The story is set on the fictional island of Carne, an isolated and rugged place that holds many secrets and dangers. The "coil" in the title metaphorically represents the tangled and complex series of events that unfold on the island, drawing the characters into a web of mystery, intrigue, and adventure.The protagonist, often a strong and determined figure typical of Oxenham's novels, finds himself embroiled in a conflict involving hidden treasures, old rivalries, and dark secrets that hav...

Set on the Channel Island of Sark, the novel tells the story of Carette, a young woman who lives on the island. Carette is depicted as a spirited and independent character who longs for adventure and freedom beyond the confines of her island home.As the narrative unfolds, Carette finds herself torn between her love for her homeland and her desire to explore the wider world. The novel explores themes of love, duty, loyalty, and the search for personal fulfillment.Against the backdrop of the...

To give you a clear understanding of matters I must begin at the beginning and set things down in their proper order, though, as you will see, that was not by any means the way in which I myself came to learn them. For my mother and my grandfather were not given to overmuch talk at the best of times, and all my boyish questionings concerning my father left me only the bare knowledge that, like many another Island man in those times—ay, and in all times—he had gone down to the sea and had n...

For those who were chiefly in my heart when these verses came to me from time to time—our men and boys at the Front, and those they leave behind them in grievous sorrow and anxiety at home—my little message is that, so far as they are concerned—"ALL'S WELL!" Those who have so nobly responded to the Call, and those who, with quiet faces and breaking hearts, have so bravely bidden them "God speed!"—with these, All is truly Well, for they are equally giving their best to what, in this case, w...

A girl and a boy lay in a cubby-hole in the north side of the cliff overlooking Port Gorey, and watched the goings-on down below. The sun was tending towards Guernsey and the gulf was filled witn golden light. A small brig, unkempt and dirty, was nosing towards the rough wooden landing-stage clamped to the opposite rocks, as though doubtful of the advisability of attempting its closer acquaintance. "Mon Gyu, Bern, how I wish they were all at the bottom of the sea!" said the girl vehemently...

In "The Coil of Carne," John Oxenham weaves a compelling narrative that blends elements of adventure, romance, and philosophical introspection. Set against the backdrop of a mystical landscape, the story explores the intertwining of fate and free will, inviting readers to ponder life's deeper meanings. Through lyrical prose infused with rich imagery and evocative dialogue, Oxenham crafts a tale that resonates with the human experience, particularly in the context of early 20th-century lite...

She was so dainty a little figure that the bare-armed women in the doors of the lands and closes turned and looked after her with enjoyment untinged even with envy. They scratched their elbows and commented on her points with complacent understanding.

As the world plunges into conflict, the characters grapple with fear, uncertainty, and the moral complexities of war. Some enlist eagerly, motivated by a sense of duty and patriotism, while others are reluctant conscripts, forced to leave behind their loved ones and confront the horrors of battle."1914" offers a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human cost of war, as well as the resilience, courage, and camaraderie that emerge in the face of adversity. Oxenham's vivid descr...

If by any chance you should ever sail on a low ebb-tide along a certain western coast, you will, if you are of a receptive humour and new to the district, receive a somewhat startling impression of the dignity of the absolutely flat. Your ideas of militant and resistant grandeur may have been associated hitherto with the iron frontlets and crashing thunders of Finisterre or Sark, of Cornwall or the Western Isle. Here you are faced with a repressive curbing of the waters, equal in every res...

In "A Maid of the Silver Sea," John Oxenham weaves a captivating narrative set against the backdrop of the evocative coastlines of Cornwall. This novel seamlessly blends romance with elements of adventure, showcasing Oxenham's mastery of lyrical prose and vivid imagery. The story follows the life of a spirited young woman navigating love and destiny amidst the allure and treachery of the sea. Rich in local color and steeped in the themes of nature's beauty often seen in the Edwardian liter...

In "White Fire," John Oxenham crafts a richly woven narrative steeped in spiritual exploration and moral inquiry. This novel, set against a backdrop of early 20th-century England, employs lyrical prose and vivid imagery to convey the transformative power of love and faith. Oxenham'Äôs thematic focus on the duality of human experience'Äîlight and darkness, joy and sorrow'Äîoffers readers a poignant meditation on the essence of existence, woven into a compelling story that is both accessible...

John Oxenham's Hearts in Exile is a romantic and moral novel shaped by the emotional earnestness of early twentieth-century popular fiction. The book explores estrangement, inward suffering, and the longing for spiritual and emotional homecoming, tracing characters whose lives are marked by loss, duty, and the hope of renewal. Oxenham writes in a graceful, accessible prose style, blending sentiment with ethical reflection; the novel stands within a tradition of English domestic fiction tha...