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Peggy: The Early Years
Emily
An historical Romance, set in the Portsmouth Borough Asylum during the latter years of World War 1.
With her sweetheart away on the front-line in Europe and through a series of life-shattering events, Emily finds herself losing both her family and her mind. Now living within the confines of the Asylum and forced to work in the laundry as part of her treatment, she suffers more and more and can see no end to her suffering. As time passes, things start to improve when she is moved from the laundry to working on the asylum farm. Will this be a way for her to recover fully, or is she doomed to stay behind these high walls for the rest of her life?
An historical Romance, set in the Portsmouth Borough Asylum during the latter years of World War 1.
With her sweetheart away on the front-line in Europe and through a series of life-shattering events, Emily finds herself losing both her family and her mind. Now living within the confines of the Asylum and forced to work in the laundry as part of her treatment, she suffers more and more and can see no end to her suffering. As time passes, things start to improve when she is moved from the laundry to working on the asylum farm. Will this be a way for her to recover fully, or is she doomed to stay behind these high walls for the rest of her life?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 21, 2024
It was interesting to read a story set in Portsmouth and in places that I’m familiar with and there was some great historical detail. However I didn’t feel that Emily’s story reflected the vast majority of women who ended up in the system. Also found the relating of her story to the various characters who entered the narrative a bit laborious. Difficult call for the writer though as a more reflective account of the times would make very depressing reading
September 10, 2023
Exquisitely painful. A simple but powerful story of life, death, prejudice, and love; sublime.
They called it the madness. A term reserved for women who were then taken away and placed in an asylum where there was precious little kindness or understanding.
Emily’s madness? She was a single mother-to-be as her man had been killed on the battlefield of France towards the end of WW1. It was a common occurrence. Too many men were being killed and as Emily’s boyfriend was going off to the front, so she allowed him to go further. He wanted to get married but she didn’t want to become a widow; she had a life to live. The trouble is, women need a man, don’t they? A woman needs a husband to care for; it was the social norm. However, things were changing and Emily did not want to become a skivvy for a man, even if she loved him.
Emily’s madness? Her mother had died and her dad needed her as a skivvy. He remarried quickly and the step mother needed a skivvy and, disapproved of Emily’s condition and did not approve her father’s decision to help her raise the baby; she insisted that he abandon his despoiled daughter.
Emily’s madness? The step mother took the baby away at birth and gave it away, and this tipped Emily over the top; understandable? Not in those days, and so she was committed, and so began a trial of survival with no hope, but after many tribulations and wretchedness, there appeared one kind nurse and after all the cruelties Emily she arranged a job working the fields of the asylum. It was her salvation. She found that working outside, outside of her emotional and psychological prison, the brick walls, regardless of the weather or season, she loved the work.
A young man, not conscripted as he was a farmer took a liking to Emily. He became obsessed with her but, Emily was older than him; a no no in these times.
This is not the first book I have read by Lawrence and I have found her to be a compelling writer and in this tour-de-force book she captivates the thoughts and emotions of all the characters and how they justify their actions. She creates what it must be like to have no hope in an Institution.
This book not only charts the prejudices and cruelty of the age but also shines a light on hope, and this is what Emily and the young farmer needed. Not always an easy read but I found my heart swelling as the story progressed accompanied with my own tears; the trials of Emily and the love and despair of the young man, so much so he considers enlisting, after all, his love was doomed, yes?
I cannot recommend this book enough but be prepared for an exquisitely painful journey, but that is life, or death, but hope, it is worth striving for if you have nothing else – 5 stars
They called it the madness. A term reserved for women who were then taken away and placed in an asylum where there was precious little kindness or understanding.
Emily’s madness? She was a single mother-to-be as her man had been killed on the battlefield of France towards the end of WW1. It was a common occurrence. Too many men were being killed and as Emily’s boyfriend was going off to the front, so she allowed him to go further. He wanted to get married but she didn’t want to become a widow; she had a life to live. The trouble is, women need a man, don’t they? A woman needs a husband to care for; it was the social norm. However, things were changing and Emily did not want to become a skivvy for a man, even if she loved him.
Emily’s madness? Her mother had died and her dad needed her as a skivvy. He remarried quickly and the step mother needed a skivvy and, disapproved of Emily’s condition and did not approve her father’s decision to help her raise the baby; she insisted that he abandon his despoiled daughter.
Emily’s madness? The step mother took the baby away at birth and gave it away, and this tipped Emily over the top; understandable? Not in those days, and so she was committed, and so began a trial of survival with no hope, but after many tribulations and wretchedness, there appeared one kind nurse and after all the cruelties Emily she arranged a job working the fields of the asylum. It was her salvation. She found that working outside, outside of her emotional and psychological prison, the brick walls, regardless of the weather or season, she loved the work.
A young man, not conscripted as he was a farmer took a liking to Emily. He became obsessed with her but, Emily was older than him; a no no in these times.
This is not the first book I have read by Lawrence and I have found her to be a compelling writer and in this tour-de-force book she captivates the thoughts and emotions of all the characters and how they justify their actions. She creates what it must be like to have no hope in an Institution.
This book not only charts the prejudices and cruelty of the age but also shines a light on hope, and this is what Emily and the young farmer needed. Not always an easy read but I found my heart swelling as the story progressed accompanied with my own tears; the trials of Emily and the love and despair of the young man, so much so he considers enlisting, after all, his love was doomed, yes?
I cannot recommend this book enough but be prepared for an exquisitely painful journey, but that is life, or death, but hope, it is worth striving for if you have nothing else – 5 stars
February 29, 2024
After her lover is killed in the First World War and her newborn child is taken away, Emily’s stepmother bars her from the family home. As the tragedies mount, young Emily finds herself out on the streets with nowhere to go—until a kindly stranger intervenes and takes her to Portsmouth Borough Asylum.
I thought I knew what to expect from this book: a young woman sent to the local mental asylum where her problems would inevitably be made worse through ill-treatment at the hands of cruel and uncaring staff and traumatic confrontations with fellow patients. But I’m happy to report that I was completely wrong.
Though Emily’s circumstances are often harrowing, the asylum proves to be just that—a refuge from the outside world: a place of safety. Barring one brief encounter, the asylum staff are kind and show great concern for the welfare of their patients. Thankfully, there is no Nurse Ratched, and the Portsmouth Borough Asylum is not Arkham’s Sanitorium of HP Lovecraft fame. Although the book is fiction, the author carried out extensive research into patient records of the time, and both the characters and the story feel very real.
The majority of chapters are narrated from Emily’s perspective, with additional characters coming to the fore at different times to tell us the complete story. I enjoyed this structure very much as it provided a broader view of Emily’s world than one told solely from her point of view.
Emily is a gentle book, with well-drawn characters and a true-to-life ‘feel’. A real treat for readers who want their historical fiction to give them an authentic picture of the past.
I thought I knew what to expect from this book: a young woman sent to the local mental asylum where her problems would inevitably be made worse through ill-treatment at the hands of cruel and uncaring staff and traumatic confrontations with fellow patients. But I’m happy to report that I was completely wrong.
Though Emily’s circumstances are often harrowing, the asylum proves to be just that—a refuge from the outside world: a place of safety. Barring one brief encounter, the asylum staff are kind and show great concern for the welfare of their patients. Thankfully, there is no Nurse Ratched, and the Portsmouth Borough Asylum is not Arkham’s Sanitorium of HP Lovecraft fame. Although the book is fiction, the author carried out extensive research into patient records of the time, and both the characters and the story feel very real.
The majority of chapters are narrated from Emily’s perspective, with additional characters coming to the fore at different times to tell us the complete story. I enjoyed this structure very much as it provided a broader view of Emily’s world than one told solely from her point of view.
Emily is a gentle book, with well-drawn characters and a true-to-life ‘feel’. A real treat for readers who want their historical fiction to give them an authentic picture of the past.
August 5, 2023
Emily by Christine Lawrence is a story of revolving doors, as we follow our hero (and she really is one of the unsung heroes of her time) into adulthood. Her mother is wise, her sweetheart is sweet, and she is ambitious within the confines of Great War Britain.
Nobody’s life completely follows their own map. Emily faces challenges common in her day, and still equally relevant today. As with many of us, the challenges chip away at her mental fragility, in a time when society could be less than supportive of the ever increasing pressures for mental health services (sound familiar?).
Emily is a beautiful account of one woman’s struggle with life. The same struggle many of us will endure today. But, where there’s life, there’s hope.
Nobody’s life completely follows their own map. Emily faces challenges common in her day, and still equally relevant today. As with many of us, the challenges chip away at her mental fragility, in a time when society could be less than supportive of the ever increasing pressures for mental health services (sound familiar?).
Emily is a beautiful account of one woman’s struggle with life. The same struggle many of us will endure today. But, where there’s life, there’s hope.
October 31, 2023
This is a minutely researched, beautifully written story of a single mother in Portsmouth during the First World War. With her mother dead and her lover gone off to war, only to be killed, Emily’s father remarries and she finds herself, almost unbelievably, in an asylum. Her fight to rebuild her life and find her lost baby is beautifully and empathetically told by Christine Lawrence, with not just Emily herself but all the people she encounters, those who help and those who do not, realistically portrayed. I enjoyed the small details of how difficult life was then. It’s hard to believe that this all happened not much over a century ago. This is not the sort of book I would normally pluck off a bookshelf (more fool me!) but I’m so glad I’ve read it. You should too.
February 27, 2024
I stopped reading with just two chapters remaining because I didn't want this book to end.
The story is both beautiful and tragic. I usually read thrillers so it takes a great story to keep me interested.
I loved reading about Emily's life and her troubles, with many references to places that I know.
This book is gripping, it crept into me and took ahold of my soul.
The book is set in Portsmouth during the war, following Emily and her bumpy life.
I highly recommend 👌
The story is both beautiful and tragic. I usually read thrillers so it takes a great story to keep me interested.
I loved reading about Emily's life and her troubles, with many references to places that I know.
This book is gripping, it crept into me and took ahold of my soul.
The book is set in Portsmouth during the war, following Emily and her bumpy life.
I highly recommend 👌
July 9, 2023
Engrossing and moving. This book charts the journey of a young woman a hundred years ago who suffers terrible things due to morality and prejudices of the day. Emily’s struggles are presented through elegantly told charters, weaving in the strands of other characters. The sense of place is palpable, evoking wartime Hampshire, city and countryside, with lightly worked details.
We’re rooting for her throughout, and the pace increases as obstacles cluster to prevent her finding happiness. A satisfying read, with wry winks to modern attitudes (have we really changed that much?) further enlivening this beautifully created old-fashioned tale.
We’re rooting for her throughout, and the pace increases as obstacles cluster to prevent her finding happiness. A satisfying read, with wry winks to modern attitudes (have we really changed that much?) further enlivening this beautifully created old-fashioned tale.
February 11, 2024
Powerful, bittersweet love story of WW1 through the eyes of Emily - which gives us a unique perspective of Portsmouth Asylum & the prejudices, societal expectations of that time period and her journey back towards redemption. Recommended read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews