In rural Shropshire in the early 19th century, Prudence Sarn grows up with a cleft lip, a defect that her community views with suspicion, as an omen of bad luck or a sign of witchcraft. However, as her brother is led by greed and a lust for power, Prudence discovers that the real "expensive medicine" is not the mark that disfigures her, but the dark desires that destroy those who serve them. In a world where superstition, poverty and human cruelty coexist with the beauty of nature, Prudence struggles to find her own voice and claim a life beyond fear and prejudice.
With poetic language and deep lyricism, Mary Webb weaves a novel about the strength of the soul, the beauty that blooms in humility, and the indomitable hope that persists in illuminating the deepest darkness. A classic of English literature that continues to move with its truth and humanity.
This edition utilized the historical translation by Anna Sikelianou, which accurately conveys the rhythm, atmosphere and charm of the original, constituting part of our literary tradition, a "precious" piece of our cultural memory.