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The Workhouse Girl
Would her life always be one of poverty and struggle? The gripping new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Best of Daughters .
Circumstances force eight-year-old Sarah Scrase and her widowed mother Ellen to enter St Giles and St George's Workhouse in Bloomsbury. When Ellen dies in childbirth, an independent-minded, spirited Sarah falls foul of Workhouse Master Trigg and his cruel wife. Sarah's ordeal seems to be over when philanthropist and sugar mill owner James Arbuthnot takes her into his home. But her wealthy benefactor reports Trigg and his wife. And blaming Sarah for their misfortune, in a fit of revenge the couple decide to take the law into their own hands.
Circumstances force eight-year-old Sarah Scrase and her widowed mother Ellen to enter St Giles and St George's Workhouse in Bloomsbury. When Ellen dies in childbirth, an independent-minded, spirited Sarah falls foul of Workhouse Master Trigg and his cruel wife. Sarah's ordeal seems to be over when philanthropist and sugar mill owner James Arbuthnot takes her into his home. But her wealthy benefactor reports Trigg and his wife. And blaming Sarah for their misfortune, in a fit of revenge the couple decide to take the law into their own hands.
496 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2013
66 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Dilly Court
83 books416 followersDilly Court grew up in North-east London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband. She is the author of eighteen novels and also writes under the name of Lily Baxter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
February 18, 2018
Very well written story. Easy to read but very hard to put down.
September 22, 2013
This book is worth everyone of those stars and more. I could not put this book down. A brilliant book from a brilliant author. Dilly Court`s books are amazing!!!!! This one will keep you on the edge of your seat. More like this please Dilly.
February 17, 2014
I read about 40% of this book before giving up. It has many reviews from people who clearly adored it, but it was not for me. It has an implausible storyline with unlikely circumstances and unbelievable characters.
Only the first chapter of this book takes place in a workhouse, where nothing was described to my satisfaction. The reader is simply informed that the master and mistress of the house are stereotypical bullies who hate the children in their charge. They are sure they should have held out for more money after they sell young Sarah to a well-off gentleman who feels sorry for her. From the rich benefactor to the friendly kidnapper and prim schoolteacher who remains in the story for unexplained reasons after she is no longer needed, the characters in this were bland and unbelievable.
Besides the fact that this is not at all about living in a workhouse, I just could not get into this story or bring myself to care about the characters. Considering Sarah seemed to come out of things peachy-keen so far no matter what happened, I will assume that holds true for the rest of the novel.
If you enjoy light, feel-good stories, this may appeal to you. I was hoping for something of higher quality to follow up Jennifer Worth's Shadow of the Workhouse. This is not it.
Only the first chapter of this book takes place in a workhouse, where nothing was described to my satisfaction. The reader is simply informed that the master and mistress of the house are stereotypical bullies who hate the children in their charge. They are sure they should have held out for more money after they sell young Sarah to a well-off gentleman who feels sorry for her. From the rich benefactor to the friendly kidnapper and prim schoolteacher who remains in the story for unexplained reasons after she is no longer needed, the characters in this were bland and unbelievable.
Besides the fact that this is not at all about living in a workhouse, I just could not get into this story or bring myself to care about the characters. Considering Sarah seemed to come out of things peachy-keen so far no matter what happened, I will assume that holds true for the rest of the novel.
If you enjoy light, feel-good stories, this may appeal to you. I was hoping for something of higher quality to follow up Jennifer Worth's Shadow of the Workhouse. This is not it.
January 10, 2015
A really good book with continuous action, complex story line and many, many twists and turns. It contains intrigue, deceit, rich and poor, city and rural life, romance, death, justice, crime and compassion. Idealistically written more than realistically and it is suited to teenage and upwards age wise. Some sad moments but the author covers them so well that the tissues are unlikely to be needed.
Personally, I was drawn to this book because the author states she `did a great deal of research' and because the word `workhouse' is in the title. My expectations were to be immersed into the reality of the workhouse and the life of the poverty-stricken and underprivileged. The workhouse life is covered in the first 25 pages and is dealt with lightly and briefly enough not to overly distress the reader, and so, does not reveal the true depth of feeling the inmates would be suffering, nor the wider ranging activities of the workhouse and the overcrowding. Very few of the poor had good reading and writing abilities, some none at all. There vocabulary would have been limited too. When the characters were conversing they seemed to lapse in and out of character and this puzzled me with its inconsistencies. Sarah's theatre background gave her more credence for better speaking, but Nettie's does not.
I was very impressed by the breadth of the story but disappointed by the depth because of my expectations.
Personally, I was drawn to this book because the author states she `did a great deal of research' and because the word `workhouse' is in the title. My expectations were to be immersed into the reality of the workhouse and the life of the poverty-stricken and underprivileged. The workhouse life is covered in the first 25 pages and is dealt with lightly and briefly enough not to overly distress the reader, and so, does not reveal the true depth of feeling the inmates would be suffering, nor the wider ranging activities of the workhouse and the overcrowding. Very few of the poor had good reading and writing abilities, some none at all. There vocabulary would have been limited too. When the characters were conversing they seemed to lapse in and out of character and this puzzled me with its inconsistencies. Sarah's theatre background gave her more credence for better speaking, but Nettie's does not.
I was very impressed by the breadth of the story but disappointed by the depth because of my expectations.
January 17, 2014
This is one of the best books I've read in a long while. It reminded me of a female 'Oliver Twist' style story. The characters came to life for me, leaping off the page. I was sorry when it ended. I shall definitely look out for more books from this author.
February 5, 2014
Loved loved loved this book couldnt put this book down everyone who likes a good read should get this book.going to get more of this author books alot of twists and turns and I give this book a 5 star rating.
July 18, 2022
Dilly Court stars again, I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed a small bit at the end about Dilly herself.
March 3, 2014
This has a very unrealistic storyline which pissed me off half way through. But I wanted to know what actually happens in the end, so I just finished it.
The problem could be that this book was more suited for young people rather than mature readers.
The problem could be that this book was more suited for young people rather than mature readers.
October 6, 2013
Another fantastic story from Dilly Court. I could not put this book down. I just had to keep reading to find out what happened to Sarah. A. Well deserved five stars for The Workhouse Girl
November 7, 2013
I finished it right now, i have to say it was fantastic,couldn't put the book away.i hadn't read any book by this author till now but i am going to get her other novels.
January 17, 2014
Really enjoyed this book. Could not put it down, just wanted to know what happened next. Great read.
March 25, 2018
This was a really good story and hard to put down. I was a little disappointed that 5 years of Sarah's life were skipped over. The Nettie character was very hard to like and sometimes Sarah's character was frustrating....knowing how much the Triggs were determined to ruin her, I lost count of how many times she was completely careless...opening doors without asking who was there, or looking out a darn window first to see......that annoyed me. But almost everyone got a happy ending and the villains got what they had coming.
March 2, 2025
I started reading this morning and found it was so startling of the cruelty to young children in the workhouse it made me cry. but I have got to the point. The children are being put into a better position. i love Dilly Court novels they are cleverly written an they always have a more nice ending. So down to earth and understandable .Now I have finished today
I found one or two discrepancies as I was reading the book that whatever happened the bad people seemed to always be around and if things had not happened Sarah might not of been in a better position or helped her young friend Nettie to get what was owed to her. But I found I could not put it down and read several pages or chapters at a time each day I think I finished it in less than a week as I read it out to my husband who is interested in what I read so Tho I have had laryngitis I could not read when my throat was bad but when I could. I really find I like her books and are wanting things not to happen to the good characters and bad things to happen to the bad ones, but it seems when something is bad it turns out good in her books .I wish life was like a good book that things go right when its bad.
I found one or two discrepancies as I was reading the book that whatever happened the bad people seemed to always be around and if things had not happened Sarah might not of been in a better position or helped her young friend Nettie to get what was owed to her. But I found I could not put it down and read several pages or chapters at a time each day I think I finished it in less than a week as I read it out to my husband who is interested in what I read so Tho I have had laryngitis I could not read when my throat was bad but when I could. I really find I like her books and are wanting things not to happen to the good characters and bad things to happen to the bad ones, but it seems when something is bad it turns out good in her books .I wish life was like a good book that things go right when its bad.
December 13, 2025
The beginning was slow and a bit stale. It often seemed disjointed in parts but it did improve towards the middle of the story. The second part was definitely more captivating. I didn't quite understand why Grey went to find the owner of the mill to enquire about the fire and why Sarah was taken somewhere in relative comfort when the Triggs hated her so much. It didn't make much sense to me. However, Dilly is a good writer and the more I got into it, the better it became.
February 11, 2018
This was a very unique novel- I didn't expect it to be so dramatic, but it was, and it was wonderful watching - or reading!- about Sarah's growth and maturity into a young woman. I loved the characters too, and the twists were done beautifully. Kept me guessing to the end.
May 8, 2022
A spell binding book another excellent work by Dilly Court. Some parts of the story was easily guessed correctly what would happen .other parts surprised me .
It's good to see the baddies get there comupence in the end
It's good to see the baddies get there comupence in the end
October 7, 2025
thank goodness that is over ! i love Dilly Court but this book was awful, i really didn’t enjoy it at all, i understand that her books are poverty and disaster based but this was too much… i nearly DNF’d it so many times but i am no quitter… and i have never dnf’d a book
September 20, 2017
Brilliant read
Wow I loved reading this book I was unsure at first but I'm glad I carried on reading great read
Wow I loved reading this book I was unsure at first but I'm glad I carried on reading great read
January 9, 2018
Excellent reading
Excellent reading count out it down had to read it to the end x silly court really drawers you in
Excellent reading count out it down had to read it to the end x silly court really drawers you in
February 4, 2018
An enjoyable read if sometimes a bit unbelievable at times. The ending is heart-warming.
February 27, 2018
Did not love it or hate it. A lot was going on in this book. Maybe too much. I wasn't fond of the characters either.
January 14, 2019
As always a fantastic read! Dilly’s books are so lovely and heart warming that I just can’t put them down!
January 19, 2019
Excellent
This is the first book I have read by this author, loved it. I could not put it down read it in two days.
This is the first book I have read by this author, loved it. I could not put it down read it in two days.
December 31, 2019
Nice easy read. The story was well written and easily to follow. Really enjoyed how descriptive Dilly was throughout the book and you could picture the characters and their surrounding.
February 17, 2020
Wonderful story
Enjoyed this book so many twists and turns but all is well in the end which is what we all want.There where lots of suprises
Enjoyed this book so many twists and turns but all is well in the end which is what we all want.There where lots of suprises
June 15, 2020
Beautifully written. This was well out of my comfort zone but it was absolutely impossible to put down, and I loved it.
September 17, 2020
The writing is nice, however, there are far too many convenient coincidences in the plot. Some of the plot points seem to be kind of pointless.
February 18, 2021
Terrific book!
Great read happenings constantly! Read straight through as could not put down. Well worth a read so interesting a book!
Great read happenings constantly! Read straight through as could not put down. Well worth a read so interesting a book!
July 10, 2021
Very slow moving and not believable
August 1, 2021
Terrific but haunting period piece.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews