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The Trespass
London 1849. The capital city is living in fear. Cholera is everywhere. Eminent MP Sir Charles Cooper decides it is too risky for his younger daughter, the strangely beautiful and troubled Harriet, and sends her-but not her beloved sister Mary-to the countryside.
Rusholme is a world away from London, full of extraordinary relations: Harriet's cousin Edward and his plans for a new life in New Zealand; Aunt Lucretia, reliant on afternoon wine and laudanum; the formidable Lady Kingdom and her two eligible, unobtainable sons. However, life in the country can offer only temporary respite to Harriet, who longs to return to her sister.
But when Harriet does come home, London has become more dangerous than ever. Her health, her freedom—even her sanity—are under threat. Escape is essential. Can a young, powerless girl change her life? Can she board the Amaryllis without being discovered? Does she realize that if she flees, more than one person will pursue her, literally to the end of the world?
The Trespass is historical fiction at its most gripping, stretching from the dark side of Victorian London to the optimism and energy of the early New Zealand settlements.
Rusholme is a world away from London, full of extraordinary relations: Harriet's cousin Edward and his plans for a new life in New Zealand; Aunt Lucretia, reliant on afternoon wine and laudanum; the formidable Lady Kingdom and her two eligible, unobtainable sons. However, life in the country can offer only temporary respite to Harriet, who longs to return to her sister.
But when Harriet does come home, London has become more dangerous than ever. Her health, her freedom—even her sanity—are under threat. Escape is essential. Can a young, powerless girl change her life? Can she board the Amaryllis without being discovered? Does she realize that if she flees, more than one person will pursue her, literally to the end of the world?
The Trespass is historical fiction at its most gripping, stretching from the dark side of Victorian London to the optimism and energy of the early New Zealand settlements.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Barbara Ewing
25 books59 followersBarbara Ewing is a UK-based actress, playwright and novelist. Born in New Zealand, she graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a BA in English and Maori before moving to Britain in 1965 to train as an actress at RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London.
She made her film debut in the horror film 'Torture Garden' (1967) for Amicus Productions, followed by 'Dracula Has Risen from the Grave' (1968) with Christopher Lee for Hammer Films. Both movies were directed by Freddie Francis. Her other films included 'The Reckoning' (1969), 'Eye of the Needle' (1981), 'Haunters of the Deep' (1984) and 'When the Whales Came' (1989).
The television role for which she is best known is that of Bradley Hardacre's mistress Agnes Fairchild in the Granada Television comedy series 'Brass', alongside Timothy West (1982–84). In 1986, she played Treen Dudgeon in the short-lived BBC series 'Comrade Dad', alongside George Cole and Doris Hare. In 1978 she had appeared in an episode of Euston Films' The Sweeney (S4-E7 'Bait').
Her 1989 one-woman show, 'Alexandra Kollontai', about the only woman in Lenin's cabinet in 1917 was a great hit in London, and at the Edinburgh and Sydney Festivals.
More recent TV appearances have included episodes of 'Casualty', 'Doctors' and 'Holby City' on the BBC, and 'The Bill and Peak Practice' on ITV, as well as appearances in various adaptations of Ruth Rendell mysteries.
She made her film debut in the horror film 'Torture Garden' (1967) for Amicus Productions, followed by 'Dracula Has Risen from the Grave' (1968) with Christopher Lee for Hammer Films. Both movies were directed by Freddie Francis. Her other films included 'The Reckoning' (1969), 'Eye of the Needle' (1981), 'Haunters of the Deep' (1984) and 'When the Whales Came' (1989).
The television role for which she is best known is that of Bradley Hardacre's mistress Agnes Fairchild in the Granada Television comedy series 'Brass', alongside Timothy West (1982–84). In 1986, she played Treen Dudgeon in the short-lived BBC series 'Comrade Dad', alongside George Cole and Doris Hare. In 1978 she had appeared in an episode of Euston Films' The Sweeney (S4-E7 'Bait').
Her 1989 one-woman show, 'Alexandra Kollontai', about the only woman in Lenin's cabinet in 1917 was a great hit in London, and at the Edinburgh and Sydney Festivals.
More recent TV appearances have included episodes of 'Casualty', 'Doctors' and 'Holby City' on the BBC, and 'The Bill and Peak Practice' on ITV, as well as appearances in various adaptations of Ruth Rendell mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 12, 2022
The Trespass is an atmospheric historical thriller originally published in 2003. Victorian melodrama is not usually my thing, but I was intrigued by the New Zealand connection, so took it from Book Club and ended up thoroughly enjoying it - especially as, unlike most historical fiction, it’s an anti-romance!
Sir Charles Cooper is a wealthy widowed London MP who has made his fortune from London’s inadequate and polluted private water system, and is unhealthily obsessed with his beautiful seventeen-year old daughter, Harriet. When he sends her to the country to escape the 1849 cholera epidemic, she learns that her favourite cousin is planning to emigrate to one of the new British colonies. Recalled to London, she fears her father’s unnatural advances, so hatches a plan to escape - but will she find safety in the New World?
This had an entertaining cast of characters and an endearing heroine who is very mature for her age. The plight of women at both ends of the social scale is highlighted - the patronising attitudes of the men in Harriet & Mary’s lives had me fuming, while their callous disregard for the plight of the poor felt only too familiar. The men aren’t all bad though - Harriet is aided by some unlikely guardian angels - and some of the pompous smug married wives were delightfully awful.
The writing was unusual in style, and early on had me rolling my eyes at the repetitive over-description - yes London was stinky, we get it. The first couple of paragraphs use the word light or some variant of it 13 times. This all settles down once the plot gets going, however, and I stopped noticing it. Some parts were genuinely exciting - Harriet’s race to board the Amaryllis before she is discovered, and the scenes at sea brought home just how scary and unpleasant the long journeys taken by the early settlers could be. The book does deal with paternal intended incest and oblique threats of rape, but doesn’t describe any in detail.
To my shame, I don’t know enough about New Zealand history - I bought the Penguin book on it twenty years ago when I moved here, and it has sat on the shelf ever since - this has inspired me to actually read it! It was fun imagining the places around Wellington that Harriet visits as they were then, and the frequent mentions of the terrible wind here were sadly accurate. The author is a New Zealander who moved to London and I gather this was her first novel - this does show in the over-reliance on coincidences in the plot, but these didn’t detract from a jolly good story.
Sir Charles Cooper is a wealthy widowed London MP who has made his fortune from London’s inadequate and polluted private water system, and is unhealthily obsessed with his beautiful seventeen-year old daughter, Harriet. When he sends her to the country to escape the 1849 cholera epidemic, she learns that her favourite cousin is planning to emigrate to one of the new British colonies. Recalled to London, she fears her father’s unnatural advances, so hatches a plan to escape - but will she find safety in the New World?
This had an entertaining cast of characters and an endearing heroine who is very mature for her age. The plight of women at both ends of the social scale is highlighted - the patronising attitudes of the men in Harriet & Mary’s lives had me fuming, while their callous disregard for the plight of the poor felt only too familiar. The men aren’t all bad though - Harriet is aided by some unlikely guardian angels - and some of the pompous smug married wives were delightfully awful.
The writing was unusual in style, and early on had me rolling my eyes at the repetitive over-description - yes London was stinky, we get it. The first couple of paragraphs use the word light or some variant of it 13 times. This all settles down once the plot gets going, however, and I stopped noticing it. Some parts were genuinely exciting - Harriet’s race to board the Amaryllis before she is discovered, and the scenes at sea brought home just how scary and unpleasant the long journeys taken by the early settlers could be. The book does deal with paternal intended incest and oblique threats of rape, but doesn’t describe any in detail.
To my shame, I don’t know enough about New Zealand history - I bought the Penguin book on it twenty years ago when I moved here, and it has sat on the shelf ever since - this has inspired me to actually read it! It was fun imagining the places around Wellington that Harriet visits as they were then, and the frequent mentions of the terrible wind here were sadly accurate. The author is a New Zealander who moved to London and I gather this was her first novel - this does show in the over-reliance on coincidences in the plot, but these didn’t detract from a jolly good story.
May 13, 2019
Set in the Victorian era, Ewing’s attention to detail made this a totally immersive read. At times reminding me of a classic book, the imagery and descriptions of Victorian London, characterisation and the journey to New Zealand made it feel that I was there with the characters. However, I sometimes found the plot a little slow and hard-going, hence me only giving this four stars.
I haven’t recently read many books set in Victorian London but know a fair bit about the historical element. Ewing has clearly done her research (as supported by her selected bibliography at the back of the novel,) and the scenes that she describes are extremely powerful. The ignorance towards cholera and treatments, colliding with the “laissez-faire” attitude of the upper classes, is superbly captured by Ewing. I would argue that about a third of the story focuses on this setting and by the time Harriet, the protagonist of the novel, has eventually fled England, readers have a true sense of the suffering and traumas being experienced in a hygienically-challenged city.
Coupled with the powerful descriptions is the vivid characterisation. Many characters play key roles within this story and this is not something I will go into detail about, for fear of giving the plot away! However, undoubtedly, whenever Harriet’s father takes centre stage, I literally found myself growing cold and filling with hatred towards him. I wanted to take Harriet out of the awful situation she is in, especially the immediate days following the death of her sister, Mary. On the other hand, Benjamin was a hero to myself, especially with his forward-thinking ideologies on the treatment of women and the class system. The patriarchal nature of society was suffocating for women and Ewing expertly captures this in the male characters and their attitudes towards both Mary and Harriet’s actions.
As the book moves to New Zealand, the writing very much reminded me of a book I read several years ago (sorry, I didn’t review it back then!) – Kate Grenville’s ‘The Secret River’. The hope and optimism faced by travellers seeking a new start across the globe is confounded by difficulties with the land, natives and a severe lack of money and supplies. This is epitomised by Edward and even Harriet recognises that there has been some serious exaggeration of the truth when it comes to enticing emigrants to start a new life in New Zealand.
This was a thrilling read and a Victorian version of a game of cat and mouse. Except, this time, the females are in such a restricted environment that they literally had no voice and no control over any decisions. The empowerment that Harriet demonstrates, despite all the struggles she encounters, marks a move towards a new type of woman; one who is not afraid to be her own person and not dominated by men.
The thriller was recommended to me and I am certainly glad to have read this! Being my first Barbara Ewing novel, I am definitely enthusiastic to go and find further novels to add to my Ewing shelf! I am not sure if this has broad appeal due to some of the plot’s density, but it certainly made a change from my more recent reads.
I haven’t recently read many books set in Victorian London but know a fair bit about the historical element. Ewing has clearly done her research (as supported by her selected bibliography at the back of the novel,) and the scenes that she describes are extremely powerful. The ignorance towards cholera and treatments, colliding with the “laissez-faire” attitude of the upper classes, is superbly captured by Ewing. I would argue that about a third of the story focuses on this setting and by the time Harriet, the protagonist of the novel, has eventually fled England, readers have a true sense of the suffering and traumas being experienced in a hygienically-challenged city.
Coupled with the powerful descriptions is the vivid characterisation. Many characters play key roles within this story and this is not something I will go into detail about, for fear of giving the plot away! However, undoubtedly, whenever Harriet’s father takes centre stage, I literally found myself growing cold and filling with hatred towards him. I wanted to take Harriet out of the awful situation she is in, especially the immediate days following the death of her sister, Mary. On the other hand, Benjamin was a hero to myself, especially with his forward-thinking ideologies on the treatment of women and the class system. The patriarchal nature of society was suffocating for women and Ewing expertly captures this in the male characters and their attitudes towards both Mary and Harriet’s actions.
As the book moves to New Zealand, the writing very much reminded me of a book I read several years ago (sorry, I didn’t review it back then!) – Kate Grenville’s ‘The Secret River’. The hope and optimism faced by travellers seeking a new start across the globe is confounded by difficulties with the land, natives and a severe lack of money and supplies. This is epitomised by Edward and even Harriet recognises that there has been some serious exaggeration of the truth when it comes to enticing emigrants to start a new life in New Zealand.
This was a thrilling read and a Victorian version of a game of cat and mouse. Except, this time, the females are in such a restricted environment that they literally had no voice and no control over any decisions. The empowerment that Harriet demonstrates, despite all the struggles she encounters, marks a move towards a new type of woman; one who is not afraid to be her own person and not dominated by men.
The thriller was recommended to me and I am certainly glad to have read this! Being my first Barbara Ewing novel, I am definitely enthusiastic to go and find further novels to add to my Ewing shelf! I am not sure if this has broad appeal due to some of the plot’s density, but it certainly made a change from my more recent reads.
June 15, 2010
It was a rare treat to find a historical novel with the typical stunningly beautiful heroine, magnetically attractive to all men who gaze upon her beauty, which somehow (for reasons which become clear as the novel progresses) managed to avoid being a romance. Not that I have anything against romance, but this certainly made a refreshing change and I found Harriet to be a much more interesting central character for it.
Victorian England isn't my time period of expertise, but Barbara Ewing certainly seems to know her stuff and, more importanly, how to use it well. There was just enough historical name dropping in the opening sections to root the book firmly in the given era without becoming obtrusive and annoying, after which it was dropped rather than relied upon as a lazy way of indicating "look: this is a historical novel!" Instead, the era was so well evoked and engaging that such clumsy reminders would have been entirely unnecessary.
This was a beautifully written, thoroughly researched book which I really enjoyed reading. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because of the way the plot tended towards strings of very suspicious conveniences, some of which required a lot of suspension of disbelief. I know that it's fiction and such devices are sometimes necessary to get to the desired conclusion, but I would have liked perhaps a tiny bit more subtlety in that respect. Otherwise, an excellent read.
Victorian England isn't my time period of expertise, but Barbara Ewing certainly seems to know her stuff and, more importanly, how to use it well. There was just enough historical name dropping in the opening sections to root the book firmly in the given era without becoming obtrusive and annoying, after which it was dropped rather than relied upon as a lazy way of indicating "look: this is a historical novel!" Instead, the era was so well evoked and engaging that such clumsy reminders would have been entirely unnecessary.
This was a beautifully written, thoroughly researched book which I really enjoyed reading. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because of the way the plot tended towards strings of very suspicious conveniences, some of which required a lot of suspension of disbelief. I know that it's fiction and such devices are sometimes necessary to get to the desired conclusion, but I would have liked perhaps a tiny bit more subtlety in that respect. Otherwise, an excellent read.
August 8, 2010
I loved this book for the fascinating insight into the absolute misery of being an upper class woman in england in the mid 1850s - it was almost better off to be poor and dealing with the threat of cholera. This is the tale of two sisters who live with their brothers and father in london during the 1850s cholera outbreak. The mother is dead and the father is a rat. There is also a connection to NZ - possibly land bought in Eastbourne - which again was fascinating. I had no idea about the societal customs and values that the gentry (or those aspiring to be) brought to NZ with them form England. I absolutely gobbled this book up for the compelling plot and great characters.
August 4, 2009
This is a book I literally couldn't put down. I was sneaking out of bed to read it in the wee hours. I read it over the course of a week while I was on vacation. The heroine of the book is the spirited Harriet, growing up in a sheltered Victorian home with her father and older sister (she has brothers but they don't feature much). This is a time when a woman's place was in the home doing the bidding of the menfolk-end of story. Her maiden older sister is her mother figure and teacher. Her father is cold and distant - or so he appears...A tragedy occurs and Harriet makes a brave and desperate move to save herself by taking a perilous ocean journey to New Zealand by herself, unheard of for a woman of her class. Three men are in hot pursuit - but who will get to her first...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2014
I was hooked right from page one and the story never lost my interest. I felt like I was right there with this young girl Harriet, while she was trying to get away from her father and her life in London.
September 28, 2017
In the London cholera epidemic of 1849, MP Sir Charles Cooper is worried for his youngest daughter, seventeen year old Harriet, and resolves to send her away to the country until the danger has past.
Harriet is pleased to get away from her father, but also worried that he won't send her elder sister, Mary, with her. Isn't she in danger from the cholera too? (More danger than either of them know, for Mary has been helping a doctor treat the cholera patients in the poorest parts of London.)
Harriet enjoys her stay in the country with her cousins, and wonders at the easy way the family has with each other, for there is a dark secret at her London home, one she has no words for, because how can a young lady speak of the unspeakable?
Harriet plans a daring escape to New Zealand, following in the footsteps of her cousin, for surely even her father's reach cannot get so far as New Zealand?
This book is excellent, with a little dash of history thrown in now and then, but without turning the novel into a history book. The main emphasis is on the characters, and what characters they were. So realistic and evolved. I was on tenterhooks the whole time wondering if Harriet could ever escape.
At a time when women had no money of their own (unless they were lower class and had to work), they were owned first by their fathers and then by their husbands, and were not even allowed to work, how could a young girl escape her terrible fate
"Everything you say is yours, belongs to me, is provided by me, everything, every breath that you take belongs to me. I am your father. And as you well know you owe me absolute obedience."
I devoured this book in two days, you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. With a wealth of historical detail and well drawn characters, it's one you'd want to read again.
Harriet is pleased to get away from her father, but also worried that he won't send her elder sister, Mary, with her. Isn't she in danger from the cholera too? (More danger than either of them know, for Mary has been helping a doctor treat the cholera patients in the poorest parts of London.)
Harriet enjoys her stay in the country with her cousins, and wonders at the easy way the family has with each other, for there is a dark secret at her London home, one she has no words for, because how can a young lady speak of the unspeakable?
Harriet plans a daring escape to New Zealand, following in the footsteps of her cousin, for surely even her father's reach cannot get so far as New Zealand?
This book is excellent, with a little dash of history thrown in now and then, but without turning the novel into a history book. The main emphasis is on the characters, and what characters they were. So realistic and evolved. I was on tenterhooks the whole time wondering if Harriet could ever escape.
At a time when women had no money of their own (unless they were lower class and had to work), they were owned first by their fathers and then by their husbands, and were not even allowed to work, how could a young girl escape her terrible fate
"Everything you say is yours, belongs to me, is provided by me, everything, every breath that you take belongs to me. I am your father. And as you well know you owe me absolute obedience."
I devoured this book in two days, you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. With a wealth of historical detail and well drawn characters, it's one you'd want to read again.
April 14, 2025
I enjoyed this very much, not as dark as The Night Ship, but with similar themes of sea voyage, and wonderful descriptions of both that, and Victorian London. and the plight of young women in those days
February 11, 2017
Ewing creates an atmosphere that draws you into the story; it is as if everything around you is holding its breath, listening into the silence, the quivering air, poised as if it were expecting something, waiting ... knowingly.
October 14, 2017
For such a long and densely printed book, I blitzed through it very quickly.
There is a great deal that happened in a mere 400 pages and its impossible to put down!
Harriet was a fantastic lead character. Unlike the prototypical female lead in historical novels, there was so much more to her than simply looks. Because of her trauma, there was little romance in this book (which was great). In the end though, I was hoping that Harriet’s friendship with Ben would deepen into something else. It pains me to think of her father continuing to spoil her life long past his death.
The father was a terrible villain: evil personified. Although never explicitly stated (thank goodness) enough of a picture is painted to show how dark and twisted this man was. I was terrified for Harriet and so relieved when he was killed.
Ralph was a giant twat. I hated his character. How dare he assume Harriet needs to be “forgiven” for what her father did to her and how dare he have that long diatribe about how she’s tainted and unworthy. He’s a foul creature. So foul in fact, even his killing of the father didn’t redeem him in my eyes.
Don’t even get me started on those awful Burlington Browns. They’re ridiculous. After everything to still be going on about “what London society will think” about Harriet is beyond stupid. She couldn’t be further away from London society and I can imagine Harriet couldn’t possibly care less about what those twats think. She’s free and she has her life back. Unshackled. She feels things and has encountered things that these others would not be able to even comprehend.
I really liked that characters of Mary, Asobel, Hetty, George, Edward and Ben. Quintus was fun too.
The contrast of London and New Zealand was wonderful. The pace of the book was great. The story was entertaining and for covering a lot of ground, engaging.
Excellent.
There is a great deal that happened in a mere 400 pages and its impossible to put down!
Harriet was a fantastic lead character. Unlike the prototypical female lead in historical novels, there was so much more to her than simply looks. Because of her trauma, there was little romance in this book (which was great). In the end though, I was hoping that Harriet’s friendship with Ben would deepen into something else. It pains me to think of her father continuing to spoil her life long past his death.
The father was a terrible villain: evil personified. Although never explicitly stated (thank goodness) enough of a picture is painted to show how dark and twisted this man was. I was terrified for Harriet and so relieved when he was killed.
Ralph was a giant twat. I hated his character. How dare he assume Harriet needs to be “forgiven” for what her father did to her and how dare he have that long diatribe about how she’s tainted and unworthy. He’s a foul creature. So foul in fact, even his killing of the father didn’t redeem him in my eyes.
Don’t even get me started on those awful Burlington Browns. They’re ridiculous. After everything to still be going on about “what London society will think” about Harriet is beyond stupid. She couldn’t be further away from London society and I can imagine Harriet couldn’t possibly care less about what those twats think. She’s free and she has her life back. Unshackled. She feels things and has encountered things that these others would not be able to even comprehend.
I really liked that characters of Mary, Asobel, Hetty, George, Edward and Ben. Quintus was fun too.
The contrast of London and New Zealand was wonderful. The pace of the book was great. The story was entertaining and for covering a lot of ground, engaging.
Excellent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2018
I did enjoy this, but not as much as Barbara Ewing's later work such as the Mesmerist and The Petticoat Men. I think she was still honing her historical novel skills with this one. The injustice of women's position and lack of independence in the mid-Victorian era, while true, was laid on with a trowel, I think a lighter touch would have been more effective ... in her later novels Ewing does develop this lighter touch, and her heroines are less melodramatic, more credible, more human. Having said that, the story did get me hooked, I was desperate for Harriet to find both freedom and happiness! After all her trials and travails the ending was a little disappointing ...
January 27, 2019
This amazing book has been on my bookshelf for over 8 years; obviously I had no idea how wonderfully fascinating this tale would be!
This story takes place in the mid 1800s showing the daily lives of a couple prominant families in England. The "ownership" that fathers and husbands had over the women in their lives was astonishing to me as I read through this gripping story.
I love the sophisticated writing style of this author; I will definitely read more of her novels. Truly excellent.
A fabulous book well worth reading!
This story takes place in the mid 1800s showing the daily lives of a couple prominant families in England. The "ownership" that fathers and husbands had over the women in their lives was astonishing to me as I read through this gripping story.
I love the sophisticated writing style of this author; I will definitely read more of her novels. Truly excellent.
A fabulous book well worth reading!
September 24, 2017
I started this book while taking a vacation abroad. I'm fascinated with the Victorian era, especially with strong women and how they deal with challenges. Cholera, sexual abuse, classism and emigration were just a few of them. I had to stop reading this book since it belonged to somebody else but as soon I came home I requested this book at my local library. I devoured it in one day!
August 21, 2017
omg omg omg i love this book. It had me so interested in the past. i cant recommend this book enough. especially if you're from New Zealand as its exciting to hear how our anscestors made an impossible journey
August 22, 2017
This is a Suspenseful read about a Victorian Londoner who has to make an escape from her family home. She bravely travels to New Zealand in hopes of aligning with a trusted cousin. Although a bit predictable at times, it was hard to put down.
October 29, 2017
With good reason, Harriet is desperate to seek her independence in 1840s England. Her cousin emigrates to New Zealand, and she yearns to make the same escape. A gripping tale with fascinating historical detail, and a reminder of why women needed to fight for the vote.
March 1, 2019
Klart läsvärd bok som utspelar sig både i det viktorianska London och på Nya Zeeland. Den är både en sorglig, spännande och uppmuntrande läsning som tar en hel del oväntade vändningar, ibland kanske lite väl abrupta, och en riktig bladvändare, även om jag lyssnade på den som ljudbok:-)
January 8, 2019
Excellent.
I haven't read a book that had such a monster for a character in a long time.
I also feel connected to the fact that the heroine also found her freedom, as have I, in the beautiful Aotearoa.
Though nobody followed me to the end of the world I found myself somebody here who would. So that's fine. 😁
The one sentence epilogue was great. Made me feel proud. And gave the book so much more meaning.
The book made me sleep 4 hours for the last two nights.
I haven't read a book that had such a monster for a character in a long time.
I also feel connected to the fact that the heroine also found her freedom, as have I, in the beautiful Aotearoa.
Though nobody followed me to the end of the world I found myself somebody here who would. So that's fine. 😁
The one sentence epilogue was great. Made me feel proud. And gave the book so much more meaning.
The book made me sleep 4 hours for the last two nights.
September 29, 2020
WOW. This was dark. I honestly don't know how I feel about this or how to rate this yet. I'm going 3 for now, but I guess we'll see.
Still formulating a lasting opinion.
Still formulating a lasting opinion.
October 11, 2020
This is an excellent read, a tale of family relationships set in the mid-1800’s when emigration was being offered to Australasia.
October 17, 2020
Strong female characters in a male dominated time and place...
February 28, 2023
A wonderful story beautifully written.
November 14, 2023
I couldn't stop reading, I felt the fury and the pain of Harriet throughout.
November 4, 2014
A historical tale of bravery and righteousness during the cholera epidemic in London is captured in this novel by Barbara Ewing. Harriet Cooper and her elder sister Mary Cooper have always had a guarded relationship with their father, the MP, Sir Charles Cooper; who after the death of his wife became a hard-hearted, authoritarian figure in the house. Unable to think of the cholera affecting his beloved Harriet, he sends her away to Rusholme where she stays with her cousins. Separated from the one person (her sister) who understood her, Harriet spends her time teaching little Asobel Cooper what she learnt from her sister; thereby passing on knowledge, not considered important for a proper Lady to know.
It is in Rusholme that she finds reprieve, away from the scrutiny of her father. There she learns of Edward Cooper’s plans to emigrate to New Zealand to build a life for himself. Mary and Harriet, unlike the rest of the family, are in awe of his determination and wish they too could get away from London to fly as free birds. But soon after Alice Cooper’s wedding, her father decides to bring her back to London. Certain unthinkable events and incidents aspire a fight for freedom deep within Harriet’s heart. Gathering all courage, she attempts to run away and begin anew. She plans every step, with particular care for the details, in such a manner as to not leave any traces. And so starts a game of hide & seek wherein there’s more than one person aiming to unearth the secrets of Harriet’s disappearance and forcefully bring her back to London if it must be.
In The Trespass, we are familiarized to the mannerisms and difference of opinions shared within a society that grew increasingly conflicted about morals and social status. Even though Harriet, Mary, Edward, Alice and Richard were cousins belonging to the same Cooper family line – each of them had an opposing view about the fast spreading cholera. From the very beginning of the book, the author’s immense creativity and knowledge was reflected through phrases and references about great works of literature and artists. I usually don’t like paras and paras of description because I feel that its sensory overload but this book splurged on pages and pages of detail for a particular scene and I didn’t mind it one bit. Its unfortunate to read of the deaths and disease that ensued in London and how people regardless of class were dropping like flies. Victimized as they were not only by the cholera but also by the overbearing egotisms of the upper class, it was only the sacrifices of people like Mary Cooper who put aside their inhibitions to help out those in need that stood out like a beacon of hope. The book was a constant reminder of how little importance one’s position and power has in life and if God so wishes, there is no evading death. Isolated and deeply disturbed as Harriet was, her courage and self respect set a firm example of how a woman should care for herself and not let others take control.
This book has a vast multitude of characters – all of whom essentially fitted into the bigger picture. They are so well crafted; the storyline so beautiful and wondrous, I’m surprised I haven’t heard anything about the author or the book before. I think it is extremely underrated and should be a lot more popular than is. London and New Zealand are two places used as setting for the book and it has made me want to visit both places so eagerly. There is definitely many romance angles added to the plot which adds a sweet touch to the book. And unlike what I thought, the ending was perfect. Kudos to Barbara Ewing for this treat. I loved it so much!
It is in Rusholme that she finds reprieve, away from the scrutiny of her father. There she learns of Edward Cooper’s plans to emigrate to New Zealand to build a life for himself. Mary and Harriet, unlike the rest of the family, are in awe of his determination and wish they too could get away from London to fly as free birds. But soon after Alice Cooper’s wedding, her father decides to bring her back to London. Certain unthinkable events and incidents aspire a fight for freedom deep within Harriet’s heart. Gathering all courage, she attempts to run away and begin anew. She plans every step, with particular care for the details, in such a manner as to not leave any traces. And so starts a game of hide & seek wherein there’s more than one person aiming to unearth the secrets of Harriet’s disappearance and forcefully bring her back to London if it must be.
In The Trespass, we are familiarized to the mannerisms and difference of opinions shared within a society that grew increasingly conflicted about morals and social status. Even though Harriet, Mary, Edward, Alice and Richard were cousins belonging to the same Cooper family line – each of them had an opposing view about the fast spreading cholera. From the very beginning of the book, the author’s immense creativity and knowledge was reflected through phrases and references about great works of literature and artists. I usually don’t like paras and paras of description because I feel that its sensory overload but this book splurged on pages and pages of detail for a particular scene and I didn’t mind it one bit. Its unfortunate to read of the deaths and disease that ensued in London and how people regardless of class were dropping like flies. Victimized as they were not only by the cholera but also by the overbearing egotisms of the upper class, it was only the sacrifices of people like Mary Cooper who put aside their inhibitions to help out those in need that stood out like a beacon of hope. The book was a constant reminder of how little importance one’s position and power has in life and if God so wishes, there is no evading death. Isolated and deeply disturbed as Harriet was, her courage and self respect set a firm example of how a woman should care for herself and not let others take control.
This book has a vast multitude of characters – all of whom essentially fitted into the bigger picture. They are so well crafted; the storyline so beautiful and wondrous, I’m surprised I haven’t heard anything about the author or the book before. I think it is extremely underrated and should be a lot more popular than is. London and New Zealand are two places used as setting for the book and it has made me want to visit both places so eagerly. There is definitely many romance angles added to the plot which adds a sweet touch to the book. And unlike what I thought, the ending was perfect. Kudos to Barbara Ewing for this treat. I loved it so much!
October 6, 2016
Ok, where does one start with this... farcical fiction?
Well, for a start the author clearly didn't bother to use the Internet. I mean, even Google was around in 2002 when this was published. Unforgivable little mistakes which leached enjoyment from the book.
Timelines, such as when gold was first discovered in Australia... 1851, so a whole year after when this book was set. I could maybe have accepted this 'quirk' had the author written an apology at the end for 'liberties taken' but obviously just sloppy research was involved.
And again, Tasmania was called Van Diemans Land until 1855, when the queen okayed the name change. How do I know that? Yeah, I'm a Tasmanian and we were taught it in school. But I also googled it to double check my dates were correct in my head!
Smaller irritations which lead to larger irritations such as...
The blatant feminist issues. Yes, there were very few feminists in 1850. And then they were likely to be called something else (suffragettes, mentally deranged). But the tone throughout the book, instead of being a rejoicing 'this is what women can do', was a totally male mindset diatribe.
At this point, I wanted to give a huge eye roll, and chuck the book out of the second story window. Against my better judgement, I continued only to be rewarded with lines such as:
"It is only different, Ralph, because we think of women so differently from ourselves.'"
"They are to comfort and cleanse us..." etc etc on page 356 if anyone would care to read nonsensical faecal matter.
Moving on. Then - all throughout the book- there is the revolting constant innuendo of father daughter rape. Now I have read books where rape (and often graphically written rape) is a big storyline (Diana Gabaldon, for instance). But it is normally used to proceed a storyline forward. In this instance I felt nothing short of revulsion and nearly discontinued reading at multiple points. Yes, in its own way it moved the story forward, but I never felt like the character moved forward, she continued to be a two dimensional doll who annoyed the crap out of me.
Its probably best that I bought this book second hand and it's probably good that I'll be able to return it when I visit the bookshop tomorrow. I'd hate to have purchased this new.
And I'll be removing all the other works by this author from my to read list. I don't want to go through a read like that again.
Well, for a start the author clearly didn't bother to use the Internet. I mean, even Google was around in 2002 when this was published. Unforgivable little mistakes which leached enjoyment from the book.
Timelines, such as when gold was first discovered in Australia... 1851, so a whole year after when this book was set. I could maybe have accepted this 'quirk' had the author written an apology at the end for 'liberties taken' but obviously just sloppy research was involved.
And again, Tasmania was called Van Diemans Land until 1855, when the queen okayed the name change. How do I know that? Yeah, I'm a Tasmanian and we were taught it in school. But I also googled it to double check my dates were correct in my head!
Smaller irritations which lead to larger irritations such as...
The blatant feminist issues. Yes, there were very few feminists in 1850. And then they were likely to be called something else (suffragettes, mentally deranged). But the tone throughout the book, instead of being a rejoicing 'this is what women can do', was a totally male mindset diatribe.
At this point, I wanted to give a huge eye roll, and chuck the book out of the second story window. Against my better judgement, I continued only to be rewarded with lines such as:
"It is only different, Ralph, because we think of women so differently from ourselves.'"
"They are to comfort and cleanse us..." etc etc on page 356 if anyone would care to read nonsensical faecal matter.
Moving on. Then - all throughout the book- there is the revolting constant innuendo of father daughter rape. Now I have read books where rape (and often graphically written rape) is a big storyline (Diana Gabaldon, for instance). But it is normally used to proceed a storyline forward. In this instance I felt nothing short of revulsion and nearly discontinued reading at multiple points. Yes, in its own way it moved the story forward, but I never felt like the character moved forward, she continued to be a two dimensional doll who annoyed the crap out of me.
Its probably best that I bought this book second hand and it's probably good that I'll be able to return it when I visit the bookshop tomorrow. I'd hate to have purchased this new.
And I'll be removing all the other works by this author from my to read list. I don't want to go through a read like that again.
January 4, 2014
An amazing book of historical fiction which described just how difficult life was in mid 1850's England. Poor people dropping like flies from Cholera due to lack of clean water supplies and proper sewage systems to clean up the waste. The definite thick line dividing the rich from the poor and also the view of how little a woman's opinion mattered. In the midst of all the struggle, is the life of the very beautiful but troubled heroine of the novel, Harriet Cooper, daughter of MP Sir Charles Cooper. Harriet's mother died when she was born but she had an older sister, Mary, who took the place of her mother and loved her very much. She also had two brothers.
Harriet's father send Harriet away for few weeks with relatives to protect her from the dangers of Cholera that has taken a hold of London. During her stay, she learns stories of people moving to New Zealand for better opportunities from her cousin Edward. He fills her with all of his dreams about his future. The trip there is not simple, three months or more aboard a ship with very little living space during the stay but for people willing to have a chance of something new and exciting, it is an adventure. When it was time for Edward to go off to start his new life, the whole family accompany him to the ship to see him off in London. At that point, Sir Charles Cooper decided to keep his daughter home with him. He wants to keep a very close eye on her.
Harriet's life soon changed for the worst forcing her to make some very important life changing choices.
"The Trespass," was given to me as a gift and it was truly a gift to read. It taught me about strength and determination and a will to overcome any obstacle when you put your mind to it. Harriet is my heroine.
Harriet's father send Harriet away for few weeks with relatives to protect her from the dangers of Cholera that has taken a hold of London. During her stay, she learns stories of people moving to New Zealand for better opportunities from her cousin Edward. He fills her with all of his dreams about his future. The trip there is not simple, three months or more aboard a ship with very little living space during the stay but for people willing to have a chance of something new and exciting, it is an adventure. When it was time for Edward to go off to start his new life, the whole family accompany him to the ship to see him off in London. At that point, Sir Charles Cooper decided to keep his daughter home with him. He wants to keep a very close eye on her.
Harriet's life soon changed for the worst forcing her to make some very important life changing choices.
"The Trespass," was given to me as a gift and it was truly a gift to read. It taught me about strength and determination and a will to overcome any obstacle when you put your mind to it. Harriet is my heroine.
March 5, 2012
This is a really interesting book about the conditions in London in the nineteenth century - the Cholera - boat passage and early lives of the settlers in New Zealand. I learnt so much by reading it but the learning was all enjoyable. The story of the heroine and her unnatural sexual relations with her Father is shocking but I can see that the author needed to employ this device in order to explain why an upper class lady would be travelling all the way to New Zealand on her own in the nineteenth century. This would have been quite a shocking thing and only desperation could have driven someone to this drastic action.
There are two heroes really in this book. The first, the rather snobby and dissolute Lord Ralph Kingdom, is rather unlikeable in the first part of the book but the ship passage to New Zealand in pursuit of the heroine, Harriet, changes him. I felt real sympathy for him in the depth of his passion and his desperation to make Harriet love him but not even murdering her Father can do this. I guess knowing how the passionate Father of Harriet has misusued her it is unlikely that she can then fall for a similarly passionate man in Lord Ralph. Only the gentle, kind befriending nature of the younger brother is able to begin to penetrate the depths of Harriet's distrust. At the end of the book the reader is able to glimpse a final thawing of Harriet's mistrust.
Well worth a read.
There are two heroes really in this book. The first, the rather snobby and dissolute Lord Ralph Kingdom, is rather unlikeable in the first part of the book but the ship passage to New Zealand in pursuit of the heroine, Harriet, changes him. I felt real sympathy for him in the depth of his passion and his desperation to make Harriet love him but not even murdering her Father can do this. I guess knowing how the passionate Father of Harriet has misusued her it is unlikely that she can then fall for a similarly passionate man in Lord Ralph. Only the gentle, kind befriending nature of the younger brother is able to begin to penetrate the depths of Harriet's distrust. At the end of the book the reader is able to glimpse a final thawing of Harriet's mistrust.
Well worth a read.
June 29, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book, but the disappointing ending is the reason I only gave it three stars. All of the "subversive" and feminist thinking by the protagonist and her sisters during the majority of the story led me to expect a truly heroic ending, wherein Harriet would stand up for herself and solve her issues with wit and bravery. Unfortunately, a man comes to the rescue right at the end, and the story trails off with her on the cusp of a romance that will "save" her. I would have liked this story a lot better if Harriet would have kicked ass and taken names at the end. Otherwise, what was the point of all her independent thought, sneaking, running away, and journal writing? Also, inserting a line wherein Harriet writes "imagine if women could vote!" at the very end of the story, then putting a post script page stating that New Zealand allowed women to vote several years after Harriet's journal entry smacked of artifice - it had nothing to do with the plot.
August 22, 2024
This is Historical Fiction at its best! Barbara Ewing weaves a fascinating story about a young Victorian lady, desperate to run away from her abusive father and therefore takes the terrible risk of sailing to New Zealand, where the ambitious try to make a home of a still very wild country.
Besides a very engrossing plot, that left me wincing quite often with the humiliations women had to endure in the nineteenth century, the author has a magical way in making the places come alive - you really sense the awful smells of a dirty and crowded London, the fog, the shabby lodges of the poor, the disease infected hovels… And then there is the inclement nature of New Zealand, the vegetation that does not what to yield to the new settlers, the cold wind, the wild beaches.
A perfect read, loved it!
Besides a very engrossing plot, that left me wincing quite often with the humiliations women had to endure in the nineteenth century, the author has a magical way in making the places come alive - you really sense the awful smells of a dirty and crowded London, the fog, the shabby lodges of the poor, the disease infected hovels… And then there is the inclement nature of New Zealand, the vegetation that does not what to yield to the new settlers, the cold wind, the wild beaches.
A perfect read, loved it!
February 24, 2011
I loved this book very much. It had me hooked from the first few pages. I couldn't get enough of it. This is my 2nd Barbara Ewing book that I have read and I must say I am really enjoying her books. I fell in love with Harriet the main character and her caring sister Mary. Both such lovely hearted girls. Harriet may be a privileged upper class girl but her life is far from privileged in may ways. It's a captivating read set during the cholera outbreak of 1849. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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