A Manx author who wishes to remain anonymous has published a book, ’Face the Music’, about a scandal that involved her family in the early 1900s.

The author, who writes under the pen name ’Maria Darnoult’ said: ’ Anyone who knows Castletown will soon work out who it’s meant to be because he was the teacher at the old grammar school there for 36 years.’

As the story opens the hero, ’Will Waverley’, had been a widower for 20 years, living with his sister and her children.

Following the death of his first wife and baby in childbirth he had thrown himself into his teaching and his love of music: he was also a choirmaster and the church organist. This had made him a prominent and highly respected figure in Castletown.

Although it was no longer the island’s capital, Castletown was a very proud and class conscious place at the time so when Will fell for a shop girl 30 years his junior, local society was scandalised.

The couple faced great opposition, not least from within Will’s own family: his sister, especially, suspected the motives of Hannah, the girl Will had fallen in love with.

Despite this opposition the couple not only married but went on to have four children. ’Maria’ is the granddaughter of one of those children. One hundred years after Will’s death ’Maria’ wrote a short biography of her illustrious ancestor and the research she undertook at the time gave her the idea of writing the book:

She said: ’I learned such a lot about him and I just thought it would make a rollicking good story.’

’Face the Music’ is a fictionalised version of Will and Hannah’s love affair but it’s very firmly rooted in fact. ’Maria’ said: ’Many of the names have been changed, additional characters added, and situations invented, but the picture presented of their home town and the Isle of Man may be evocative or familiar.

’Attitudes are different now also, but this couple certainly needed a strong loving relationship and iron determination to "Face the Music" in 1908.’

’Face the Music’ is published by Wibble Publishing and is available from Mostly Manx and other local booksellers.

As the story opens the hero, ’Will Waverley’, had been a widower for 20 years, living with his sister and her children.

Following the death of his first wife and baby in childbirth he had thrown himself into his teaching and his love of music: he was also a choirmaster and the church organist. This had made him a prominent and highly respected figure in Castletown.

Although it was no longer the island’s capital, Castletown was a very proud and class conscious place at the time so when Will fell for a shop girl 30 years his junior, local society was scandalised.

The couple faced great opposition, not least from within Will’s own family: his sister, especially, suspected the motives of Hannah, the girl Will had fallen in love with.

Despite this opposition the couple not only married but went on to have four children. ’Maria’ is the granddaughter of one of those children. One hundred years after Will’s death ’Maria’ wrote a short biography of her illustrious ancestor and the research she undertook at the time gave her the idea of writing the book:

She said: ’I learned such a lot about him and I just thought it would make a rollicking good story.’

’Face the Music’ is a fictionalised version of Will and Hannah’s love affair but it’s very firmly rooted in fact. ’Maria’ said: ’Many of the names have been changed, additional characters added, and situations invented, but the picture presented of their home town and the Isle of Man may be evocative or familiar.

’Attitudes are different now also, but this couple certainly needed a strong loving relationship and iron determination to "Face the Music" in 1908.’

’Face the Music’ is published by Wibble Publishing and is available from Mostly Manx and other local booksellers.