A Prayer for my Son

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

A Prayer for my Son

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Set in the atmospheric Lake District, this psychological drama follows a mother who surrenders her son to his wealthy grandfather, only to return and battle a tyrannical patriarch to reclaim him. Blending gothic tension with intimate family conflict, the novel explores themes of maternal love, generational power struggles, and the resilience of the human spirit against oppressive authority.

Summary up to 500 words

In Hugh Walpole's *A Prayer for my Son*, a modern woman named Rose Clennell makes the difficult decision to surrender her twelve-year-old son, John, to his grandfather, Colonel Fawcus, believing it is in his best interest. The narrative begins with Rose's arrival at Scarfe Hall in the Lake District, a setting dominated by the Colonel's tyrannical presence and the cold demeanor of his spinster aunt, Janet. The atmosphere is thick with Gothic tension, underscored by the biting winter weather and the looming, sinister presence of Blencathra mountain. Rose discovers the Colonel's true nature as a despotic figure who treats the household with cruelty, particularly toward Janet and the servants. The situation escalates when the Colonel attempts to forcibly reclaim John, leading to a dramatic confrontation on the moors. Rose, John, Janet, and their friend Mr. Rackstraw must flee the Colonel's wrath, climbing the dangerous Stye Head pass to escape his reach. The climax occurs at the summit, where the Colonel, driven by rage and a sense of lost authority, threatens them. However, the natural world seems to turn against him; he suffers a sudden, debilitating attack of sciatica, collapsing on the stone steps and unable to pursue them further. This physical defeat symbolizes the crumbling of his absolute power. The novel concludes with the group escaping to safety, leaving the Colonel defeated but vowing revenge. Through this harrowing experience, Rose transitions from a detached intellectual to a fierce, protective mother. The story serves as a profound meditation on the lengths a parent will go to save their child, the destructive nature of unchecked authority, and the redemptive power of love and solidarity against a dark, oppressive world.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks2/hugh-walpole_prayer-for-my-son.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-8a4f8362a7c2580f.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-06-30 20:46 UTC

Categories

No categories stored.