The Brides of Rollrock IslandOn remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings—and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment. Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love. |
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Page 13
... Nanny Prout's house smelt of the ages, and was gloomy from all Yes, Mam, said Bee. those years holding only Nanny. She had never wanted company, said Dad, but had shut herself away from everyone, even us her family. She would still have ...
... Nanny Prout's house smelt of the ages, and was gloomy from all Yes, Mam, said Bee. those years holding only Nanny. She had never wanted company, said Dad, but had shut herself away from everyone, even us her family. She would still have ...
Page 14
... Nanny Prout, any of us children. Ann ]elly remembered her outside Fisher's, windblown, shouting (She didn't even seem to know I was a relative! ). Billy and Bee and Lorel had seen her in an armchair—perhaps that armchair, with the brown ...
... Nanny Prout, any of us children. Ann ]elly remembered her outside Fisher's, windblown, shouting (She didn't even seem to know I was a relative! ). Billy and Bee and Lorel had seen her in an armchair—perhaps that armchair, with the brown ...
Page 15
... Nanny and her approaching death, none of them even snickered. "And Augusta?" Nanny managed. It did seem cruel of Mam, to have so many syllables in her name that the old lady must labor through. “Nanny," said Mam, as if that name, though ...
... Nanny and her approaching death, none of them even snickered. "And Augusta?" Nanny managed. It did seem cruel of Mam, to have so many syllables in her name that the old lady must labor through. “Nanny," said Mam, as if that name, though ...
Page 16
... Nanny, is all that face says.” “Hmph." She was frightening, that Nanny'doll. I had thought a dying person might be weak and gentle, and distressed to be departing. But she was all opinions, and no manners to keep them inside her. She ...
... Nanny, is all that face says.” “Hmph." She was frightening, that Nanny'doll. I had thought a dying person might be weak and gentle, and distressed to be departing. But she was all opinions, and no manners to keep them inside her. She ...
Page 17
... Nanny goodbye—not that any of us minded one ounce not putting our lips to that crinkled cheek. It would be cold, I thought. It would smell of tallow wax, maybe, or mushrooms. Then we were dismissed. Dad was quiet walking along the lanes ...
... Nanny goodbye—not that any of us minded one ounce not putting our lips to that crinkled cheek. It would be cold, I thought. It would smell of tallow wax, maybe, or mushrooms. Then we were dismissed. Dad was quiet walking along the lanes ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aggie Ann Jelly arms babs Bannister beach Billy blanket boat bothy breath Cave Cove Cawdron cliff coat cold Cordlin Crescent Corner curled Dad's dark Dominic Mallett door eyes face fell felt Fisher front girl glad gone Grassy Grinny hair hand head heard held Johnny Baker Kitty knew Knocknee lads laughed lifted lips little prince looked Lorel Mam's MARGO LANAGAN married Missk Misskaella Missus Mister mole mouth Nanny Nase Naseby Neme never night path Potshead Prout pulled pushed Raditch remember rock Rollrock seals seaweed seemed shook shoulder sight skin smell smile Sophie stared stay step stood talk Tatty tell There's thing thought told took town Trudle turned voice walked wall watched wavelets waves weed Whistle Top Wholeman wife Winch wind window witch wives woman