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The Devil's Tapestry
'Brilliantly written' and 'very intriguing,' Eve Laird, Women's Aid
It's 19 th century England. Women have few rights, no vote, and the law offers scant protection. When home is a dangerous place, what does a woman do?
For Rachel there is no escape from her bullying husband. Forced by circumstance to marry him, she cannot forget Joseph, her first love, who left to fight in the war with Napoleon. Decades later her great-granddaughter seems set on a similar path after a failed romance.
Set in the sleepy Berkshire village of Greenfield Down and based on a true story, this epic tale follows the fortunes of four families - the Grays, Barcombes, Marks, and FitzBarons - through the period separating the Napoleonic Wars and World War One. There are secrets they must keep hidden, but their closely woven tapestry of family ties, forged through marriage and friendship, seem unbreakable.
Then a catastrophic event tears them apart, with truly devastating consequences. Who will survive?
This story is based on true events and characters in the ancestry of the author's family.
The author will donate 20% of royalties to Women's Aid UK via Work for Good.
It's 19 th century England. Women have few rights, no vote, and the law offers scant protection. When home is a dangerous place, what does a woman do?
For Rachel there is no escape from her bullying husband. Forced by circumstance to marry him, she cannot forget Joseph, her first love, who left to fight in the war with Napoleon. Decades later her great-granddaughter seems set on a similar path after a failed romance.
Set in the sleepy Berkshire village of Greenfield Down and based on a true story, this epic tale follows the fortunes of four families - the Grays, Barcombes, Marks, and FitzBarons - through the period separating the Napoleonic Wars and World War One. There are secrets they must keep hidden, but their closely woven tapestry of family ties, forged through marriage and friendship, seem unbreakable.
Then a catastrophic event tears them apart, with truly devastating consequences. Who will survive?
This story is based on true events and characters in the ancestry of the author's family.
The author will donate 20% of royalties to Women's Aid UK via Work for Good.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
506 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 29, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 5, 2024
3.75 stars
This book is based on some real people discovered during the author’s genealogical research. It follows a few families from the early 1800s to just into the early 1900s (the bulk is during the 19th century). There is a historical note at the end that talks about some of what really happened.
(Early 1800s): Rachel and Joseph are in love and want to marry when Joseph tells Rachel that he is leaving to go to war. Rachel is devastated. She eventually marries someone who abuses her and her life ends up in jeopardy.
(Later 1800s): a few generations later, drunkard Jacob Marks (a descendant of Joseph) successively marries three women, each younger than the last. His first wife, Mary, falls down the stairs and dies; His second wife, Bess, disappears; his third wife, Tilda(? Or Thirza… these are two very similar names in the book and I can’t remember which one was Jacob’s third wife), is “lucky” enough to have close family nearby who start asking questions when she, too, disappears.
I thought this was really good, but for a while it went back and forth in time (which usually doesn’t bother me too much), and what was trickier was figuring out all the people and how they were related. There is a cast of characters at the front of the book, but even when I referred to it, I still had trouble figuring things out. That’s what took it down a ¼ star for me. However, I thought the storyline was very good.
This book is based on some real people discovered during the author’s genealogical research. It follows a few families from the early 1800s to just into the early 1900s (the bulk is during the 19th century). There is a historical note at the end that talks about some of what really happened.
(Early 1800s): Rachel and Joseph are in love and want to marry when Joseph tells Rachel that he is leaving to go to war. Rachel is devastated. She eventually marries someone who abuses her and her life ends up in jeopardy.
(Later 1800s): a few generations later, drunkard Jacob Marks (a descendant of Joseph) successively marries three women, each younger than the last. His first wife, Mary, falls down the stairs and dies; His second wife, Bess, disappears; his third wife, Tilda(? Or Thirza… these are two very similar names in the book and I can’t remember which one was Jacob’s third wife), is “lucky” enough to have close family nearby who start asking questions when she, too, disappears.
I thought this was really good, but for a while it went back and forth in time (which usually doesn’t bother me too much), and what was trickier was figuring out all the people and how they were related. There is a cast of characters at the front of the book, but even when I referred to it, I still had trouble figuring things out. That’s what took it down a ¼ star for me. However, I thought the storyline was very good.
March 25, 2024
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Etourdissant ! Un ébranlement de conscience ! Les destins de toute une famille du coté paternel de l'auteur, sont disséqués avec élégance jusq'aux moments où l'inimaginable se produit... et se répète !
De cette lignée fracassée par le malheur, la cause des femmes est soigneusement relatée deux siècles durant et le lecteur, effaré, apprend que rien n'a changé... ou si peu. quel sera l'avenir de ces enfants nés de mères mortes des violences conjuguales ?
Leurs boulversants portraits est le même qu'à notre époque : ils se sont débattus, en famille d'accueil ou à l'orphelinat... sans finalement trouver la sécurité d'un foyer aimant, et où leur fratrie est odieusement séparée !
Un cri d'angoisse ! Le rythme est effréné !
C'est un Appel à l'aide de ces malheureux, qui dure depuis déjà des siècles, sinon depuis l'aube de l'humanité. Un hurlement inaudible de ces femmes dont les maris abusent, battent, et parfois tuent.
Lisez ce livre ! Une épopée historique sur la vie et la condition des femmes, des petites gens, domestiques, femmes de ménage, mais aussi le comportement outrancier des châtelains qui ne convoitaient que les femmes à leur service, et la fortune des alliances arrangées.
De ces siècles de privilèges concédés aux riches, l'histoire passionnante, suit la trâme d'un secret de famille tellement honteux que presque tous les descendants (sauf un) n'ont pu se relever et sont morts... Le suspense est palpable, le monde ouvrier misérablement pauvre contraste férocement avec la bourgeoisie de l'époque. Et surtout, la seule alternative à une pauvresse, est d'épouser au plus vite un homme, bon si possible, afin de n'être pas un fardeau pour ses parents vieillissants...
Barbara Cole m'a plongé à une époque d'il y a deux cents ans, comme s'il s'agissait d'aujourd'hui ! L'effroyable joug domestique qu'exerçaient les maris sur leurs épouses, est malheureusement d'actualité encore de nos jours, où une femme meure sous les coups chaque minute dans le monde.
Un vibrant récit qui plaide pour ces femmesqui n'ont nulle porte de sortie. Une histoire nécéssaire, pour oeuvrer en leur faveur et protéger l'enfance.
Magistrale !
Etourdissant ! Un ébranlement de conscience ! Les destins de toute une famille du coté paternel de l'auteur, sont disséqués avec élégance jusq'aux moments où l'inimaginable se produit... et se répète !
De cette lignée fracassée par le malheur, la cause des femmes est soigneusement relatée deux siècles durant et le lecteur, effaré, apprend que rien n'a changé... ou si peu. quel sera l'avenir de ces enfants nés de mères mortes des violences conjuguales ?
Leurs boulversants portraits est le même qu'à notre époque : ils se sont débattus, en famille d'accueil ou à l'orphelinat... sans finalement trouver la sécurité d'un foyer aimant, et où leur fratrie est odieusement séparée !
Un cri d'angoisse ! Le rythme est effréné !
C'est un Appel à l'aide de ces malheureux, qui dure depuis déjà des siècles, sinon depuis l'aube de l'humanité. Un hurlement inaudible de ces femmes dont les maris abusent, battent, et parfois tuent.
Lisez ce livre ! Une épopée historique sur la vie et la condition des femmes, des petites gens, domestiques, femmes de ménage, mais aussi le comportement outrancier des châtelains qui ne convoitaient que les femmes à leur service, et la fortune des alliances arrangées.
De ces siècles de privilèges concédés aux riches, l'histoire passionnante, suit la trâme d'un secret de famille tellement honteux que presque tous les descendants (sauf un) n'ont pu se relever et sont morts... Le suspense est palpable, le monde ouvrier misérablement pauvre contraste férocement avec la bourgeoisie de l'époque. Et surtout, la seule alternative à une pauvresse, est d'épouser au plus vite un homme, bon si possible, afin de n'être pas un fardeau pour ses parents vieillissants...
Barbara Cole m'a plongé à une époque d'il y a deux cents ans, comme s'il s'agissait d'aujourd'hui ! L'effroyable joug domestique qu'exerçaient les maris sur leurs épouses, est malheureusement d'actualité encore de nos jours, où une femme meure sous les coups chaque minute dans le monde.
Un vibrant récit qui plaide pour ces femmesqui n'ont nulle porte de sortie. Une histoire nécéssaire, pour oeuvrer en leur faveur et protéger l'enfance.
Magistrale !
August 14, 2024
This is an incredibly deep dive into some historical fiction based on the author's family ties. There is so much detail and it weaves several generations of families. The list of characters in the front is indispensable and you will need to refer frequently (or at least I did).
I commend the author on the details and immense information. I would definitely recommend to read it in physical form in order to reference the aforementioned list of characters.
I commend the author on the details and immense information. I would definitely recommend to read it in physical form in order to reference the aforementioned list of characters.
February 19, 2024
Sweeping historical sagas are one of my favorite genres.
This author did an excellent job.
I was fascinated by this book.
I would definitely read more by this author.
This author did an excellent job.
I was fascinated by this book.
I would definitely read more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews