The Dragon in Shallow Waters

"The Dragon in Shallow Waters" by V. Sackville-West is a novel that explores the tragic lives of two brothers, Silas, who is blind, and Gregory, who is deaf and mute, within the grim setting of an early 20th-century factory. The story starts with the death of Silas's wife, Hannah, which adds to the already bleak atmosphere of the factory and the brothers' sense of isolation and grief. Amidst the oppressive machinery and a society that seems to look down on them, the novel looks at themes of loss and the complex bonds between people facing tough times, all shown through Silas's mix of dark humor and detachment following Hannah's death.