Gladno brdo
Hungry Hill (1943) is a saga of five generations of the Anglo-Irish Brodrick family, owners of Clonmere Castle in Ireland. Du Maurier, a master of Gothic prose, weaves together folklore, curses, and social change, showing how greed destroys heirs.
The story begins in 1820: "Copper" John Brodrick, an ambitious merchant, opens a copper mine on Hungry Hill, taking land from the poor Donovans. An angry Morty Donovan curses the Brodricks: "Your mine will fail, your house will fall, and your heirs will suffer in misery and sorrow." Over the course of a century (until 1920), the curse is fulfilled in a chain of tragedies. Greyhound's son John inherits a fortune, but loses it in gambling and amorous adventures. Grandson Henry lives in the shadow of his father's fame, dealing with alcoholism and losses. In the fifth generation, young Johnnie, obsessed with the mine, experiences the final collapse - accidents, deaths and economic decline lead the family to complete ruin, while the mine collapses, symbolizing the destruction of the land and souls.
The book describes the generational decline due to greed, the impact of industry on nature, Irish myths about curses, love, addiction and the inevitability of fate. Inspired by real events in Cork, the novel criticizes colonialism and capitalism, with rich descriptions of the Irish landscape. A classic read for fans of family sagas.
One copy is available
- Slight damage to the dust jacket
