Perlycross: A Tale of the Western Hills

In the quiet valley of the Blackdown Range, 1835 finds the devoted Rev. Philip Penniloe serving as the lone spiritual guide of Perlycross. Though the distant rector visits only twice a year, Penniloe’s sense of duty drives him to sacrifice everything for his flock, earning him a reputation for steadfast kindness that endears him to the whole parish.

Across the green fields lives Sir Thomas Waldron, a retired colonel whose battlefield scars have given way to a robust, country‑gentleman’s life. Their friendship stretches back to schoolboy days, when the future soldier protected the young scholar with both fists and generosity. Together they embody the clash—and subtle harmony—of martial vigor and quiet faith, setting the stage for a tale of loyalty, community, and the gentle struggles of rural England.