By What Authority?

  • 1904 first published
  • 🎧 23 h 13 min free audiobook

By What Authority? is a 1904 historical fiction novel by Robert Hugh Benson.

A free LibriVox audiobook (23 h 13 min) is available.

About By What Authority?

Two wealthy families are neighbors in Elizabethan England; one is staunchly Catholic and the other is devoutly Protestant. The attractive young scions of the families are drawn to each other in friendship and love, but are kept apart by their opposing religions. Life is very difficult for Catholics during those times. They are subject to fines, imprisonment, torture and ignominious death for practicing their faith. On the other hand, for various reasons some Catholics give up their inherited faith, and even betray and persecute their fellow-religionists. As the threads of plot are woven tighter, heroes emerge, sometimes most unexpectedly, as they grapple with theological doubts and conflicts, and undergo extreme suffering and loss. The many characters we meet ring true, whether they are brilliant or superstitious, stalwart or wavering, pious or violent; and it is a great privilege to spend time with such towering historical figures as St. Edmond Campion and Queen Elizabeth herself. Love, history, theology, suspense, and an array of colorful characters are sewn inexorably together in this large and compelling story. (Intro by Carol Pelster)
Description from LibriVox

Free audiobook

By What Authority? β€” LibriVox recording, 23 h 13 min in 41 sections.

Public-domain recording by volunteer readers. Listen online, download MP3s or stream from the Internet Archive.

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Quick answers

Who wrote By What Authority??

By What Authority? was written by Robert Hugh Benson and first published in 1904.

What genre is By What Authority??

It is usually shelved as Historical Fiction.

Is there a free audiobook of By What Authority??

Yes β€” LibriVox volunteers recorded it; the recording runs 23 h 13 min.

What books are similar to By What Authority??

Readers who like it often enjoy The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula and The Time Machine.

More by Robert Hugh Benson

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