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Shackles
This story is set in the Island of Guernsey in the year 1831, Jocasta Saughton arrives by one of the new steam vessels to take up a post as Governess in the Lucas household in St, Peter Port. It is a time of great poltical turmoil in England, also at a time when the campaign against Slavery was coming to its height. Joacasta encounters the inexplicable hostility of her employer's sister-in-law and the obstinate refusal of her eldest charge to learn anything from a mere female. Furhermore, an incomer with a pretty daughter and an axe to grind makes intentional mischief. Jo is thrust out of the house at midnight, penniless and without her baggage and manages to find an unlikely refuge. However, she also finds herself in considerable danger from those determined to prevent the destruction of the profitable slave trade..
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2011
About the author
Frances Murray
28 books5 followersRosemary Frances Sutherland was born on 10 February 1928 in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK, the daughter of Frances (Wotherspoon), an artist, and Donald Sutherland, a journalist and playwright. She studied at the University of Glasgow (1945–1947), later she decided took a year out and worked for and toured with the Unity Theatre of Glasgow (1948–1949). On August 28, 1950 she married Robert Edward Booth, a manager, and they had three daughters: Lesley, Judith, and Frances.
In 1965, she gained an MA at the University of St Andrews, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1966. She taught History at Perth Academy, Scotland (1966-1972) and was Head of History Department at Linlathan School, Dundee (1972-1976). She was principal teacher of History at the Ladies' College, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Isles (1976-1993). In 1993, she retired from teaching. Throughout her professional teaching career and her retirement, she has always written. She was published from 1966 to 1986. Since 2011, she auto-published e-books in amazon.
After her retiring, Rosemary and her husband then moved to Spain to live, then to France where she now lives in the Tarn River area, where she has her second residence during years.
In 1965, she gained an MA at the University of St Andrews, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1966. She taught History at Perth Academy, Scotland (1966-1972) and was Head of History Department at Linlathan School, Dundee (1972-1976). She was principal teacher of History at the Ladies' College, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Isles (1976-1993). In 1993, she retired from teaching. Throughout her professional teaching career and her retirement, she has always written. She was published from 1966 to 1986. Since 2011, she auto-published e-books in amazon.
After her retiring, Rosemary and her husband then moved to Spain to live, then to France where she now lives in the Tarn River area, where she has her second residence during years.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 5, 2014
A 3.5 star read. I really liked this book with one glaring exception. And that was the stereotyped and semi-offensive way the two spinster characters were plotted.
I loved the book and initially gave it 4 stars, but started thinking later about how aggravating these types of plots are, so I dropped my ranking.
I know this is a romance, as well as a pretty nearly a vintage book, but these elements just jarred me too much. Glad we don't see this so much with modern books, (and believe me, I'll dis them too if I come across this type of thing in them.)
I loved the book and initially gave it 4 stars, but started thinking later about how aggravating these types of plots are, so I dropped my ranking.
I know this is a romance, as well as a pretty nearly a vintage book, but these elements just jarred me too much. Glad we don't see this so much with modern books, (and believe me, I'll dis them too if I come across this type of thing in them.)
January 11, 2018
A Social Conscience in the Late Georgian Era
The story begins in 1831 with a beautifully-worded description of Jocasta Saughton’s trip from Southampton to Guernsey in the new packet “Lord Beresford”. She has come to Guernsey to be governess to the Lucas children, but is met with a mixed reception upon arrival at the house. Helen Lucas, the children’s aunt is decidedly hostile, while their mother, Mrs Lucas is very welcoming. The two little girls, Cassie and Missie make friends with “Miss Jo” on her first night in the house after which she has an unfriendly meeting with Leo. There are swirling undercurrents from the beginning with different levels to the story that are revealed as the book progresses.
The characterisations are superb, if sometimes somewhat uncharitable. Two of the Islanders who often act as porters are an absolute riot and are two of my favourite characters.The engaging characters are very engaging, the imperfect sometimes likeable but most often not, the awful often a figure of fun and easy to dislike, but also one to feel pity for. While Mrs Lucas is away in England, Aunt Helen turns Jo out of the house late at night with only the clothes she is wearing just as it is beginning to rain. She finds an unlikely place of refuge and so enters another level in the story. Jo has a mysterious past, one she didn’t know about and she finds out what it is from Aunt Helen before she is banished, but the reader doesn’t find out for several more chapters. There is a bit of going backwards and forwards in time until the reader has the whole picture of Jo.
As the blurb says, Jo finds herself in danger and kudos to the author for coming up with such an ingenious and hilarious rescue. The final chapter is in the form of a letter to Jo, who has her HEA, and this letter neatly wraps up all the loose ends in a believable way, from one friend to another catching her up on all the news.
This is the second book I have read by Frances Murray and it deals with a disgusting topic as the book description says – the slave trade. That doesn’t mean this is a gloomy tome to wade through. On the contrary, although the slave trade is a big part of the book, it is mostly on a level beneath the surface of the social life of the Island, and has nothing to do with the Islanders themselves. This is an absorbing and delightful book from beginning to end and IMO Frances Murray is an excellent and under-rated writer. Her prose is perceptive and poetic and her dialogue is very witty and realistic, including the Island patois she uses in this book. Highly recommend.
The story begins in 1831 with a beautifully-worded description of Jocasta Saughton’s trip from Southampton to Guernsey in the new packet “Lord Beresford”. She has come to Guernsey to be governess to the Lucas children, but is met with a mixed reception upon arrival at the house. Helen Lucas, the children’s aunt is decidedly hostile, while their mother, Mrs Lucas is very welcoming. The two little girls, Cassie and Missie make friends with “Miss Jo” on her first night in the house after which she has an unfriendly meeting with Leo. There are swirling undercurrents from the beginning with different levels to the story that are revealed as the book progresses.
The characterisations are superb, if sometimes somewhat uncharitable. Two of the Islanders who often act as porters are an absolute riot and are two of my favourite characters.The engaging characters are very engaging, the imperfect sometimes likeable but most often not, the awful often a figure of fun and easy to dislike, but also one to feel pity for. While Mrs Lucas is away in England, Aunt Helen turns Jo out of the house late at night with only the clothes she is wearing just as it is beginning to rain. She finds an unlikely place of refuge and so enters another level in the story. Jo has a mysterious past, one she didn’t know about and she finds out what it is from Aunt Helen before she is banished, but the reader doesn’t find out for several more chapters. There is a bit of going backwards and forwards in time until the reader has the whole picture of Jo.
As the blurb says, Jo finds herself in danger and kudos to the author for coming up with such an ingenious and hilarious rescue. The final chapter is in the form of a letter to Jo, who has her HEA, and this letter neatly wraps up all the loose ends in a believable way, from one friend to another catching her up on all the news.
This is the second book I have read by Frances Murray and it deals with a disgusting topic as the book description says – the slave trade. That doesn’t mean this is a gloomy tome to wade through. On the contrary, although the slave trade is a big part of the book, it is mostly on a level beneath the surface of the social life of the Island, and has nothing to do with the Islanders themselves. This is an absorbing and delightful book from beginning to end and IMO Frances Murray is an excellent and under-rated writer. Her prose is perceptive and poetic and her dialogue is very witty and realistic, including the Island patois she uses in this book. Highly recommend.
June 16, 2021
Excellent writing, action filled
Perhaps quite old fashioned, but still full of modern action that complements the story. The scenes of life on the Isle of Guernsey are quaint, the language is strange, but I liked the story very much.
Perhaps quite old fashioned, but still full of modern action that complements the story. The scenes of life on the Isle of Guernsey are quaint, the language is strange, but I liked the story very much.
June 13, 2022
Interesting
This was a re-read. I love Frances Murray's books! Jocasta and Hugh were grand characters, and I loved the interplay between all the rest of the characters, and the personalities. Interesting setting, too. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
This was a re-read. I love Frances Murray's books! Jocasta and Hugh were grand characters, and I loved the interplay between all the rest of the characters, and the personalities. Interesting setting, too. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews