Rebecca's Daughter's

by Dylan Thomas

Rebecca’s Daughters is the nearest Dylan Thomas ever came to realizing his ambition to write a film scenario in such a way that it would not only stand ready for shooting but would, at the same time, give the ordinary reader a visual impression of the film in words. A romantic adventure story set in mid-nineteenth-century Wales, Rebecca’s Daughters has a dashing hero who is not what he seems; commonfolk oppressed by the landowners; and finally, justice triumphant over greed and misused privilege. Who is the mysterious "Rebecca" swathed in wide black skirts with a shawl drawn over his mouth and his eyes flashing from beneath the brim of his tall black hat as he exhorts his "daughters" to tear down the hated tollgates imposed by the gentry’s Turnpike Trust? And where does the foppish Anthony Raine––just returned from a tour in India with the despised British army––stand? And how is the lovely Rhiannon to choose between them?

Genres: Romance, History, Classics

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Dylan Marlais Thomas (1914-1953) was a Welsh poet who wrote in English. Many regard him as one of the 20th century's most influential poets.

In addition to poetry, Thomas wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, with the latter frequently performed by Thomas himself. His public readings, particularly in America, won him great acclaim; his booming, at times, ostentatious voice, with a subtle Welsh lilt, became almost as famous as his works. His best-known work includes the "play for voices" Under Milk Wood and the celebrated villanelle for his dying father, "Do not go gentle into that good night." Appreciative critics have also noted the superb craftsmanship and compression of poems such as "In my craft or sullen art" and the rhapsodic lyricism of Fern Hill.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

O enredo de As Filhas de Rebeca não é muito original — um jovem rico que, sob disfarce e nome falso (Rebeca), lidera um bando de homens, vestidos de mulheres, para lutarem pelos pobres e oprimidos (lembra o Zorro e o Batman). Tem amor, aventura, muita maluquice e uma personagem que sempre que aparecia me fazia rir. E tem um gato...
O que é diferente de tudo o que já li é a forma da narrativa; escrito como se fosse um argumento cinematográfico, proporciona a experiência singular de estar a ler um filme.

[Jesse Broussard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just great fun.

"You wouldn't say 'Bo' to a goose!" "Of course I wouldn't. What an absurd thing to say to a goose."

"And now, gentlemen, like your manners, I must leave you."

"After that night he spent tied up in a ditch..."
"A very distressing night for Sir Henry."
"Yes, very. And it wasn't even a ditch he knew."

[Meve_n · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony is such a brat, I would 100%

[Chet Makoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dylan Thomas attempted a new form of literature with this film script for Rebecca's Daughters. One can beautifully visualize the action, characters and setting since all are described for the film director and cinematographer as well as to be read as a novel.

[Sarahjoy Maddeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was short, but the longer you take picturing each camera shot described by Thomas, the more you get out of it. It was humorous in parts, with some amusing characters, but also told a heroic tale of the people's fight against oppression (though I'm ashamed to admit that I don't remember my history lessons well enough to know how the Rebecca riots were actually dealt with). Though to start with I couldn't decide whether I liked any of the protagonists, by the (perfect) ending I loved (most of) them. Good stuff.

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was fun. But very little of Dylan Thomas's wonderful wordplay is evident. This was written as a screenplay, and unlike James Agee's masterfully poetic works within that genre, the emphasis here is on plot and characters. It reminded me strongly of Walt Disney's 1963 film 'Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow' starring Patrick McGoohan, with a liberal borrowing from Baroness Orczy and Johnston McCulley. All good. All's well that ends well. And the cat, in its cups still says meow.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

As for 20th-century British writers, I dare say that few could do with the English language what Thomas did with it. Never mind if the story is a little naïve or it's development foreseeable (as in this case); reading Thomas is pure pleasure.
One of only a few authors whose humourous writing doesn't make me cringe - it actually makes me laugh.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t make myself read Thomas’s poetry—sound and fury and little sense—but this shirt novel is cogent, interesting and a great deal of fun.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fairy tale

[Sharonb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dylan Thomas' aim when writing this was to produce a sort of screenplay for a film which would be able to be filmed as it was written and the reader being able to visualise the scenes exactly from the writing. Set in 19th century Wales, it depicts the Rebecca Riots. These occurred across Wales where men dressed disguised as women and rioted in protest of the unfair and extortionate tolls the working men were being forced to pay with more and more toll gates going up all the time on heavily used roads. The landed gentry and politicians became richer whilst the poor increasingly couldn't afford to pay the tolls. In effect, they had to pay to work. 'Rebecca' is the leader of the rioters, but who is he?
Wonderful descriptive writing from Dylan Thomas as usual. Fun adventures and some interesting characters. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annak idején még véletlenül találtam meg ezt a könyvet a gyerekkönyvtárunkban: kicsi, vékony, többnyire be volt csúszva a többi regény közé, rajtam kívül nem sokan kölcsönözték. Én viszont tuti rekordot döntöttem vele 5-8. osztályos korom körül. Aztán szép emlékké fakult az egész, amíg az év elején Kadarm fel nem elevenítette az élményt. Csak úgy poénból rákerestem az antikvarium.hu-n és rengeteg darab volt belőle, úgyhogy megrendeltem a Fájó szívvel regénnyel együtt. Valahogy mégis csak most kerítettem sort az elolvasására, egy szabad délutánomba került csak és megérte. Megint.

1840-es évek elején járunk, Anthony Raine indiai szolgálata után tér haza Wales-be, hogy átvegye a családi birtok irányítását. A grófságban azonban elégedetlenkednek az emberek, ugyanis a földesurak egyre inkább elpimaszodtak és kihasználják a vámsorompók nyújtotta lehetőségeket és egy úton akár 5x is megpúpoloják a szegényeket. Anthonyt is szeretnék bevonni a kapzsi urak a saját köreikbe, de úgy tűnik, hogy ő túlságosan is nyámnyila, anyámasszony katonája. Közben pedig feltűnik egy titokzatos fekete ruhás alak, Rebeka, akik kisebb hadsereget toboroz és éjszakánként katonáival lerombolják a vámsorompókat. Hiába vetik be ellene és “leányai” ellen a katonaságot, a rendőrséget, valahogy mindig túljárnak az eszükön. S természetesen a hős Rebeka azonnal belopja magát Lord Sarn gyámleánya Rhiannon szívébe, akiért ketten is versengenek. Anthony azonban túl nyámnyila a lány szerint, Marsden kapitány pedig túlságosan is merev az ízlésének.
A 80-as évek elején meg is filmesítették, sajnos nem láttam, pedig már az megérne egy nézést, hogy Peter O’Toole mint Lord Sarn Erzsébet királynőnek öltözik és nem VIII. Henriknek, mint szokott (bár a könyvben marad Henrik :).

Teljesen meglepett, hogy emlékeztem még párbeszédekre a könyvből, de mondom, Dylan Thomas regénye ebben nagyon erős. Ráadásul ez olyan ifjúsági regény (még benne van, hogy “Tizennégy éven felülieknek“), amit fiúk, lányok egyaránt élvezhetnek. Csak valami jobb külsőt kéne neki adni. Szörnyű 80-as évekbeli marketingre utal a semmitmondó borító, nem is csoda, hogy szinte csak én fogattam a gyerekkönyvtárból. Szóval kiváló szórakozás, vicces és izgalmas.
Van itt minden ami kell: romantika, titokzatos hős, igazi Robin Hoodos felállás, igazságszolgáltatás és hát Lord Sarn magában megér egy misét. Ő a szórakozott főúr, aki közben meg ontja magából faarccal a poénokat és lehet, hogy nem is olyan buta mint látszik, viszont inkább irányítja a dolgokat? Anthony csak tanulhat tőle. Az egész regény olyan, mintha filmforgatókönyv lenne, ami az elején talán kicsit zavaró, de később hozzászokik az ember. Gyors kameravágások, végigpásztázzuk a környezetet aztán jönnek a pergős párbeszédek.

Eredetileg: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/20...

[Sam Dembling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling and utterly delightful, this little known book, originally designed as a screenplay, is just as its jacket promises: "fresh, spontaneous, and gay." Though published twelve years after Dylan Thomas' death, the book nonetheless feels complete. Thomas, who is best known as a poet, was also a fantastic story teller, and this little gem proves it. Set in England in 1843, Rebecca's Daughters takes place in a quaint town whose residents are frustrated by a corrupt toll gate system. After serving in India, Mr. Anthony, our protagonist, joins these residents in a Robin Hood-esque tale of compassion and fidelity. Complete with the typical, lovable characters entailed therein, we meet the beautiful and imperious Ms. Rhiannon, the senile and endearingly comic Lord Sarn, the oblivious and obtuse Captain Marsden, and the motherly and knowing Sara Jane. Based on the real Rebecca Riots in Wales, England, Rebecca’s Daughters is, in all ways, a satisfying and delectable read.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasure to read. Dylan Thomas has a wonderful way of expressing himself in his writings.

[Laura]

For more information, take a look at : http://www.brobeca.co.uk/rebecca.html

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dylan Thomas in a new vein - delving deep into the history of his beloved Wales for a romantic adventure story soon to be filmed with an international cast.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wikipedia says:-

The Rebecca Riots took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales.[1] They were a series of protests undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to perceived unfair taxation. The rioters, often men dressed as women, took their actions against toll-gates, as they were tangible representations of high taxes and tolls. The riots ceased prior to 1844 due to several factors, including increased troop levels, a desire by the protestors to avoid violence and the appearance of criminal groups using the guise of Rebecca for their own purposes. In 1844 a Parliamentary act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to turnpike trusts in Wales was passed.

Dylan Thomas says much the same but beautifully written. 'nuff sed.