
In this gritty, verse‑studded narrative a hard‑bitten laborer recounts the chaotic years of his youth, from reckless defiance against his family to a string of petty crimes that land him repeatedly in jail. He paints vivid pictures of rural England—fields claimed as personal kingdoms, moonlit harvests, and the rough camaraderie of poachers and boxers—while his own conscience wrestles with the sins of drinking, fighting, and betrayal.
The story pivots when an old friend, Billy Myers, confronts him over a disputed stretch of land, turning a simple poaching dispute into a test of honor. As the tension mounts, the narrator reflects on the fleeting mercy he glimpses from a higher power, wondering whether his battered soul can ever be saved. Listeners are drawn into a raw, lyrical portrait of a man caught between violence and the faint promise of redemption.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (72K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2012-11-23
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1878–1967
Drawn from a life that included years at sea, his writing is full of movement, plainspoken feeling, and a strong sense of adventure. Best known for "Sea-Fever," "The Everlasting Mercy," and beloved children's books, he became one of the most widely read British writers of his time.
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