Complex sentence: With her encouragement, he surrendered and after two years was not merely released but granted a pardon that wiped out his conviction, a splendid opportunity for the 22 year old Blanche and her husband to make a fresh start.
Split into simpler sentences: With her encouragement, he surrendered and after two years was not merely released but granted a pardon that wiped out his conviction. It was a splendid opportunity for the 22 year old Blanche and her husband to make a fresh start.