The Faraway Bride · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Faraway Bride by Stella Benson.
Chapter 1
Author's Note
The author explains the inspiration for the novel from the Apocryphal Book of Tobit, drawing a parallel between exiled Jews and White Russian refugees in Manchuria. She details the historical and geographical setting of Kanto, the ethnic composition (Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Russians), and the precarious legal and social position of White Russian exiles after the Russian Revolution. She also clarifies linguistic confusion among Chinese dialects and notes that the village of Chi-tao-kou is a composite, fictional creation.
Chapter 2
Author’s Request to Reader
The author requests that the reader consult the appendix before starting the story, as the parallel between the narrative of The Faraway Bride and the appendix is intended to be kept in mind throughout the book.
Chapter 3
The Faraway Bride
Seryozha and Wilfred Chew travel to Seoul, leaving Anna behind in despair. The chapter explores themes of exile, displacement, and the emotional detachment that accompanies separation.
Chapter 4
I
Tobit introduces himself, his lineage, and his faithful adherence to the law of God despite the apostasy of his tribe. He recounts his acts of charity, his marriage to Anna, and his son Tobias. After being taken captive to Nineveh, he maintains his piety, gains favor under King Enemessar, and later suffers persecution under Sennacherib for burying the dead, losing his property but eventually being restored through his nephew Achiarcharus.
Chapter 5
II
Tobit returns home for Pentecost, but his joy turns to sorrow when he learns of a strangled countryman. He buries the dead despite mockery, and that night is blinded by sparrow droppings. His wife Anna takes up sewing and receives a kid goat as a gift, but Tobit suspects it is stolen, leading to a bitter argument.
Chapter 6
III
Tobit, grieving under reproach, prays for death, acknowledging his and his fathers' sins. Simultaneously, in Ecbatane, Sara, daughter of Raguel, is reproached by her father's maids for having been married to seven husbands killed by the evil spirit Asmodeus. She also prays in deep sorrow, contemplating suicide but refraining for fear of bringing reproach upon her father. Both prayers are heard, and the angel Raphael is sent to heal Tobit's blindness and to give Sara as a wife to Tobias, binding Asmodeus.
Chapter 7
IV
Tobit, remembering the money he entrusted to Gabael in Rages of Media, summons his son Tobias to impart final instructions before his death. He commands Tobias to honor his mother, bury her beside him, remain faithful to God, give alms generously, marry within his own tribe, treat workers fairly, avoid drunkenness, and seek wise counsel. Tobit reassures Tobias that true wealth lies in fearing God and avoiding sin.
Chapter 8
V
Tobias agrees to his father Tobit's command to travel to Rages to retrieve money, but worries he does not know the man Gabael. Tobit gives him a handwriting and tells him to find a trustworthy companion. Tobias finds Raphael, who is an angel but appears as a man named Azarias, and they agree on wages. Tobit blesses the journey, and Tobias sets out with the angel and his dog. Anna, Tobias's mother, weeps and protests, fearing for her son's safety, but Tobit reassures her that the good angel will keep him safe.
Chapter 9
VI
Tobias and the angel Azarias journey to the river Tigris, where Tobias catches a fish that would have devoured him. The angel instructs him to preserve its heart, liver, and gall for medicinal and exorcistic purposes. They near Ecbatane, and the angel reveals that they will lodge with Raguel, whose daughter Sara is destined to be Tobias's wife. Tobias fears the fate of her seven previous husbands, but the angel reassures him, instructing him to use the fish's heart and liver to drive away the evil spirit and to pray with Sara for God's mercy. Tobias's heart is joined to her.
Chapter 10
VII
Tobias and Raphael arrive at the house of Raguel in Ecbatane, where they are greeted by Sara. Raguel recognizes Tobias as the son of his cousin Tobit and, after learning of Tobit's blindness, weeps. Tobias insists on marrying Sara, despite Raguel's warning that seven previous husbands died on their wedding night. Raguel agrees, gives Sara to Tobias in marriage according to the law of Moses, and writes a covenant. Edna prepares a chamber for Sara and comforts her.
Chapter 11
VIII
Tobias and Sarah are married. Following Raphael's instructions, Tobias uses the fish's heart and liver to drive away the evil spirit, which flees to Egypt and is bound by the angel. Tobias and Sarah pray together, affirming their marriage is for righteousness, not lust. Raguel, fearing Tobias might be dead, prepares a grave but is relieved when the maid finds them alive. Raguel praises God, fills the grave, and celebrates a fourteen-day wedding feast, promising Tobias half his goods now and the rest after his death.
Chapter 12
IX
Tobias asks Raphael (disguised as Azarias) to travel to Rages of Media to retrieve the money from Gabael and bring Gabael to the wedding, as Raguel has sworn Tobias must not leave. Raphael retrieves the sealed bags from Gabael, and they return together to the wedding, where Tobias blesses his wife.
Chapter 13
Tobit's Anxiety and Tobias's Return
Tobit and Anna anxiously await Tobias's return after the wedding days expire. Anna despairs, believing her son dead, while Tobit tries to calm her. Tobias insists on leaving Raguel's house, and Raguel blesses the couple, giving them Sara, half his goods, and sending them off with a charge to honor their parents.
Chapter 14
XI
Tobias and Raphael return to Nineveh, where Anna sees her son coming and runs to embrace him. Tobias heals his father Tobit's blindness with the fish gall, and Tobit rejoices, blessing God. Sara is welcomed, and the wedding feast is celebrated for seven days with great joy among all.
Chapter 15
XII
Tobit instructs Tobias to pay the angel who accompanied him. Tobias offers half of all he brought. The angel reveals himself as Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, and explains that he was sent by God to heal Tobit and Sara. He exhorts them to praise God and to write down all that has happened, then vanishes.
Chapter 16
XIII
Tobit writes a prayer of rejoicing, praising God for His mercy and justice, calling on the Israelites to confess Him among the Gentiles, and prophesying the restoration of Jerusalem with precious stones and eternal praise.
Chapter 17
XIV
Tobit concludes his praise of God, recounts his blindness and restoration, and on his deathbed urges his son Tobias to leave Nineve, keep the law, give alms, and bury him and Anna. Tobias obeys, buries his parents, moves to Ecbatane with his family, lives honorably, and hears of Nineve's destruction before his death.
Chapter 18
Appendix Tobit 2
The appendix presents a parallel narrative to the main story, drawing from the Book of Tobit. It follows the trials of Tobit, a righteous man who becomes blind and is tested by suffering, and his son Tobias, who embarks on a journey with the angel Raphael. The story explores themes of faith, family loyalty, divine intervention, and the restoration of sight and fortune.
Chapter 19
I
Tobit introduces himself, his lineage, and his faithful adherence to the law of God despite the apostasy of his tribe. He recounts his acts of charity, his marriage to Anna, and his son Tobias. After being taken captive to Nineveh, he maintains his piety, gains favor under King Enemessar, and later suffers persecution under Sennacherib for burying the dead, losing his property but eventually being restored through his nephew Achiarcharus.
Chapter 20
II
Tobit returns home for Pentecost, but his joy turns to sorrow when he learns of a strangled countryman. He buries the dead despite mockery, and that night is blinded by sparrow droppings. His wife Anna takes up sewing and receives a kid goat as a gift, but Tobit suspects it is stolen, leading to a bitter argument.
Chapter 21
III
Tobit, grieving under reproach, prays for death, acknowledging his and his fathers' sins. Simultaneously, in Ecbatane, Sara, daughter of Raguel, is reproached by her father's maids for having been married to seven husbands killed by the evil spirit Asmodeus. She also prays in deep sorrow, contemplating suicide but refraining for fear of bringing reproach upon her father. Both prayers are heard, and the angel Raphael is sent to heal Tobit's blindness and to give Sara as a wife to Tobias, binding Asmodeus.
Chapter 22
IV
Tobit, remembering the money he entrusted to Gabael in Rages of Media, summons his son Tobias to impart final instructions before his death. He commands Tobias to honor his mother, bury her beside him, remain faithful to God, give alms generously, marry within his own tribe, treat workers fairly, avoid drunkenness, and seek wise counsel. Tobit reassures Tobias that true wealth lies in fearing God and avoiding sin.
Chapter 23
V
Tobias agrees to his father Tobit's command to travel to Rages to retrieve money, but worries he does not know the man Gabael. Tobit gives him a handwriting and tells him to find a trustworthy companion. Tobias finds Raphael, who is an angel but appears as a man named Azarias, and they agree on wages. Tobit blesses the journey, and Tobias sets out with the angel and his dog. Anna, Tobias's mother, weeps and protests, fearing for her son's safety, but Tobit reassures her that the good angel will keep him safe.
Chapter 24
VI
Tobias and the angel Azarias journey to the river Tigris, where Tobias catches a fish that would have devoured him. The angel instructs him to preserve its heart, liver, and gall for medicinal and exorcistic purposes. They near Ecbatane, and the angel reveals that they will lodge with Raguel, whose daughter Sara is destined to be Tobias's wife. Tobias fears the fate of her seven previous husbands, but the angel reassures him, instructing him to use the fish's heart and liver to drive away the evil spirit and to pray with Sara for God's mercy. Tobias's heart is joined to her.
Chapter 25
VII
Tobias and Raphael arrive at the house of Raguel in Ecbatane, where they are greeted by Sara. Raguel recognizes Tobias as the son of his cousin Tobit and, after learning of Tobit's blindness, weeps. Tobias insists on marrying Sara, despite Raguel's warning that seven previous husbands died on their wedding night. Raguel agrees, gives Sara to Tobias in marriage according to the law of Moses, and writes a covenant. Edna prepares a chamber for Sara and comforts her.
Chapter 26
VIII
Tobias and Sarah are married. Following Raphael's instructions, Tobias uses the fish's heart and liver to drive away the evil spirit, which flees to Egypt and is bound by the angel. Tobias and Sarah pray together, affirming their marriage is for righteousness, not lust. Raguel, fearing Tobias might be dead, prepares a grave but is relieved when the maid finds them alive. Raguel praises God, fills the grave, and celebrates a fourteen-day wedding feast, promising Tobias half his goods now and the rest after his death.
Chapter 27
IX
Tobias asks Raphael (disguised as Azarias) to travel to Rages of Media to retrieve the money from Gabael and bring Gabael to the wedding, as Raguel has sworn Tobias must not leave. Raphael retrieves the sealed bags from Gabael, and they return together to the wedding, where Tobias blesses his wife.
Chapter 28
Tobit's Anxiety and Tobias's Return
Tobit and Anna anxiously await Tobias's return after the wedding days expire. Anna despairs, believing her son dead, while Tobit tries to calm her. Tobias insists on leaving Raguel's house, and Raguel blesses the couple, giving them Sara, half his goods, and sending them off with a charge to honor their parents.
Chapter 29
XI
Tobias and Raphael return to Nineveh, where Anna sees her son coming and runs to embrace him. Tobias heals his father Tobit's blindness with the fish gall, and Tobit rejoices, blessing God. Sara is welcomed, and the wedding feast is celebrated for seven days with great joy among all.
Chapter 30
XII
Tobit instructs Tobias to pay the angel who accompanied him. Tobias offers half of all he brought. The angel reveals himself as Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, and explains that he was sent by God to heal Tobit and Sara. He exhorts them to praise God and to write down all that has happened, then vanishes.
Chapter 31
XIII
Tobit writes a prayer of rejoicing, praising God for His mercy and justice, calling on the Israelites to confess Him among the Gentiles, and prophesying the restoration of Jerusalem with precious stones and eternal praise.
Chapter 32
XIV
Tobit concludes his praise of God, recounts his blindness and restoration, and on his deathbed urges his son Tobias to leave Nineve, keep the law, give alms, and bury him and Anna. Tobias obeys, buries his parents, moves to Ecbatane with his family, lives honorably, and hears of Nineve's destruction before his death.
Chapter 33
Endnotes
This chapter contains endnotes referencing the Diamond Mountains of Korea and the Apocrypha.
