Along with grey clouds and a consequent drop in temperature, there comes the return of what is never far away in these parts, a keen easterly breeze. Borne upon it, the plaintive sound of a concertina makes me think of the cold sea even further east. The tune reaches its conclusion as I draw level with the church and glimpse beyond it, in the school playground, a Maypole with its rainbow of ribbons. The end of each ribbon is held by a child who stands still in his or her starting place, returned from all the weaving intricacies of dance.
***
After her mother's death in January, late in her twentieth pregnancy, sixteen-year-old Rose had resolved never to marry. Defying expectations, she has escaped the same fate as her siblings in service, and left her rural home for the market town of Widdock. Here she now works as the assistant in a bookshop owned by inspiring and charismatic Leonard Pritchard, with whom she shares a love of poetry. At Apple Tree House, where she lodges, Rose has forged strong friendships with the other young women residents and with the hostel's cultured owner, Mrs. Fuller.
Rose enjoys her independence. But as her relationship with her employer deepens, her joy is tempered by reawakening fears about the reality of women's lives. Preoccupied, Rose is unprepared for trouble when it strikes. Coming from the least likely source, one in which she has always found solace, it threatens the very person now closest to her heart. How can words prove to be so damaging and dangerous? What can she do? As the storm gathers, will she ride it?
***
Set in 1900 the author has captured the period perfectly. It is slow paced to echo the time period and it would be easy to believe that this had been written contemporaneously.
Rose is a very likeable character and it is easy to sympathise with her fear of pregnancy and child birth. Consequently, when she falls in love and she is forced to confront those fears, the reader can engage with and understand her apprehension.
The setting is nicely described, and the author provides telling descriptions of the environment. It was very easy to share Rose's appreciation of the rural countryside. When there is a heatwave it was easy to identify with the feelings that they all shared.
I enjoyed reading about her life in the young woman's hostel. Mrs. Fuller, the proprieter, was an enjoyable character to get to know, as were the other young ladies who resided there.
For me, the main theme of the book was that of a young woman of her class and experience being able to break free of the expectations that were placed upon her. Like the rest of Rose's family, she had been expected to go into service. That she was able to secure employment as a book shop assistant speaks volumes about her character.
I think anyone who enjoys the gentle pace of fiction set during the turn of the twentieth century will enjoy this book.
ISBN: 979 8770841268
Publisher: 186 Publishing
Formats: e-book and paperback
No. of Pages: 269
Vivien Freeman grew up in North London and graduated in Art History from the University of East Anglia before settling in Ware, Hertfordshire. A published poet as well as a novelist, she taught Creative Writing for many years and has an M.A. in Scriptwriting from Salford University. She now lives in rural Wales in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband, the poet, John Freeman.
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