who loves her. As I was re-reading this time, I kept thinking about how this would make the perfect 2 hour movie or Masterpiece Theater adaptation.
I'd love to see Mary Webb more broadly known again.
They offer a vivid picture of rural life not unlike Thomas Hardy, but far more lushly described.
Seven for a Secret is the story of a young girl maturing into herself as a compassionate, passionate, loving woman as seen through the eyes of the shepherd-poet who loves her. As I was re-reading this time, I kept thinking about how this would make the perfect 2 hour movie or Masterpiece Theater adaptation.
I'd love to see Mary Webb more broadly known again.
Want to read
April 16, 2021********************
*Gone to Earth 5 stars
*Precious Bane 4 stars
*The Golden Arrow TBR
*The House in Dormer Forest TBR
*Seven for a secret; A love story, TBR
*Gone to Earth 5 stars
*Precious Bane 4 stars
*The Golden Arrow TBR
*The House in Dormer Forest TBR
*Seven for a secret; A love story, TBR
March 13, 2016
I'm reading through Mary Webb's novels and knew from the Coles biography that this was her weakest in terms of storytelling. I agree, the last third seems very rushed, sub plots are forgotten and characters discarded. I particularly cared about Johnson coming looking for his long lost daughter - that was an important storyline I felt - it was dismissed in a sentence! Also, I felt that the three key characters: Gillian, Robert and Rwth were very similar to Jancis, Gideon and Prue in 'Precious Bane', although they suffer very different fates.
However, I can understand that as a writer she was working up to PB. It is not particularly satisfying as a novel, it is too much of an unedited exercise I think, but it was interesting for me to see how she developed her ideas, how she worked as a writer.
The poetry is there in the writing still though plus a lot of humour which I liked. And of course there is Fringal - one of the most evil minor characters I've ever encountered. (The name alone is brilliant.)
Overall, definitely not her best, but glad I read it.
However, I can understand that as a writer she was working up to PB. It is not particularly satisfying as a novel, it is too much of an unedited exercise I think, but it was interesting for me to see how she developed her ideas, how she worked as a writer.
The poetry is there in the writing still though plus a lot of humour which I liked. And of course there is Fringal - one of the most evil minor characters I've ever encountered. (The name alone is brilliant.)
Overall, definitely not her best, but glad I read it.
May 20, 2023
I was mightily looking forward to this because I'm obsessed with Precious Bane, so I'm not really sure whether a) I just set my expectations unreasonably high or b) this really is that bad by contrast. It's not *bad*, per se: the style is still good, and some of the characterization is lovely. But many of the characters felt like caricatures (unlike Precious Bane, where I felt like they were going to leap off the page and become flesh), and Gillian's spoiled personality just really grated on my nerves. The self-sacrifical gesture-that-almost-was at the end of the book bothered me intensely. I can, with difficulty, understand throwing one's life away for one's love, but to Two and a half stars rounded up to three for the good use of dialect and description of the border country between England and Wales.
May 29, 2025
Seven For a Secret by Mary Webb is a romantic, mystical novel.
It tells the story of Gillian Lovekin and Robert Rideout—Gillian is the only daughter of a wealthy farmer, while Robert is the cowman, the shepherd, and handyman on the farmer.
The reader knows from the very beginning that both Gillian and Robert love each other. The big gap in their social status makes it predictable that the wealthy father will never accept a farm boy as his son-in-law. However, there is another significant gap that separates them— their major personal traits. One is selfish, reckless, and egonistical, while the other is affectionate, considerate, and humble.
Hence, two other characters, Ralph and Ailse, join the narrative to adjust and compensate for the impossibility of the sacred union between Gillian and Robert. Ironically, both Ralph and Ailse reveal the secret that makes the sacred union between the wealthy daughter and the farmhand possible.
So, while the story itself is familiar and predictable, it is the narrative that makes it unique and thrilling. The imagery, descriptions, and sub-characters transform the well-known tale into something symbolic and unique.
Here's the famous poem of the book;
‘I saw seven magpies in a tree,
One for you and six for me.
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold—’
‘And seven for a secret
That’s never been told!’
It tells the story of Gillian Lovekin and Robert Rideout—Gillian is the only daughter of a wealthy farmer, while Robert is the cowman, the shepherd, and handyman on the farmer.
The reader knows from the very beginning that both Gillian and Robert love each other. The big gap in their social status makes it predictable that the wealthy father will never accept a farm boy as his son-in-law. However, there is another significant gap that separates them— their major personal traits. One is selfish, reckless, and egonistical, while the other is affectionate, considerate, and humble.
Hence, two other characters, Ralph and Ailse, join the narrative to adjust and compensate for the impossibility of the sacred union between Gillian and Robert. Ironically, both Ralph and Ailse reveal the secret that makes the sacred union between the wealthy daughter and the farmhand possible.
So, while the story itself is familiar and predictable, it is the narrative that makes it unique and thrilling. The imagery, descriptions, and sub-characters transform the well-known tale into something symbolic and unique.
Here's the famous poem of the book;
‘I saw seven magpies in a tree,
One for you and six for me.
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold—’
‘And seven for a secret
That’s never been told!’
February 16, 2019
Mary Webb is known as the writer Stella Gibbons parodied in her novel Cold Comfort Farm. A Shropshire novelist and poet. Mary Webb’s work is very much rooted in the Shropshire landscape she grew up in. Somewhere along the line I got the idea that I mightn’t get on so well with Mary Webb now Her obvious romanticism might have suited my teenage years but would probably irritate me now. Mary Webb is very descriptive, – her storytelling comes from the same tradition as writers like Sheila Kaye-Smith (who I also read recently) and Thomas Hardy – to whom this novel is dedicated. Hers is perhaps a style that won’t suit everyone, there is an old-fashioned quality to it, but unexpectedly I loved it.
The one aspect to the novel I might take slight issue with is Webb’s use of dialect, true she does it spectacularly well – but I’m never sure if dialect is really necessary. Can’t a writer merely tell us that a person speaks with a particular accent, throw in a few colloquialisms and allow the reader’s imagination to do the rest? That’s probably how a modern writer might approach it. Of course, Mary Webb was writing at a time when this kind of romantic writing was more in vogue than it is now. I found I got to grips with the dialect fairly quickly – but I could understand it putting some readers off.
I saw seven magpies in a tree,
One for you and six for me.
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret,
That’s never been told.
Gillian Lovekin is eighteen as the novel opens, living with her father, on his farm in the Shropshire hills. Gillian is a very pretty girl, a head full of dreams and longings – including for men to lose their hearts to her. She imagines herself in a fabulous gown, and dreams of experiencing London. There is in Gillian, a little of that slightly self-important selfishness that the young girls can sometimes have. She’s young, apt to make errors in the pursuit of happiness.
Full review; https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2018/...
The one aspect to the novel I might take slight issue with is Webb’s use of dialect, true she does it spectacularly well – but I’m never sure if dialect is really necessary. Can’t a writer merely tell us that a person speaks with a particular accent, throw in a few colloquialisms and allow the reader’s imagination to do the rest? That’s probably how a modern writer might approach it. Of course, Mary Webb was writing at a time when this kind of romantic writing was more in vogue than it is now. I found I got to grips with the dialect fairly quickly – but I could understand it putting some readers off.
I saw seven magpies in a tree,
One for you and six for me.
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret,
That’s never been told.
Gillian Lovekin is eighteen as the novel opens, living with her father, on his farm in the Shropshire hills. Gillian is a very pretty girl, a head full of dreams and longings – including for men to lose their hearts to her. She imagines herself in a fabulous gown, and dreams of experiencing London. There is in Gillian, a little of that slightly self-important selfishness that the young girls can sometimes have. She’s young, apt to make errors in the pursuit of happiness.
Full review; https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2018/...
March 14, 2020
"But things did happen almost as they should in a well-regulated novel."
Thus writes Mary Webb, a few pages from the end of Seven for a Secret (1922), proving that while her rural melodrama owed a debt to Hardy (acknowledged by the fact that this novel was dedicated to him), she had a lighter touch than he did.
It isn't as good as Webb's later novel Precious Bane, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thus writes Mary Webb, a few pages from the end of Seven for a Secret (1922), proving that while her rural melodrama owed a debt to Hardy (acknowledged by the fact that this novel was dedicated to him), she had a lighter touch than he did.
It isn't as good as Webb's later novel Precious Bane, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 25, 2009
I got this book from a used book site because the author, Mary Webb, also wrote one of my absolute favorite books, Precious Bane. Alas, this book is not in even remotely in the category of Precious Bane. I thought it was quite silly.
July 10, 2019
Πολυ καλο μυθιστορημα. Προκειται για ενα υπεροχο ταξιδι στην Ουαλια του 19ου αιωνα. Η θεση της γυναικας και οι ταξικες διαφορες στο επικεντρο και στο φοντο η ομορφια του τοπιου. Ειναι ενα δυνατο βιβλιο γεματο φως και ελπιδα που αξιζει να διαβαστει.
September 6, 2025
Es tremendamente complicado expresar todos los sentimientos que me ha despertado esta novela de Mary Webb. No había leído previamente a la autora y agradezco que la editorial Libros de Seda esté traduciendo sus novelas para que deje de ser una gran desconocida. “Siete para un secreto” ha sido simplemente una sorpresa cautivadora, una experiencia que me ha robado el aliento hasta la última palabra de la obra. Daba por hecho que encontraría una trama centrada en un triángulo amoroso, pero lo que me ha ofrecido el libro excede con creces cualquier idea de argumento frívolo que pueda venir a la mente al imaginar esta premisa; es algo profundo y hasta transformador. Para comenzar, la autora demuestra un gran interés etnográfico por la región inglesa en que contextualiza la obra y nos traslada de manera precisa al lugar con unas descripciones de los parajes, los animales (especialmente los pájaros) y las gentes que son toda una delicia, poéticas y sugestivas.
Por otro lado, los personajes son analizados con tanto detalle que se hacen cercanos, como si los conociésemos en profundidad incluso tratándose de una obra bastante breve. Incluso los rasgos menos amables de los mismos se describen con una empatía que despierta una sonrisa. Los diálogos entre ellos son verdaderamente ingeniosos, casi todos tienen algo de caricaturesco y llevan sus personalidades hasta límites que encogen el corazón. Además, los principales sufren una gran evolución al hilo de sus reflexiones, se van conociendo a sí mismos, caen en grandes errores que calan en la sensibilidad del lector, pero, gracias a ello, comienzan a madurar y a dejar de negarse sus sentimientos.
En el libro ante todo se reflexiona sobre el amor tal y como se contemplaba a comienzos del siglo XX pero ¿acaso no es un sentimiento universal más allá de los convencionalismos de cada momento? Precisamente por ello, aun cuando la autora lleva los sentimientos de los personajes al extremo, es fácil empatizar y sufrir con ellos. El triángulo amoroso que ya se anuncia desde el primer momento entre Gillian, Robert y Ralph se desarrolla de forma desgarradora y puede llegar a generar mucha frustración ante la falta de comunicación de los personajes. Además, la trama esconde un secreto muy presente en todo momento, pero cuyas implicaciones solo alcanzamos a adivinar muy parcialmente hasta que todo eclosiona de forma abrumadora, manteniéndonos con el corazón en un puño hasta la última página.
Igual que sus personalidades, los sentimientos de los protagonistas son llevados hasta ese extremo que genera verdadera impotencia ante lo exagerado de algunos actos. Considero que el paso del egoísmo a la abnegación total fruto de la evolución de ese amor, es una cuestión tratada de manera soberbia. Si bien es cierto que todas las descripciones y la sobresaliente narrativa en una tercera persona muy cercana tienen mucho de reconfortante, la autora tiene el acierto de brindarnos un auténtico tortazo sentimental con la profundidad trágica en que va tornando la historia. De este modo, me he encontrado con una lectura de una belleza exquisita y, aunque pueda parecer una contradicción, verdaderamente ágil a la par que trascendental; una primera inmersión arrebatadora en la obra de Mary Webb.
Por otro lado, los personajes son analizados con tanto detalle que se hacen cercanos, como si los conociésemos en profundidad incluso tratándose de una obra bastante breve. Incluso los rasgos menos amables de los mismos se describen con una empatía que despierta una sonrisa. Los diálogos entre ellos son verdaderamente ingeniosos, casi todos tienen algo de caricaturesco y llevan sus personalidades hasta límites que encogen el corazón. Además, los principales sufren una gran evolución al hilo de sus reflexiones, se van conociendo a sí mismos, caen en grandes errores que calan en la sensibilidad del lector, pero, gracias a ello, comienzan a madurar y a dejar de negarse sus sentimientos.
En el libro ante todo se reflexiona sobre el amor tal y como se contemplaba a comienzos del siglo XX pero ¿acaso no es un sentimiento universal más allá de los convencionalismos de cada momento? Precisamente por ello, aun cuando la autora lleva los sentimientos de los personajes al extremo, es fácil empatizar y sufrir con ellos. El triángulo amoroso que ya se anuncia desde el primer momento entre Gillian, Robert y Ralph se desarrolla de forma desgarradora y puede llegar a generar mucha frustración ante la falta de comunicación de los personajes. Además, la trama esconde un secreto muy presente en todo momento, pero cuyas implicaciones solo alcanzamos a adivinar muy parcialmente hasta que todo eclosiona de forma abrumadora, manteniéndonos con el corazón en un puño hasta la última página.
Igual que sus personalidades, los sentimientos de los protagonistas son llevados hasta ese extremo que genera verdadera impotencia ante lo exagerado de algunos actos. Considero que el paso del egoísmo a la abnegación total fruto de la evolución de ese amor, es una cuestión tratada de manera soberbia. Si bien es cierto que todas las descripciones y la sobresaliente narrativa en una tercera persona muy cercana tienen mucho de reconfortante, la autora tiene el acierto de brindarnos un auténtico tortazo sentimental con la profundidad trágica en que va tornando la historia. De este modo, me he encontrado con una lectura de una belleza exquisita y, aunque pueda parecer una contradicción, verdaderamente ágil a la par que trascendental; una primera inmersión arrebatadora en la obra de Mary Webb.
October 15, 2023
This is a cautionary tale about the narcissism and snobbery of Gillian Lovekin, daughter of a wealthy sheep farmer, that endangers her happiness and that of her admirer, Robert Rideout, a cowman-shepherd who works for Gillian’s father. Mary Webb describes the feelings of the protagonists with insight and sensitivity, and I also enjoyed the descriptions of pastoral beauty. Mary Webb is better known for her highly acclaimed novels Precious Bane and Gone to Earth, but Seven for a Secret is worthwhile for any Mary Webb fan.
January 20, 2022
Read this for the glorious descriptions of the rural border country near Wales. Ignore the Victorian plot. The character Gillian Lovekin is barely standable and the author is not all that interested in neat closures.
July 29, 2020
What did I just read
Read
January 15, 2024Environment
May 24, 2025
I read this years ago. I thought it was beautiful then and I still think so.
May 9, 2012
I couldn't give this 5 stars as it wasn't as good as Precious Bane and the heroine, Gillian, wasn't nearly as interesting or wonderful as Prue. It was romantic and had beautiful prose and was quite suspenseful at the end.
December 28, 2016
If you want a romantic tale with a twist this is for you .The dialect again is a work of art which few can do .The tale has you wanting to never put the book down .It has powerful imaginary that needs no sordid description .This is yet again shows what a good writer she was,bar one.☺
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September 2, 2016Επτά για ένα μυστικό
Mary Webb
μετάφραση: Τασία Χατζή
Νεφέλη, 1992
325 σελ.
ISBN 960-211-147-Χ, ISBN-13 978-960-211-147-5
Mary Webb
μετάφραση: Τασία Χατζή
Νεφέλη, 1992
325 σελ.
ISBN 960-211-147-Χ, ISBN-13 978-960-211-147-5
February 9, 2012
Kept me up past midnight two nights in a row to find out how it ends. I love Mary Webb.
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August 9, 2011I love Mary Webb's writing.
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