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Robert Hugh Benson
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Come Rack! Come Rope! Kindle Edition

by Robert Hugh Benson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 100 ratings
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Come Rack! Come Rope! is a historical novel by the English priest and writer Robert Hugh Benson. Benson was a convert to Catholicism from Anglicanism. He set the plot of his novel in Derbyshire at the time of the Elizabethan persecution of Catholics. At those times, being or harboring a Catholic priest was considered treason and was punishable by death. The book tells the story of two young lovers. They give up their chance of happiness together for their beliefs and are ready to meet the challenges of the time so that God's will may be done.
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  1. Print length
    486 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Good Press
  5. Publication date
    November 20, 2019
  6. File size
    1939 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Hugh Benson (1871 - 1914) was an English Anglican priest who in 1903 was received into the Roman Catholic Church in which he was ordained priest in 1904. He was a prolific writer of fiction and wrote the notable dystopian novel Lord of the World (1907). His output encompassed historical, horror and science fiction, contemporary fiction, children's stories, plays, apologetics, devotional works and articles. He continued his writing career at the same time as he progressed through the hierarchy to become a Chamberlain to the Pope in 1911 and subsequently titled Monsignor.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B081TL91GL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Good Press (November 20, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 20, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1939 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 486 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 100 ratings

About the author

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Robert Hugh Benson

Robert Hugh Benson

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Robert Hugh Benson (1871–1914) was born just outside of London, the youngest son of Mary Sidgwick and Edward White Benson, the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1883 to his death in 1896. Benson studied at Eton and Trinity College in Cambridge and was ordained to the Anglican priesthood by his father in 1895. Benson decided to enter an Anglican religious order, the Community of the Resurrection, however, his attraction to Rome grew as he continued his studies and deepened friendships with Roman Catholics. In 1903, he was received into the Catholic Church. After nine months of study in Rome, he was ordained a Catholic priest. 

Benson was sent to Cambridge to write and serve as a priest chaplain to the Catholic community. Later, he was allowed to live on his own to devote himself to writing. A prolific author, he traveled extensively, writing and lecturing. Benson wrote many apologetic works, including The Religion of the Plain Man, Paradoxes of Catholicism, and Confessions of a Convert. He was also a bestselling novelist, writing The Holy Blissful Martyr Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Come Rack! Come Rope!, and The Necromancers. The dystopian novel Lord of the World is his best-known work.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
100 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Walt
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring read
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2017
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This book seems to really capture the cultural emotion of the time and relate it do well not only to the lives of 100 years ago, but to the Eternal brokenness of humanity since the fall. Yet the beauty of the struggle for good that continues in the midst of the agony of our plight is also manifest. I find myself praying for the strength to stay true as well, while praying also not to be put to the test.
One person found this helpful
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R James
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story, Great edition
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
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Powerful and moving
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Kendall
5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing Account of Religious Persecution in Reformed England
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2013
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I typically am not attracted to fiction, but knowing my affinity for all things Catholic, this book was recommended to me.
It took me a bit to settle in to the English style, but once I dug in, there was no putting this book down. It seems to be a fairly accurate account of that period in England, when the Church of England was in its infancy and Catholics had to make life and death decisions on a regular basis. A must read for those interested in the agonizing consequences of the loss of religious liberty.
8 people found this helpful
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Mary's Little Lamb
4.0 out of 5 stars A very Catholic novel
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
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Highly recommended for all Christians and anyone who is Christ-curious. My only complaint is my lack of detailed geographical knowledge: I wouldn’t have minded a map or two just to put things in their places. This is a slow-moving yet still exciting tale that should put heart in all Catholics: if our ancestors could survive this, we can survive whatever this absurd world tosses at us.
One person found this helpful
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P. Clemente
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellence
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2019
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A beautiful and moving story. Benson has a style that makes the modern reader work a little at, his descriptive style demands attention from the reader. The characters are full of life and clearly and tenderly developed. The story will sweep one up and is tightly woven. Highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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bb
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping & Pertinent!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2012
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Gripping story!!! Ideal for middle school/high school boys and girls as well as adults. So pertinent to read considering the current persecution of Catholics,and other Christians, in the US and around the world. Be sure to read the brief Preface as it provides pertinent information regarding some of the historical characters.

Exit question: Would I have the courage to accept the grace to suffer and endure unbearable torture and a humiliating death for my faith?
5 people found this helpful
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SEvans
3.0 out of 5 stars Religion in 16th Century England
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2020
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This tumultuous period of Tudor history in England after the death of Henry VIII was one rife with warfare and death over religion.
These years began with Henry's death, Henry's minor son being crowned king; Edward's untimely death, and the ascendancy to the throne by Edward's stepsister, Mary; the death of Mary, and the rise of Henry's second daughter, Elizabeth and Elizabeth's coronation as queen of England
I 3

Elizabeth has ordered that all Catholics are to denounce their religion, follow the protestant religion that she follows, and by this swearing their allegiance to the crown.
Robin Audreyis a young man who can't decide which he wants more - to marry a young woman he loves, or to become a priest. Thus begins the story of the difficulties, danger, regrets and the peacefulness of the priesthood. So many young men have gone to Rheims to attend Seminary only to return to England and be captured, hated, tortured, and for the most part hanged. Robin manages to avoid the Queen's henchmen for almost five years. By the time he is captured he has learned that everybody who could have helped him has either already been killed or must refrain from helping Robinin order to save themselves.
2 people found this helpful
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Noah Denny
5.0 out of 5 stars Shows true beauty of the priesthood!
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2018
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Finished this book in only a few days, and I can honestly say it was one of the best books I’ve ever read! Shows the true beauty of becoming a priest. Excellent read.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

FRMJA
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2023
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I've read another of R. H. Benson's. Although the "English" words are old English and sometimes requires re-reading a sentence or two. Good moral teaching is key.
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OneProudNana
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Story
Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2020
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I read the kindle version because this author was new to me and I didn't want to spend a lot of money but I really found this story gripping. I could hardly put it down. It takes place during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1 and mostly in Derbyshire although the characters move around quite a bit. The main characters, a woman and a man are 17 at the beginning of the story and they have fallen in love. Life is dangerous for them because they are Catholic. The man becomes a priest and the woman takes on the task of harbouring and finding safe places for the priests. Towards the end of the book, I found some passages a bit too drawn out - the days leading up to and the death of Mary Queen of Scots and a scene of torture by rack - but mostly I read with interest and learned something of history. The author tells which characters are fictitious and which are real.
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Luke Wilkinson
1.0 out of 5 stars Bad printing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2018
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Take note of the product dimensions. This thing is weirdly printed and unwieldy in the hand.
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