013 - Devices of a Castaway

How does a man burdened by a grave sin—not a crime, but a transgression with profound repercussions—seek redemption? This poignant question lies at the heart of E. W. Hornung’s Peccavi (I have sinned). The Rev. Robert Carlton, rector of the quaint parish of Long Stow, finds himself ostracized not only by his parishioners but also by his patron, Wilton Gleed. Under the complexities of English ecclesiastical law, while a patron can nominate a clergyman to a church living, he cannot dismiss a rector from his position; that authority belongs solely to the local bishop. This intricate dilemma shapes the narrative, exploring themes of faith, guilt, and the quest for forgiveness. (Nicholas Clifford)