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In the Margins
We are the spaces between the words.
Inspired by a real person, In the Margins is the story of spirited book-collector Frances Wolfreston—the woman who uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy.
England, 1647. As civil war gives way to an uneasy peace and Puritanism becomes the letter of the law, Frances Wolfreston, a rector's wife, is charged with enforcing religious compliance by informing on her parishioners. This awful task triggers memories of her mother, Alice, who inspired Frances’ love of books and secretly practised Catholicism at great risk. Conflicted, she doesn’t report a reclusive and mysterious midwife to delay her going to gaol.
As Frances takes increasingly bold steps to help the women and children of the parish, she attracts the ire of a patron of the church who questions why Frances collects books that she charges are entertainment. When her mother is gaoled for religious crimes, the secrets Frances hides from her husband begin to surface, and she is faced with an impossible comply with the strict dictates of the new laws, or risk everything to free the women she cares for.
In this tender and powerful work of imagination, the life of a remarkable woman who wrote and lived in the margins in a time where women's voices went unheard is restored to history. Beautifully written and deeply moving, In the Margins is a testament to the way literature can illuminate our inner lives and set us free when the world around us is covered in darkness.
Inspired by a real person, In the Margins is the story of spirited book-collector Frances Wolfreston—the woman who uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy.
England, 1647. As civil war gives way to an uneasy peace and Puritanism becomes the letter of the law, Frances Wolfreston, a rector's wife, is charged with enforcing religious compliance by informing on her parishioners. This awful task triggers memories of her mother, Alice, who inspired Frances’ love of books and secretly practised Catholicism at great risk. Conflicted, she doesn’t report a reclusive and mysterious midwife to delay her going to gaol.
As Frances takes increasingly bold steps to help the women and children of the parish, she attracts the ire of a patron of the church who questions why Frances collects books that she charges are entertainment. When her mother is gaoled for religious crimes, the secrets Frances hides from her husband begin to surface, and she is faced with an impossible comply with the strict dictates of the new laws, or risk everything to free the women she cares for.
In this tender and powerful work of imagination, the life of a remarkable woman who wrote and lived in the margins in a time where women's voices went unheard is restored to history. Beautifully written and deeply moving, In the Margins is a testament to the way literature can illuminate our inner lives and set us free when the world around us is covered in darkness.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2024
22 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Gail Holmes
1 book13 followersGail Holmes grew up in Scotland, the youngest of seven children and the only girl. She graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration. She moved to London to join an international energy company and had an international career there for twenty-three years as a project manager and commercial manager. During this time Gail also married and had five children. She moved to Australia in 2013. Her creative writing journey began when she was a working mum with very young children in Shanghai, China. Unable to get back to sleep one night, Gail started writing short stories about living in Shanghai. As this writing habit continued to grow, she attended short courses at the City College of Literature in London and then later studied the Melbourne University’s Master of Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing programme, graduating in 2021. In the Margins is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
November 30, 2024
What a Gem! I think this book chose me and I’m so glad it did.
Though it is a work of fiction, this story has been fashioned around a true story and real people…as the cover blurb describes…Herstory, Motherhood and Freedom.
This is a story well worth reading, if only for its glimpse into the lives of people (especially women) in Cromwells’ time in England where religious compliance was the law, and people were compelled to attend church. Penalties for non compliance were strict and rigidly enforced with an unsympathetic determination.
Set in England in the year 1647. Frances Wolfreston is the wife of the local rector in the town of Statfold..
Her mother was a huge influence in educating Frances from an early age and taught her to read and write, a rare thing for girls, especially in those times.
Her mother loved poetry and the written word and had a large library of books and collections of written texts, especially the works of Shakespeare, which she favoured and would often read from and recite to Frances...instilling in her, that appetite for learning and an enduring love of books.
So it was that Frances grew up with an equally voracious appetite for reading, and is now an avid collector of old books, especially any works of Shakespeare, boasting her own private library and enviable collection of rare books.
The fact that Frances was so well educated and was able to read and write made her future prospects of finding a good husband, and therefore a more comfortable lifestyle, more promising.
She married Henry Wolfreston, the local rector and they settled into a comfortable lifestyle together.
Because she was educated Frances was entrusted with helping Henry with the bookkeeping at the rectory, a job she did with due diligence.
Times were hard though, and people found it more and more difficult to afford their rents and tithes, all hands were needed to make ends meet and the church was beginning to lose parishioners…and, as a result, funds.
When new laws had been introduced to enforce existing laws of religious compliance, Frances was charged with the task of officially recording in the church ledgers, the names of every person failing to attend church…regardless of their reasons or circumstance…making them imminently liable for prosecution.
This was an onerous task and one which Frances found untenable and weighing heavily on her heart as she knew all of these people and cared about their wellbeing.
However, her husband Henry was adamant that if she didn’t record those names then his own livelihood would also be in dire trouble…and as a consequence hers.
One woman in particular who regularly failed to attend church was a cause of great concern to Frances, although she was compelled to register this woman’s name, she went out of her way to try and convince her to attend church…this gesture is the beginning of a series of catastrophic events that will have the reader rapidly turning the pages.
I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book, although I was intrigued by the introduction, it was not at all what I expected…it was by far more.
A thoroughly good read and one I would highly recommend to readers of any genre.
Favourite quote:
“My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break,”
This is an excellent debut from this author Gail Holmes and I look forward to more of her work in the future.
I loved it!
5⭐️s
Ps… Awesome cover too!!
Though it is a work of fiction, this story has been fashioned around a true story and real people…as the cover blurb describes…Herstory, Motherhood and Freedom.
This is a story well worth reading, if only for its glimpse into the lives of people (especially women) in Cromwells’ time in England where religious compliance was the law, and people were compelled to attend church. Penalties for non compliance were strict and rigidly enforced with an unsympathetic determination.
Set in England in the year 1647. Frances Wolfreston is the wife of the local rector in the town of Statfold..
Her mother was a huge influence in educating Frances from an early age and taught her to read and write, a rare thing for girls, especially in those times.
Her mother loved poetry and the written word and had a large library of books and collections of written texts, especially the works of Shakespeare, which she favoured and would often read from and recite to Frances...instilling in her, that appetite for learning and an enduring love of books.
So it was that Frances grew up with an equally voracious appetite for reading, and is now an avid collector of old books, especially any works of Shakespeare, boasting her own private library and enviable collection of rare books.
The fact that Frances was so well educated and was able to read and write made her future prospects of finding a good husband, and therefore a more comfortable lifestyle, more promising.
She married Henry Wolfreston, the local rector and they settled into a comfortable lifestyle together.
Because she was educated Frances was entrusted with helping Henry with the bookkeeping at the rectory, a job she did with due diligence.
Times were hard though, and people found it more and more difficult to afford their rents and tithes, all hands were needed to make ends meet and the church was beginning to lose parishioners…and, as a result, funds.
When new laws had been introduced to enforce existing laws of religious compliance, Frances was charged with the task of officially recording in the church ledgers, the names of every person failing to attend church…regardless of their reasons or circumstance…making them imminently liable for prosecution.
This was an onerous task and one which Frances found untenable and weighing heavily on her heart as she knew all of these people and cared about their wellbeing.
However, her husband Henry was adamant that if she didn’t record those names then his own livelihood would also be in dire trouble…and as a consequence hers.
One woman in particular who regularly failed to attend church was a cause of great concern to Frances, although she was compelled to register this woman’s name, she went out of her way to try and convince her to attend church…this gesture is the beginning of a series of catastrophic events that will have the reader rapidly turning the pages.
I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book, although I was intrigued by the introduction, it was not at all what I expected…it was by far more.
A thoroughly good read and one I would highly recommend to readers of any genre.
Favourite quote:
“My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break,”
This is an excellent debut from this author Gail Holmes and I look forward to more of her work in the future.
I loved it!
5⭐️s
Ps… Awesome cover too!!
July 12, 2024
In the Margins is a wonderful historical fiction set during the 1640s, at the height of the English civil war. The story follows Frances Wolfreston, a rector’s wife, who was a real person. The story centres around religion, Shakespeare, family, and the oppression of women. Gail Holmes debut novel is such a beautifully written story, and the cover artwork is gorgeous too (reminds me of the Strawberry Thief!). With thanks to Better Reading for my preview copy. This was a 5-star read for me!
October 29, 2024
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this new release by Gail Holmes is an exception to that rule. The story contained within is every bit as glorious as the cover adorning it. Set in the mid 1600s, In The Margins is a story for book lovers and book collectors, an ode to the home library and the ownership of fine books.
It's also a story of religious suppression, war, tyranny, witch hunting, and misogyny. The writing is beautiful, the story is compelling, the characters finely wrought and well fleshed out. I read this one rather swiftly as it was near on impossible to put down.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for the book review copy!
It's also a story of religious suppression, war, tyranny, witch hunting, and misogyny. The writing is beautiful, the story is compelling, the characters finely wrought and well fleshed out. I read this one rather swiftly as it was near on impossible to put down.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Ultimo Press for the book review copy!
August 29, 2024
Thank you Ultimo Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
An apt title for a society that marginalised women in the 1600s era and abiding by strict and puritans metaphorically kept you within acceptable margins.
History is full of pioneering, assured and proactive women who laid solid foundations for future generations to build upon.
Frances Wolfreston was a real person from the era who is renowned for her extensive collection of rare books and preserving some Shakespeare’s earliest works.
Life as a rectors wife was hard in a period where religious compliance was strict.
Women were being burned on the stake for alleged witchcraft and they were expected to obey their husband or father.
Frances had to walk a fine line where difference between right and wrong was blurry.
I must admit I admire a reimagining and authors are doing it so well.
Bringing back a person from the past and making her a strong character honours her legacy.
An apt title for a society that marginalised women in the 1600s era and abiding by strict and puritans metaphorically kept you within acceptable margins.
History is full of pioneering, assured and proactive women who laid solid foundations for future generations to build upon.
Frances Wolfreston was a real person from the era who is renowned for her extensive collection of rare books and preserving some Shakespeare’s earliest works.
Life as a rectors wife was hard in a period where religious compliance was strict.
Women were being burned on the stake for alleged witchcraft and they were expected to obey their husband or father.
Frances had to walk a fine line where difference between right and wrong was blurry.
I must admit I admire a reimagining and authors are doing it so well.
Bringing back a person from the past and making her a strong character honours her legacy.
October 19, 2024
In the margins is a beautifully written novel by Gail Holmes that marks her literary debut and includes her in that rare minority of talented authors whose first published work is commendable. A very pleasant read that transports us back to rural England in the 1600s. The characters are delicately portrayed coming to life very quickly through a solid plot.
Gail’s style is extremely intelligent - it surprised me that despite not using overly complex sentences or long descriptive paragraphs, she is able to convey so much, create such depth, emotion, nostalgia and beauty. Her prose is quite visual and I could perfectly recreate the English countryside landscape in my mind. I find her style uplifting and poetic.
Some powerful universal messages in this gem.
Firstly, the transformative power of education - one of Frances’ most intense wishes for the most disadvantaged in her small community. It is especially inspiring that Frances knew that education is a life-changing possibility in the context of a time when women simply did not have a voice in society.
Secondly, the underestimated power of the union of strong women who support each other, embrace each other, admire each other, help each other, respect each other's social/political/religious points of view and put their alliances and camaraderie above their differences, understanding that only when female souls are united, some change may be possible.
Third, the love for literature and the importance of how the arts in general and books in particular can be a safe place and act as the best therapy, especially during dark, difficult, challenging times, because it allows us to escape from the reality we live in, letting us travel to somewhere else in our mind and bringing an inner light that lift us up.
I personally found very touching Frances relationship with her mother. The fact of how much it hurts the physical separation between mother and daughter brought tears to my eyes. Frances relationship with her husband Henry is also built in an honest way, including the couple’s little daily gestures and everyday conflicts , which results in a realistic portrait. How Gail exposes Frances’ inner conflicts between her will and duty made me feel almost anxious. Frances' pregnancy is present in many scenes without mentioning it - it is subtly described in the way she perceives smells, in how she is distressed, in how she feels. That dimension of the character is brilliantly achieved through a delicate hypersensitivity in Frances’ mood.
Family, love, friendship, wisdom, trauma, unjustice, religion, grief, domestic violence, prejudice, betrayal, motherhood, pregnancy, marriage, hope, literature, and the complex web of life’s relationships are beautifully illustrated.
The references to Shakespeare and other authors of that period, along with the books and quotes from those books referenced, add another layer of intellectual interest to “In the Margins” that will make a delight for bookworms and literature lovers.
There are a few quotes truly worth noting and the last two sentences of the book couldn’t be more moving. The end really touched me. I find special and extremely exquisite how Gail defines the invisibility of women throughout history. She expresses this eternal problem in the most aesthetically beautiful metaphor:
“We are the spaces between the words of a book. The words are what people see, what they argue over, fight wars over, swoon over, collective. Yet without the spaces between, there is nothing at all. We are the spaces, Mrs Edwards.”
Feminist, wise and poetic. Frances' journey is not to be missed. Reading “In the margins” is a great pleasure and, if I may use the analogy, in the end it's like listening to Billie Eillish’s voice: at some point it will give you chills - in an unexpected, genuine, unpretentious way… simply wonderfully.
Gail’s style is extremely intelligent - it surprised me that despite not using overly complex sentences or long descriptive paragraphs, she is able to convey so much, create such depth, emotion, nostalgia and beauty. Her prose is quite visual and I could perfectly recreate the English countryside landscape in my mind. I find her style uplifting and poetic.
Some powerful universal messages in this gem.
Firstly, the transformative power of education - one of Frances’ most intense wishes for the most disadvantaged in her small community. It is especially inspiring that Frances knew that education is a life-changing possibility in the context of a time when women simply did not have a voice in society.
Secondly, the underestimated power of the union of strong women who support each other, embrace each other, admire each other, help each other, respect each other's social/political/religious points of view and put their alliances and camaraderie above their differences, understanding that only when female souls are united, some change may be possible.
Third, the love for literature and the importance of how the arts in general and books in particular can be a safe place and act as the best therapy, especially during dark, difficult, challenging times, because it allows us to escape from the reality we live in, letting us travel to somewhere else in our mind and bringing an inner light that lift us up.
I personally found very touching Frances relationship with her mother. The fact of how much it hurts the physical separation between mother and daughter brought tears to my eyes. Frances relationship with her husband Henry is also built in an honest way, including the couple’s little daily gestures and everyday conflicts , which results in a realistic portrait. How Gail exposes Frances’ inner conflicts between her will and duty made me feel almost anxious. Frances' pregnancy is present in many scenes without mentioning it - it is subtly described in the way she perceives smells, in how she is distressed, in how she feels. That dimension of the character is brilliantly achieved through a delicate hypersensitivity in Frances’ mood.
Family, love, friendship, wisdom, trauma, unjustice, religion, grief, domestic violence, prejudice, betrayal, motherhood, pregnancy, marriage, hope, literature, and the complex web of life’s relationships are beautifully illustrated.
The references to Shakespeare and other authors of that period, along with the books and quotes from those books referenced, add another layer of intellectual interest to “In the Margins” that will make a delight for bookworms and literature lovers.
There are a few quotes truly worth noting and the last two sentences of the book couldn’t be more moving. The end really touched me. I find special and extremely exquisite how Gail defines the invisibility of women throughout history. She expresses this eternal problem in the most aesthetically beautiful metaphor:
“We are the spaces between the words of a book. The words are what people see, what they argue over, fight wars over, swoon over, collective. Yet without the spaces between, there is nothing at all. We are the spaces, Mrs Edwards.”
Feminist, wise and poetic. Frances' journey is not to be missed. Reading “In the margins” is a great pleasure and, if I may use the analogy, in the end it's like listening to Billie Eillish’s voice: at some point it will give you chills - in an unexpected, genuine, unpretentious way… simply wonderfully.
June 30, 2025
"In The Margins" centres around a few months in the life of Frances Wolfreston, a rectors wife. There is turmoil in the country with years of war, conflict with Royalists, a deep seated understanding of how women should behave, expectations that there is a class divide and that the lower classes remain uneducated, Puritanism comes centre stage and laws are enforced which leads to imprisonments and helplessness along with witch trials still in practice.
On top of all this Frances is dealing with recent loss, a child with a disability and childhood trauma, but she pushes though with her love of books, especially works of Shakespeare, that ground her and keep her on the correct moral path.
I really enjoyed this novel and going on this personal journey with Frances.
** Thank you Better Reading for an ARC in return for an honest review. #BRPreview
On top of all this Frances is dealing with recent loss, a child with a disability and childhood trauma, but she pushes though with her love of books, especially works of Shakespeare, that ground her and keep her on the correct moral path.
I really enjoyed this novel and going on this personal journey with Frances.
** Thank you Better Reading for an ARC in return for an honest review. #BRPreview
December 8, 2024
An engaging poignant lament of life in rural England in the mid 1600’s – the hardships and deprivations, the interpersonal relationships, the biases and politics during a time of upheaval. A very good historical fiction that is touching and caring, exploring humanity from a female perspective [with a dose of feminism] intertwined with a love of reading, books and literature. A bit morose but ultimately uplifting. The very believable, endearing characterisation of Frances Wolfreston creates a woman one can relate to, empathise with and feel compassion for as Frannie overcomes personal adversities to make a difference to the lives of others.
January 15, 2025
as virginia woolf once said, “she pervades poetry from cover to cover, she is all but absent from history” and i think this sums up this novel perfectly. what i’m loving so much about the historical fiction genre is the giving back of a voice to people in particularly women who played an important role in their community only to go undocumented and forgotten about. as a lover of all things to do with books and shakespeare reading about France’s life was incredibly interesting especially since she preserved so much of his legacy.
July 5, 2025
Gail Holmes has written a well researched historical novel based on Frances Wolfreston. I enjoyed Holmes’ fictional interpretation of this inspiring woman and her love for literature and her growing book collection, especially during an era when women’s literacy was minimal and was not encouraged. The storyline around religious compliance and her mother being in gaol was interesting, too.
While reading, this quote stood out to me: "My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.”
While reading, this quote stood out to me: "My tongue will tell the anger of my heart, or else my heart concealing it will break.”
July 26, 2024
In The Margins
By Gail Holmes
This title was first attempted by my partner he struggled to get into the story and passed it on to me, I was hesitant going by his reaction as we normally read similar books, but I was pleasantly surprised, by chapter 9 I was invested in the story and it’s characters.
Historically written close to the beginning of the 17th century, follows the rector’s wife who is tasked with noting who does not attend church each week and in time these people would face trial and punishment.
The story follows her journey and struggle to perform this in the time period of women, not having a voice.
I looked forward to coming home each day and reading a few chapters of Gail’s novel, I would recommend this title to other historical fiction readers.
Thank you, Better Reading and Ultimo Press for allowing me to read and review this.
By Gail Holmes
This title was first attempted by my partner he struggled to get into the story and passed it on to me, I was hesitant going by his reaction as we normally read similar books, but I was pleasantly surprised, by chapter 9 I was invested in the story and it’s characters.
Historically written close to the beginning of the 17th century, follows the rector’s wife who is tasked with noting who does not attend church each week and in time these people would face trial and punishment.
The story follows her journey and struggle to perform this in the time period of women, not having a voice.
I looked forward to coming home each day and reading a few chapters of Gail’s novel, I would recommend this title to other historical fiction readers.
Thank you, Better Reading and Ultimo Press for allowing me to read and review this.
July 12, 2024
In the Margins by Gail Holmes, set in England 1647, a time of conflict, a time when religion is forced upon you, and follows the life of Frances Wolfreston, a lover of books and the written word. Religion serves the basis of the novel along with Frances, a woman, a mother, inspiring other women and children to fall in love with books and find a voice. The novel is wholesome and powerful whilst relaying history of the time. The first novel by Gail Holmes and I loved it. Looking forward to adding more writings by GH to my library.
July 1, 2024
Fantastically written, incredibly immersive and overall an enjoyable read! If you're into your historical fiction, this is the book for you! Cannot wait for more from Gail in the future.
February 14, 2025
Set in the mid 1600s in England the story is about books, reading, male dominance, female suppression, and the rise of the Puritan era, Cromwell, and King Charles . A time when book collections were treasures.
The strong character of Frannie, wife of the local vicar was nicely crafted along with the other characters in the story.
And a delightful cover to hold these pages in place.
The strong character of Frannie, wife of the local vicar was nicely crafted along with the other characters in the story.
And a delightful cover to hold these pages in place.
January 3, 2025
In the Margins by Gail Holmes is a beautiful new book 📖 set in England, 1647.
It's the story of a Book Collector 📖 Frances Wolfreston ~ the woman who uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare's legacy.
It was a tapestry of beautifully written words and what's written in the margins.
It was very well written and totally engaging.
I enjoyed reading about the era and it's history.
It's the story of a Book Collector 📖 Frances Wolfreston ~ the woman who uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare's legacy.
It was a tapestry of beautifully written words and what's written in the margins.
It was very well written and totally engaging.
I enjoyed reading about the era and it's history.
April 26, 2024
A lovely read - so immersive and filled with interesting characters
July 2, 2024
Review summary: Experience 17th century England and the power of reading.
This is a book for fans of history and hearing female voices. In the margins is a book that explores the intersection of religion, women’s experience and the harshness of the 17th century.
Holmes does a good job setting the scene of rural England for rector’s wife, Frances, and the hardships experienced at the time.
This was a challenging book for me to get into, as it felt like this book was a snapshot of life back then, rather than a specific plot. I enjoyed the reality it paints and the focus on the power and importance of reading.
Sadly this book just wasn’t for me – there were a lot of themes and plot points that I enjoyed, but it didn’t grab me. Unfortunately, it took too long for me to connect with Frances, likely due to the length of time setting the scene that it was a struggle for me to finish this book.
This book isn’t for me, but it does evoke interesting discussions around the power of religion, faith, literacy and family.
If you’re a fan of history and the female voice, this book is for you.
This is a book for fans of history and hearing female voices. In the margins is a book that explores the intersection of religion, women’s experience and the harshness of the 17th century.
Holmes does a good job setting the scene of rural England for rector’s wife, Frances, and the hardships experienced at the time.
This was a challenging book for me to get into, as it felt like this book was a snapshot of life back then, rather than a specific plot. I enjoyed the reality it paints and the focus on the power and importance of reading.
Sadly this book just wasn’t for me – there were a lot of themes and plot points that I enjoyed, but it didn’t grab me. Unfortunately, it took too long for me to connect with Frances, likely due to the length of time setting the scene that it was a struggle for me to finish this book.
This book isn’t for me, but it does evoke interesting discussions around the power of religion, faith, literacy and family.
If you’re a fan of history and the female voice, this book is for you.
January 16, 2025
I think this is an exceptionally good book and well beyond adept for a debut novel. In the Margins (ItM) is well written, has great characters that develop a little more with every chapter, and is a mixture of the fraught daily politics of living in a small village during a period when witches were real and religion ruled every aspect of people's lives.
Based on the life of Frances Wolfreston, a book collector who was born in King's Norton, Worcestershire in 1607, the oldest of 22 children! she was taught to read and write. She went on to collect 132 books by authors, poets, playwrights such as Shakespeare, Cervantes, Ford, etc. It was a truly remarkable feat for someone living in a quiet backwater, wife of a rector, mother of 6 surviving children (10 or 11 born).
I found this book such a fascinating one and so well recreated that it's made me research book collectors.
I highly recommend this book.
Based on the life of Frances Wolfreston, a book collector who was born in King's Norton, Worcestershire in 1607, the oldest of 22 children! she was taught to read and write. She went on to collect 132 books by authors, poets, playwrights such as Shakespeare, Cervantes, Ford, etc. It was a truly remarkable feat for someone living in a quiet backwater, wife of a rector, mother of 6 surviving children (10 or 11 born).
I found this book such a fascinating one and so well recreated that it's made me research book collectors.
I highly recommend this book.
January 8, 2025
Gail Holmes’ debut novel is a beautifully written exploration of Frances Wolfreston - the woman who preserved the early works of Shakespeare - during the mid-1600s.
Holmes’ writing effortlessly transports readers back to a time of hardship, resilience and camaraderie. Through her vivid descriptions, she brings to life a world shaped by social and economic struggles, where survival is a daily challenge. Yet, hope persists through the compelling story of Frances Wolferston fighting for a woman’s right to have a voice, freedom and autonomy in a society dominated by repression.
What stands out most in this novel is the beautiful portrayal of female friendships. The bond between Frances and her mother, as well as the deep friendship between Frances and her closest ally, is a celebration of solidarity and strength.
I highly recommend this book. The prose is as beautiful as the cover, making this an unforgettable read that resonates long after the final page, and reveals another forgotten woman in history.
Holmes’ writing effortlessly transports readers back to a time of hardship, resilience and camaraderie. Through her vivid descriptions, she brings to life a world shaped by social and economic struggles, where survival is a daily challenge. Yet, hope persists through the compelling story of Frances Wolferston fighting for a woman’s right to have a voice, freedom and autonomy in a society dominated by repression.
What stands out most in this novel is the beautiful portrayal of female friendships. The bond between Frances and her mother, as well as the deep friendship between Frances and her closest ally, is a celebration of solidarity and strength.
I highly recommend this book. The prose is as beautiful as the cover, making this an unforgettable read that resonates long after the final page, and reveals another forgotten woman in history.
Read
February 17, 2025DNF - I wanted to enjoy it but I was bored. The main voice of the story wasn’t inspiring, and given it’s told from her POV, that’s hard to push through
January 6, 2025
I loved this book!! I was surprised to hear it is the author’s first novel and look forward to her next 🙌🏻
Very thought provoking, I couldn’t put it down!
Very thought provoking, I couldn’t put it down!
August 20, 2025
In the Margins by Gail Holmes 🎧 (read by Hannah Morrish)
I was lucky to ‘meet’ the author Gail, virtually, when she was the Author of the Day for the Global Girls Online BookClub. Hearing Gail discuss why she wrote the novel and the research she did inspired me to read it. I am so glad I did – I absolutely loved the story, it captured me from the first paragraph and was one of those books I kept sneaking time in to read it. The main character Frances is wonderful, a loving Mum, wife and a daughter who adores her Mother. Set in England in 1647 it is a time when women are not respected as equal to men, when religious wars are smouldering and when the rich are considered better than the poor. Frances knows right from wrong and practices ‘the right thing’ daily and teaches her children the same. Constantly standing up for the rights of others, including family and community members, Frances is not always well respected in her community, particularly by some of the smug males. The story has mysteries and twist included and had me mesmerised throughout. It is a book I would love to own so I can share it amongst friends and discuss further – would be a fab book club read! Five 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 for me, thank you Gail. Thanks to a fab narrator too Hannah.
I was lucky to ‘meet’ the author Gail, virtually, when she was the Author of the Day for the Global Girls Online BookClub. Hearing Gail discuss why she wrote the novel and the research she did inspired me to read it. I am so glad I did – I absolutely loved the story, it captured me from the first paragraph and was one of those books I kept sneaking time in to read it. The main character Frances is wonderful, a loving Mum, wife and a daughter who adores her Mother. Set in England in 1647 it is a time when women are not respected as equal to men, when religious wars are smouldering and when the rich are considered better than the poor. Frances knows right from wrong and practices ‘the right thing’ daily and teaches her children the same. Constantly standing up for the rights of others, including family and community members, Frances is not always well respected in her community, particularly by some of the smug males. The story has mysteries and twist included and had me mesmerised throughout. It is a book I would love to own so I can share it amongst friends and discuss further – would be a fab book club read! Five 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 for me, thank you Gail. Thanks to a fab narrator too Hannah.
May 30, 2025
I liked this book — or perhaps more accurately, I admired it — but I struggled with it too. In the Margins is beautifully written, with a prose style that feels rich and evocative. But despite (or perhaps because of) that beauty, I found it emotionally heavy. Oppressive, even. The narrator — a fictionalised version of historical figure Frances Wolfreston — felt perpetually on edge, emotionally dulled, and largely joyless. It created an odd reading experience: I wanted to understand her, to get beneath the weight she carried… but I’m not sure the book let me.
The story is rooted in a few months of conflict in Frances’s life, beginning with her mother’s arrest for not attending church. It weaves through domestic tension, buried guilt, and flickers of undefined longing — but it never quite coheres into a central narrative or emotional arc. I felt like I was peering in on someone’s life from a distance, unable to fully connect.
That said, the novel lingers in interesting ways. Frances’s relationship with books — as power, escape, inheritance — was quietly moving. Her guilt over a childhood memory of helping her father burn her mother’s books haunted her, perhaps disproportionately, but it spoke to how formative and sacred those objects were to her sense of identity. Books weren’t just books; they were love, knowledge, even rebellion.
And in the background: a quietly unsettling portrait of 17th-century England, where suddenly Catholics were persecuted for nonconformity, and where women’s interior lives were mostly undocumented — unless, like Frances, they left a trace in the margins of what they read.
Ultimately, I appreciated the intent more than the execution. I would have loved to feel more of Frances’s passion, more shape to her reflection, more cohesion to her story. Still, I’m glad I read it — and I won’t forget it.
The story is rooted in a few months of conflict in Frances’s life, beginning with her mother’s arrest for not attending church. It weaves through domestic tension, buried guilt, and flickers of undefined longing — but it never quite coheres into a central narrative or emotional arc. I felt like I was peering in on someone’s life from a distance, unable to fully connect.
That said, the novel lingers in interesting ways. Frances’s relationship with books — as power, escape, inheritance — was quietly moving. Her guilt over a childhood memory of helping her father burn her mother’s books haunted her, perhaps disproportionately, but it spoke to how formative and sacred those objects were to her sense of identity. Books weren’t just books; they were love, knowledge, even rebellion.
And in the background: a quietly unsettling portrait of 17th-century England, where suddenly Catholics were persecuted for nonconformity, and where women’s interior lives were mostly undocumented — unless, like Frances, they left a trace in the margins of what they read.
Ultimately, I appreciated the intent more than the execution. I would have loved to feel more of Frances’s passion, more shape to her reflection, more cohesion to her story. Still, I’m glad I read it — and I won’t forget it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2024
I read lots of historical fiction books so I know a well written novel when I find myself totally engrossed in the story & thinking about the main character, Frances Wolfreston, during my day. What a truly splendid first novel & filled with the intrigues of the mid 1600’s England. What I loved in particular were the women Gail Holmes has brought to life. Even humble Peg, the Wolfreston’s cook & helper, is described with respect for the hard work she does every day. As I read of Frances. & her mother’s love of reading & how they were both determined to teach children to read, I was reminded that in Afghanistan today, there are girls and women forbidden to obtain an education & even to speak in public. When we read historical fiction, it emphasises how we need to be on guard when we see churches & politicians try to reduce women back to being subservient to patriarchal men. As I was reading this story, I was dying to get to the end so I could look up the real life Frances. I thank the author for her extensive explanation of how she has conjured up her novel, based upon what we know of this remarkable woman.
Page 273 “ We are like the spaces between the words of a book. The words are what people see, what they argue over, fight wars over, swoon over, collect. Yet without the spaces between, there is nothing at all. We are the spaces, Mrs Edwards.” These words spoken by Frances really touched my heart.
Page 273 “ We are like the spaces between the words of a book. The words are what people see, what they argue over, fight wars over, swoon over, collect. Yet without the spaces between, there is nothing at all. We are the spaces, Mrs Edwards.” These words spoken by Frances really touched my heart.
October 3, 2024
This is such a rich, imaginative and realistic character-focused 17th century story that transported me back to a distant time when women had little influence or freedom. The first thing that grabbed me of In the Margins was the cover. It is a true window to the soul of the book—as vividly stunning and complex as the story itself with its multi-dimensional characters caught in complicated situations trying to find their way through a maze of social, political and religious trials. There are some unique surprises and twists along the way so this journey to the past is quite an eye-opener.
The story is set in England in 1647 during a difficult period of civil unrest. Compliance to Puritanism is essential. Attendance to church is recorded. There is no religious freedom to choose your faith and to practice Catholicism means individuals can be sent to gaol and forced to pay heavy fines to be set free. This is what happened to Alice, mother of the lead female character Frances Wolfreston. Through her experience (as told through her daughter’s viewpoint) we learn how horrible the situation is for those who do not attend church. The punishment of gaol is bad enough but the conditions there are deplorable. Yet there is much more to Alice’s tale of woe than is first imagined. The author carefully unfolds the plot so we don’t get the whole picture right away.
Then there is Frances herself. She is the rector’s wife with a variety of responsibilities. I felt very connected to her as I watched her movements, listened to her thoughts and heard her conversations with others. She is a person with a big heart and adores her mother who has been responsible for her love and collection of books and given her wise advice about how to treat and care for others. Frances has a mission to free her mother from gaol and this story very much centres on this but it also shows how instrumental Frances is in helping many women and children of her parish to expand their horizons—especially in the area of reading and books. For many reasons, Frances also holds a number of secrets from her husband but her movements are always for the good of those less fortunate or who have been punished unfairly.
There are many wonderful literary lines quoted throughout the story that act as a guide for Frances and even Alice and are a reflection of what is happening. Shakespeare’s work is often mentioned and quoted. These two women’s love of literature is clearly apparent and established and I loved how it is beautifully woven into their lives.
I was quite impressed by the author’s advanced skill, intelligently presented plot and mastery of setting and words of the age. The novel is well researched and the information magnificently utilised in this fictional account of a real woman of the past who made a significant contribution to the lives of those around her. Her influence is admirable in acquiring opportunities for many to learn to read who would not have had the opportunity.
There are many poetic descriptions in this novel that I could list. A couple that soar about her mother are ‘her face shining with memory.’ And ‘the more she forgives, the more I hurt.’ These are moving, powerful thoughts.
In the Margins shows the power of literature and how it can sustain, encourage, illuminate, inspire and set us free during great periods of stress, darkness, shadow and despair. The 1600s saw much oppression brought on by tragedies, political rulings and viewpoints of the time. I was completely immersed in this beautifully written story of one woman’s determination to bring about change. She sought freedom for women particularly and wanted their suppressed voices to be heard. Her love for her family kept her moving forward against the tide. The phrase ‘people don’t want change. It threatens their way of life,’ does not deter Frances. Also her love of books along with the people she cares about, motivate her to accomplish the unexpected. This is a stunning debut that I certainly won’t forget. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Ultimo Press for a review copy.
The story is set in England in 1647 during a difficult period of civil unrest. Compliance to Puritanism is essential. Attendance to church is recorded. There is no religious freedom to choose your faith and to practice Catholicism means individuals can be sent to gaol and forced to pay heavy fines to be set free. This is what happened to Alice, mother of the lead female character Frances Wolfreston. Through her experience (as told through her daughter’s viewpoint) we learn how horrible the situation is for those who do not attend church. The punishment of gaol is bad enough but the conditions there are deplorable. Yet there is much more to Alice’s tale of woe than is first imagined. The author carefully unfolds the plot so we don’t get the whole picture right away.
Then there is Frances herself. She is the rector’s wife with a variety of responsibilities. I felt very connected to her as I watched her movements, listened to her thoughts and heard her conversations with others. She is a person with a big heart and adores her mother who has been responsible for her love and collection of books and given her wise advice about how to treat and care for others. Frances has a mission to free her mother from gaol and this story very much centres on this but it also shows how instrumental Frances is in helping many women and children of her parish to expand their horizons—especially in the area of reading and books. For many reasons, Frances also holds a number of secrets from her husband but her movements are always for the good of those less fortunate or who have been punished unfairly.
There are many wonderful literary lines quoted throughout the story that act as a guide for Frances and even Alice and are a reflection of what is happening. Shakespeare’s work is often mentioned and quoted. These two women’s love of literature is clearly apparent and established and I loved how it is beautifully woven into their lives.
I was quite impressed by the author’s advanced skill, intelligently presented plot and mastery of setting and words of the age. The novel is well researched and the information magnificently utilised in this fictional account of a real woman of the past who made a significant contribution to the lives of those around her. Her influence is admirable in acquiring opportunities for many to learn to read who would not have had the opportunity.
There are many poetic descriptions in this novel that I could list. A couple that soar about her mother are ‘her face shining with memory.’ And ‘the more she forgives, the more I hurt.’ These are moving, powerful thoughts.
In the Margins shows the power of literature and how it can sustain, encourage, illuminate, inspire and set us free during great periods of stress, darkness, shadow and despair. The 1600s saw much oppression brought on by tragedies, political rulings and viewpoints of the time. I was completely immersed in this beautifully written story of one woman’s determination to bring about change. She sought freedom for women particularly and wanted their suppressed voices to be heard. Her love for her family kept her moving forward against the tide. The phrase ‘people don’t want change. It threatens their way of life,’ does not deter Frances. Also her love of books along with the people she cares about, motivate her to accomplish the unexpected. This is a stunning debut that I certainly won’t forget. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Ultimo Press for a review copy.
November 6, 2024
The blurb of In the Margins notes that Frances Wolfreston "uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy".
I think I would have needed to be psychic to have figured this out from reading this book. Yes, Shakespeare's poem Venus and Adonis is frequently mentioned, and we learn that Frances loves collecting books and that she writes her name in her books, but that's about it. Otherwise, the novel is about her life, family and a few other women, living straitened lives under Puritanical rule. It's interesting, but the connection to preserving Shakespeare's legacy is tenuous at best. Pointless really even to refer to it in the blurb.
The blurb also states that "In the Margins is a testament to the way literature can illuminate our inner lives and set us free when the world around us is covered in darkness."
Again, I got nothing of this reading the book. Yes, we know that Frances loves books, but I got no sense that books were 'illuminating' her inner life or setting her free. Again, what stands out in this narrative is Frances' distress over her mother's imprisonment, and her attempts to have her released. The books are peripheral. And even what we do learn about women's lives at this time isn't anything new or insightful.
Apart from this feeling that the book wasn't what it purported to be, I did enjoy it and was reasonably engrossed in the story. It's well written. I listened to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Hannah Morrish.
Overall, my 3* rating is not generous, but I can't stretch to a 4: it's a good read but rather slow, and not what I expected. It's always better to underpromise and overdeliver rather than the reverse.
Thanks to the author, publisher W.F. Howes Ltd, and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
#NetGalley #bookreview @gailholmeswrites #InTheMargins #books.beledit
I think I would have needed to be psychic to have figured this out from reading this book. Yes, Shakespeare's poem Venus and Adonis is frequently mentioned, and we learn that Frances loves collecting books and that she writes her name in her books, but that's about it. Otherwise, the novel is about her life, family and a few other women, living straitened lives under Puritanical rule. It's interesting, but the connection to preserving Shakespeare's legacy is tenuous at best. Pointless really even to refer to it in the blurb.
The blurb also states that "In the Margins is a testament to the way literature can illuminate our inner lives and set us free when the world around us is covered in darkness."
Again, I got nothing of this reading the book. Yes, we know that Frances loves books, but I got no sense that books were 'illuminating' her inner life or setting her free. Again, what stands out in this narrative is Frances' distress over her mother's imprisonment, and her attempts to have her released. The books are peripheral. And even what we do learn about women's lives at this time isn't anything new or insightful.
Apart from this feeling that the book wasn't what it purported to be, I did enjoy it and was reasonably engrossed in the story. It's well written. I listened to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Hannah Morrish.
Overall, my 3* rating is not generous, but I can't stretch to a 4: it's a good read but rather slow, and not what I expected. It's always better to underpromise and overdeliver rather than the reverse.
Thanks to the author, publisher W.F. Howes Ltd, and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.
#NetGalley #bookreview @gailholmeswrites #InTheMargins #books.beledit
July 18, 2024
Holmes takes us back to England 1647 and introduces us to Frances Wolfreston, a wife, mother, daughter and collector of books. Wolfreston (inspired by a real book collector from this time period) is wrestling with her own conscious on how best to conduct herself when faced with many dilemmas. In a time when women must do what they are told by their husbands, fathers and the law, Frances is often conflicted.
This story is of a time when life was incredibly hard and where not abiding by the law (both stated and unstated) could have detrimental consequences. Where religion was mandated, including church attendance and not drawing the ire of important town folk was important to long term survival.
Frances does her work in the margins, sometimes she gets it right and sometimes she gets it very wrong with dire consequences. She isn’t always quite honest with her husband Henry, the local rector and some of the tasks she assists him with are challenging.
I enjoyed this story and the fact that it made me research the real Frances Wolfreston tells me the book left me feeling intrigued. This is not a genre I would normally read but I found this book enlightening about how small and important work done by women in the past forged the way for women like me today. That is the work done in the margins and how important reading and writing is and was and how a love of books can leave a legacy in more ways than one.
I received an uncorrected copy of this book from the Better Reading team in return for an unbiased review.
This story is of a time when life was incredibly hard and where not abiding by the law (both stated and unstated) could have detrimental consequences. Where religion was mandated, including church attendance and not drawing the ire of important town folk was important to long term survival.
Frances does her work in the margins, sometimes she gets it right and sometimes she gets it very wrong with dire consequences. She isn’t always quite honest with her husband Henry, the local rector and some of the tasks she assists him with are challenging.
I enjoyed this story and the fact that it made me research the real Frances Wolfreston tells me the book left me feeling intrigued. This is not a genre I would normally read but I found this book enlightening about how small and important work done by women in the past forged the way for women like me today. That is the work done in the margins and how important reading and writing is and was and how a love of books can leave a legacy in more ways than one.
I received an uncorrected copy of this book from the Better Reading team in return for an unbiased review.
November 16, 2024
I love reading fiction books that are based on history, a real event, a real person, something that has me googling that thing after I have finished the book.
This book, which has Frances Wolfreston (1607-1677) as its main figure, is mostly imagined, but Frances was real, and she did collect and preserve rare books.
And if you notice the dates of her life, you realise how amazing this is. Women had so very little rights.
And for a woman to be able to have money to spend on books, well, that's just incredible.
I sat down with this book in the morning, and before I realised, I had finished it.
It moves along easily, telling the reader of Frances's position as a rector's wife. Her role and her desire to help the community.
She starts to teach some of the local children to read, much to the ire of some in the town.
But she must also inform her husband of people who do not comply with the new "Religious Compliance" law. (Those that don't go to church).
This doesn't sit well with Frances, and she tries to help where she can.
This law brings back childhood memories of her mother after her mother is imprisoned for her own religious compliance issues.
What this book gives us so easily, is the knowledge that books can transport the reader, educate, and give us a place to live in (if only for a short time), a freedom from all the clouds surrounding the world we live in.
And the importance of reading and writing.
This book, which has Frances Wolfreston (1607-1677) as its main figure, is mostly imagined, but Frances was real, and she did collect and preserve rare books.
And if you notice the dates of her life, you realise how amazing this is. Women had so very little rights.
And for a woman to be able to have money to spend on books, well, that's just incredible.
I sat down with this book in the morning, and before I realised, I had finished it.
It moves along easily, telling the reader of Frances's position as a rector's wife. Her role and her desire to help the community.
She starts to teach some of the local children to read, much to the ire of some in the town.
But she must also inform her husband of people who do not comply with the new "Religious Compliance" law. (Those that don't go to church).
This doesn't sit well with Frances, and she tries to help where she can.
This law brings back childhood memories of her mother after her mother is imprisoned for her own religious compliance issues.
What this book gives us so easily, is the knowledge that books can transport the reader, educate, and give us a place to live in (if only for a short time), a freedom from all the clouds surrounding the world we live in.
And the importance of reading and writing.
April 27, 2025
What a delightful read this one was.
Set just after the English Civil war in 1647, this is the story inspired by real-life Frances Wolfreston, a rector’s wife who is credited with collecting and preserving the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy. But while this may be the case it’s not a story about her collection. It’s much more than that as it a fictionalized examination of her life and the times she lived in.
When there is an introduction of a law where not attending Church or worshiping Catholicism is deemed a crime, Frances as the rector’s wife is charged with recording the names to give to the authorities. However, this triggers memories of her own mother’s secret practice of Catholicism. When her mother is jailed for not going to Church, her own standing in the community is challenged and her relationship with and with her husband and father becomes strained. Through all this is her unwavering passion for books which she turns to for consolation and guidance.
It’s a well-researched story highlighting how Frances sets about to help women whose voices were ignored. There are themes of witchcraft, motherhood, loss, childhood disability, and a class system where education was not seen as useful for the poor. Indeed, during those times, it was rare for women to be able to read and write let alone collect and appreciate books.
A fascinating and disturbing part of history, check this one out.
Set just after the English Civil war in 1647, this is the story inspired by real-life Frances Wolfreston, a rector’s wife who is credited with collecting and preserving the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy. But while this may be the case it’s not a story about her collection. It’s much more than that as it a fictionalized examination of her life and the times she lived in.
When there is an introduction of a law where not attending Church or worshiping Catholicism is deemed a crime, Frances as the rector’s wife is charged with recording the names to give to the authorities. However, this triggers memories of her own mother’s secret practice of Catholicism. When her mother is jailed for not going to Church, her own standing in the community is challenged and her relationship with and with her husband and father becomes strained. Through all this is her unwavering passion for books which she turns to for consolation and guidance.
It’s a well-researched story highlighting how Frances sets about to help women whose voices were ignored. There are themes of witchcraft, motherhood, loss, childhood disability, and a class system where education was not seen as useful for the poor. Indeed, during those times, it was rare for women to be able to read and write let alone collect and appreciate books.
A fascinating and disturbing part of history, check this one out.
September 1, 2024
Three stars from me means I believe the author has achieved their aims and it’s a good book, but that I personally didn’t fall in love with it.
I was really excited about this novel, which is about one of the very few women we know had her own book collection in the Early Modern period, despite not being from the landed gentry. There have been various academic articles about Frances Wolfreston and it is brilliant that she’s now the main character in a novel.
Personally, I’d have liked more about her books. I really enjoyed the parts in which she talks about writing in her almanack, which I’ve seen at the Bodleian Library and I assume was a starting point for the author of the novel.
If you are interested in the turbulent national events in the period, and in the witch hunts going on, then this will be a brilliant read for you. It really conveys the feelings of fear experienced by women with any sort of knowledge - book learning or from oral culture - that they could become the next target of state-sanctioned violence simply for daring to know more than it was thought a woman should at the time.
Overall, excellent historical fiction. Just not quite bookish enough for me (a former book historian and forever librarian).
I was really excited about this novel, which is about one of the very few women we know had her own book collection in the Early Modern period, despite not being from the landed gentry. There have been various academic articles about Frances Wolfreston and it is brilliant that she’s now the main character in a novel.
Personally, I’d have liked more about her books. I really enjoyed the parts in which she talks about writing in her almanack, which I’ve seen at the Bodleian Library and I assume was a starting point for the author of the novel.
If you are interested in the turbulent national events in the period, and in the witch hunts going on, then this will be a brilliant read for you. It really conveys the feelings of fear experienced by women with any sort of knowledge - book learning or from oral culture - that they could become the next target of state-sanctioned violence simply for daring to know more than it was thought a woman should at the time.
Overall, excellent historical fiction. Just not quite bookish enough for me (a former book historian and forever librarian).
September 6, 2024
This is quite a slow, quiet book, more contemplative than particularly plot-driven. This character focus leant itself well to the narrow lens of the story, told from the rectory of a small parish. Frances has responsibilities in the church as well as at home as a mother and wife. I enjoyed watching her navigate the complexities of marriage and filial responsibility at a time when marriage moved the legal attachment of a woman from her parents to her husband. But as much as I enjoyed the read at the time, it hasn’t particularly stuck with me since I put it down.
As always seems to be the case recently, I have a quibble with the marketing. The summary began with “Inspired by a real person, In the Margins is the story of spirited book-collector, Frances Wolfreston—the woman who uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy.” While the book-collecting plays a part in the story, the preservation of Shakespeare’s legacy does not. While I assume the real Frances played a part in saving manuscripts from the Puritan’s crusades against the theatre, none of that happens during the book.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from NetGalley. The narrator Hannah Morrish did a great job with it.
As always seems to be the case recently, I have a quibble with the marketing. The summary began with “Inspired by a real person, In the Margins is the story of spirited book-collector, Frances Wolfreston—the woman who uniquely preserved the earliest part of Shakespeare’s legacy.” While the book-collecting plays a part in the story, the preservation of Shakespeare’s legacy does not. While I assume the real Frances played a part in saving manuscripts from the Puritan’s crusades against the theatre, none of that happens during the book.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from NetGalley. The narrator Hannah Morrish did a great job with it.
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