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The Birthright
Excerpt from The Birthright
People are saying, asserted John Major, that the land you call yours is not yours by right, and that in order to get your will you were in league with the devil. It is also said that you broke the laws of God and man in your dealings with your relations, and that Parson Inch refuses to give you the right hand of fellowship until you can prove in a fair and straightforward way that you are not the man some take you to be.
Now I am quite aware that many things have hap pened to me which happen to but few men. I know, too, that I have had experiences which, to say the least of them, are strange, neither am I sure that I can ex plain certain matters to Parson Inch's satisfaction. At the same time I am not afraid of the light, and so I am determined to set down truthfully, to the best of my ability, the true account of those events in my life which are misunderstood, so that no stigma shall rest upon those who are as dear to me as my own heart's blood.
People are saying, asserted John Major, that the land you call yours is not yours by right, and that in order to get your will you were in league with the devil. It is also said that you broke the laws of God and man in your dealings with your relations, and that Parson Inch refuses to give you the right hand of fellowship until you can prove in a fair and straightforward way that you are not the man some take you to be.
Now I am quite aware that many things have hap pened to me which happen to but few men. I know, too, that I have had experiences which, to say the least of them, are strange, neither am I sure that I can ex plain certain matters to Parson Inch's satisfaction. At the same time I am not afraid of the light, and so I am determined to set down truthfully, to the best of my ability, the true account of those events in my life which are misunderstood, so that no stigma shall rest upon those who are as dear to me as my own heart's blood.
257 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1896
About the author
Joseph Hocking
144 books4 followersFrom Wikipedia:
Joseph Hocking was a Cornish novelist and United Methodist Free Church minister. He was born at St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall, to James Hocking, part owner of a tin mine, and his wife Elizabeth.
In 1884, he was ordained as a minister. Working in different parts of England over the next few years, he wrote his first novel, Harry Penhale - The Trial of his Faith, while in London in 1887. He regarded fiction as a highly effective medium for conveying his Christian message to the public, and combined his writing with his church duties, until ill health forced him to resign from the ministry in 1909. His last pastoral charge was the large and important United Free Church at Woodford Essex, which he was instrumental in having rebuilt by the advanced arts and crafts architect, Charles Harrison Townsend.
On his recovery, he found himself a much sought-after preacher across Britain, and he travelled extensively in the Middle East.
He continued to write, and over the course of his career, he was the author of nearly 100 books. Although largely forgotten now, he was tremendously popular in his day.
He died in St Ives, Cornwall, and was survived by his wife, Annie, who he had married in 1887, and four daughters, three of whom become published novelists in their own right (Anne Hocking, Elizabeth Nisot and Joan Shill). A son, Cuthert, was killed in World War I.
Through his mother he was related to the biblical scholar John Kitto. His brother was Silas Hocking (1850–1935), also a novelist and Methodist minister, and his sister, Salome (1859–1927), was also a novelist.
Hocking features as one of the main characters in the 2009 play Surfing Tommies by Cornish playwright, Alan M. Kent.
Joseph Hocking's ashes were buried in the churchyard of St Stephen-in-Brannel.
Joseph Hocking was a Cornish novelist and United Methodist Free Church minister. He was born at St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall, to James Hocking, part owner of a tin mine, and his wife Elizabeth.
In 1884, he was ordained as a minister. Working in different parts of England over the next few years, he wrote his first novel, Harry Penhale - The Trial of his Faith, while in London in 1887. He regarded fiction as a highly effective medium for conveying his Christian message to the public, and combined his writing with his church duties, until ill health forced him to resign from the ministry in 1909. His last pastoral charge was the large and important United Free Church at Woodford Essex, which he was instrumental in having rebuilt by the advanced arts and crafts architect, Charles Harrison Townsend.
On his recovery, he found himself a much sought-after preacher across Britain, and he travelled extensively in the Middle East.
He continued to write, and over the course of his career, he was the author of nearly 100 books. Although largely forgotten now, he was tremendously popular in his day.
He died in St Ives, Cornwall, and was survived by his wife, Annie, who he had married in 1887, and four daughters, three of whom become published novelists in their own right (Anne Hocking, Elizabeth Nisot and Joan Shill). A son, Cuthert, was killed in World War I.
Through his mother he was related to the biblical scholar John Kitto. His brother was Silas Hocking (1850–1935), also a novelist and Methodist minister, and his sister, Salome (1859–1927), was also a novelist.
Hocking features as one of the main characters in the 2009 play Surfing Tommies by Cornish playwright, Alan M. Kent.
Joseph Hocking's ashes were buried in the churchyard of St Stephen-in-Brannel.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 17, 2018
This one is a bit of a swashbuckler, with a cruel plot of property theft against a simple Cornish gentleman, which ends up throwing him into the hands of Cornish smugglers. Now, the smugglers are all for “join or die,” and they have few scruples about keeping him safe. But he’s quite ready to do what he can to find the legendary treasure the smugglers want to find and to
The story is written in the style of a memoir, so sometimes he philosophizes or doubles back on his narrative, which can drag the story back just a bit. Overall, his unusual strength kept putting me in mind of John Ridd from Lorna Doone, and the character and smugglers made me think of Jeffery Farnol’s seafaring characters. An interesting combination and an entertaining book.
Content:
Swears
A “white witch”...though he makes a sort of friend of her, he doesn’t go to her for witchcraft and doesn’t take part in the couple of scenes where she does her stuff.
The story is written in the style of a memoir, so sometimes he philosophizes or doubles back on his narrative, which can drag the story back just a bit. Overall, his unusual strength kept putting me in mind of John Ridd from Lorna Doone, and the character and smugglers made me think of Jeffery Farnol’s seafaring characters. An interesting combination and an entertaining book.
Content:
Swears
A “white witch”...though he makes a sort of friend of her, he doesn’t go to her for witchcraft and doesn’t take part in the couple of scenes where she does her stuff.
Displaying 1 of 1 review