Project Gutenberg 2005-05-10 Public domain in the USA. 139 Benson, Robert Hugh 1871 1914 Benson, R. H. (Robert Hugh) Benson, Robert-Hugh The History of Richard Raynal, Solitary Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Richard_Raynal,_Solitary E-text prepared by Geoffrey Horton, Tapio Riikonen, and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders "The History of Richard Raynal, Solitary" by Robert Hugh Benson is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story chronicles the life and experiences of Richard Raynal, an English hermit living during the late medieval period, focusing on his mystical encounters, spiritual trials, and ultimately, his mission to deliver a message to the King. The narrative is enriched by the perspective of Sir John Chaldfield, Richard's parish priest, who serves as both a biographer and a witness to Richard's holy journey. The opening of the book introduces the reader to the rich spiritual landscape of medieval England, setting the stage for Master Richard's life as a solitary who literally and metaphorically walks a path of contemplation and divine communication. It begins with Sir John reflecting on his visits to Richard, who is depicted living an ascetic and peaceful life amid nature. The tranquil setting contrasts with the societal norms of the time, emphasizing the unique path Richard has chosen. The narrative quickly transitions to a pivotal moment when Richard, sensing a divine calling, embarks on a journey to deliver a message to the King, which sets in motion a series of events that will test his faith and commitment to God amidst worldly trials. This exposition not only introduces Richard's character but also foreshadows the significant challenges he will face in the royal court, where his spiritual insights will clash with political realities. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 79.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en Historical fiction Hermits -- Fiction Great Britain -- History -- Henry VI, 1422-1461 -- Fiction PR Text Category: Historical Novels Category: Novels Category: British Literature 240117 2025-08-07T04:24:14.488915 text/html 239938 2025-01-15T00:14:21.775574 text/html 160465 2025-08-07T04:24:20.663891 application/epub+zip 162698 2025-08-07T04:24:17.243881 application/epub+zip 152242 2025-08-07T04:24:16.153906 application/epub+zip 325443 2025-08-07T04:24:23.116860 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 310319 2025-08-07T04:24:19.990909 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 278917 2022-09-07T23:49:04.814472 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 214583 2025-08-07T04:24:14.191914 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 214343 2020-12-14T11:57:37 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 18471 2025-08-07T04:24:23.260862 application/rdf+xml 15722 2025-08-07T04:24:16.652883 image/jpeg 3629 2025-08-07T04:24:16.401883 image/jpeg 78412 2020-12-14T11:57:37 application/octet-stream application/zip 159421 2025-08-07T04:24:14.507914 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia