A Romance of Wastdale

"A Romance of Wastdale" by A. E. W. Mason is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around David Gordon, who returns to Wastdale Head after three years to reconnect with his past and prepare for his imminent marriage. However, his arrival stirs up complicated emotions, particularly regarding his friendships and memories of lost loved ones, including the late Mr. Arkwright and the rival, Austen Hawke. As the narrative unfolds, themes of love, betrayal, and the shadow of past choices begin to emerge. The opening of the novel introduces us to David Gordon as he visits Mrs. Jackson, who is surprised to see him after so long. Their dialogue hints at Gordon's upcoming marriage, but also subtly reveals his internal conflict linked to his memories of Arkwright and Hawke, stirring feelings of both nostalgia and melancholy. As he prepares for a week of reflection before his wedding, David learns that Hawke is in the area, which heightens his sense of unease. This tension escalates as he grapples with memories and the implications of his past relationships, laying the groundwork for the romantic and dramatic entanglements that are to follow, especially involving Kate Nugent and Hawke's troubling presence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Edward Woodley Mason was an English author and Liberal Party Member of Parliament. He is best remembered for his 1902 novel of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers, and is also known as the creator of Inspector Hanaud, a French detective who was an early template for Agatha Christie's famous Hercule Poirot.