Garthowen: A Story of a Welsh Homestead (1900) is the third of Raine's novels to be republished by Honno, after Queen of the Rushes (1998) and A Welsh Witch (2013). The Owens family, consisting of Ebben Owens, his children Gethin, Will, and Ann, and their lodger, Nonconformist minister Gwilym Morris, live in the eponymous homestead. Meanwhile, Sara 'spridion' ('Spirit' Sara), healer, spiritualist and clairvoyant, lives with her foster-daughter Morva. Will Owens wishes to become a vicar in the Anglican church, yet his father Ebben has lent the money needed for Will s training to a chapel deacon. When, in desperation, Ebben Owens steals money from Gwilym Morris, suspicion lands on Will s mischievous elder brother, Gethin. However, Sara and Morva attempt to prove their belief in Gethin's innocence. Against this backdrop of social struggle, Raine also presents the love triangle between Morva, Will and Gethin. Morva's foster mother Sara 'spridion' is a menywhysbys, or wise woman, representing in one figure the seemingly disparate elements of folklore and religion. Raine was part of both the liberal, nonconformist Unitarian and the Anglican traditions, and was also bilingual. In Garthowen Raine uses this dual position to comment on and critique religion, social aspirations and classism in rural Wales.
