The Book of Ebenezer Le Page
The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, by G B Edwards is considered one of the best pieces of literature written about Guernsey. It was originally entitled Sarnia Cherie, and its current title was its sub-title.
It tells the life story of a Guernsey man, the Ebenezer Le Page of the title, from his birth in the late 1800s, to his death in the 1960s. It was published posthumously, in 1981, by Hamish Hamilton. If you want to get hold of a modern copy, the most common imprint is that produced by the New York Review of Books.
Although he never married and only left the island once – to visit Jersey – the tale of Ebenezer’s life in the Vale is a deep and engaging one, that chronicles the many changes that the island want through during his lifetime, including, of course, the German Occupation during the Second World War. Several real people pop up within the narrative.
In The Sarnian book 1: Dead in the Water, Remus Carey makes a reference to the Book of Ebenezer Le Page, remarking in his log that he has a copy of it in the wheelhouse on his boat, the Huffin’ Puffin. He mentions it for a second time in book 2, although only in passing.
Author G B Edwards was born on Guernsey, but left the island to study on the mainland, and took several jobs despite being tipped as a future great writer. The Book of Ebenezer Le Page is his only full length completed work, but he didn’t live long enough to see it published (he died in 1976). Instead, he bequeathed the copyright to art student Edward Chaney, who managed to get it published five years later.
The Book of Ebenezer Le Page in brief
The Book of Ebenezer Le Page tells the life story of the man in the title and is considered by many to be one of the greatest works of fiction to be set on Guernsey.
Useful to know...
Despite being praised for its accurate depiction of life in Guernsey in the early and middle parts of the 20th century, author G B Edwards spent most of his life living on the mainland, where he took a number of jobs, including as a tutor. He gave away the copyright in the work upon his death, and never lived to see it in print.
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See also...
Summary of the complete book on one page
Symbolic code system
Traditional spiced apple cake recipe
Victor Hugo's book about Guernsey
A classic of Guernsey literature