Synopsis
Hook line: A dying speech on the gallows frames a tense tale of faith, courage, and consequence. The book casts a stark light on power, piety, and public judgment.
The scene centers on a priest facing execution during a time of religious conflict. Tense crowds, forcing questions of loyalty and belief, surround him as he speaks what may be his last sermon. The story threads personal courage with a wider struggle between conscience and authority, building toward a dramatic, reflective finish.
Through the prisoner’s ordeal and the reactions of those who watch, the narrative blends historical detail with intimate emotion. It asks how faith endures under pressure, and what it means to choose one’s final words when everything is on the line.
- Experience a charged setting of public judgment and ritual at the moment of death.
- Follow a prisoner’s deliberate, heart-tested words under extreme pressure.
- Explore themes of faith, loyalty, courage, and the cost of belief.
- Observe how bystanders react to faith under threat and power in conflict.
Ideal for readers who enjoy historical drama centered on faith, courage, and the human cost of persecution.
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About the Author
Benson was the youngest son of Edward White Benson (Archbishop of Canterbury) and his wife, Mary, and the younger brother of Edward Frederic Benson and A. C. Benson. Benson was educated at Eton College and then studied classics and theology at Trinity College, Cambridge, from 1890 to 1893. In 1895, Benson was ordained a priest in the Church of England by his father, who was the then Archbishop of Canterbury. After his father died suddenly in 1896, Benson was sent on a trip to the Middle East to recover his own health. While there he began to question the status of the Church of England and to consider the claims of the Roman Catholic Church. His own piety began to tend toward the High Church tradition, and he started exploring religious life in various Anglican communities, eventually obtaining permission to join the Community of the Resurrection. Benson made his profession as a member of the community in 1901, at which time he had no thoughts of leaving the Church of England. As he continued his studies and began writing, however, he became more and more uneasy with his own doctrinal position and, on 11 September 1903, he was received into the Catholic Church. He was awarded the Dignitary of Honour of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Benson was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1904 and sent to Cambridge. He continued his writing career along with his ministry as a priest. Like both his brothers, Edward Frederic Benson ("Fred") and Arthur Christopher Benson, Robert wrote many ghost and horror stories, as well as children's stories and historical fiction. His horror and ghost fiction are collected in The Light Invisible (1903) and A Mirror of Shallott (1907). His novel, Lord of the World (1907), is generally regarded as one of the first modern dystopian novels (see List of dystopian literature). The bibliography below reveals a prodigious output. Benson died in 1914 in Salford, where he had been preaching a mission. He was 42. At his request, he was buried in the orchard of Hare Street House, his house in the Hertfordshire village of Hare Street. A chapel, dedicated to St Hugh, was built over the site. Benson bequeathed the house to the Catholic Church as a county retreat for the Archbishop of Westminster. The Roman Catholic church in the nearby town of Buntingford, which he helped finance, is dedicated to St Richard of Chichester, but also known as the Benson Memorial Church.
From the Back Cover
"How far may one compromise his principles with the State or Society without becoming an apostate? If the regime under which one lives is opposed to the Faith,
when if ever does it become legitimate to take up arms against it?"
--From the Foreword
Come Rack, Come Rope is a gripping historical novel which takes place during Queen Elizabeth I's persecution of English Catholics. Based on the real sufferings of a real Catholic family in particular, and Catholics across the country, Robert Hugh Benson's classic novel is one of tragedy and loss, but also heroism and human and divine love.
The novel follows Robin and Margaret, a young couple in love who forgo their affection when Margaret realizes Robin is called to the priesthood. Both play a critical role in caring physically and spiritually for their fellow Catholics during this time of terror.
Discover their heroism, love, and sacrifice, and be inspired to live it out in our own frightful times in Come Rack, Come Rope.
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Come Rack! Come Rope (Classic Reprint)
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Condition: Good. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact (including dust cover, if applicable). The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include "From the library of" labels or limited small stickers. Book may have a remainder mark or be a price cutter. Seller Inventory # CU-05-08-04-0485
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Come Rack! Come Rope (Classic Reprint)
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Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1440061149I3N00
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Come Rack! Come Rope (Classic Reprint)
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Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book tells the story of two young lovers, Robin and Marjorie, living in Derbyshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. England at this time is a turbulent place, where the Catholic faith is under constant threat from the Protestant crown. Robin, whose father has decided to convert to Protestantism, faces a difficult choice: stay true to his Catholic faith and risk his familyââ â¢s standing, or follow his father into a world of political conformity and religious compromise. The author vividly recreates the social and religious tensions of Elizabethan England, using the young coupleââ â¢s story to illustrate the profound impact of religious persecution on everyday life. The narrative delves into the complexities of faith, loyalty, and love, exploring the pressures faced by Catholics to conform to the established religion. We see the clandestine world of secret Masses, hiding priests, and the constant threat of discovery by the authorities. Through the experiences of Robin, Marjorie, and their friends, this book offers a powerful glimpse into the lives of ordinary people caught in the midst of a tumultuous historical period, highlighting the human cost of religious conflict and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781440061141_0
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