Few and Far

by Allison Kydd

Jilted by her near-beau in England, Florence Southam travels to the exotic new world of the Saskatchewan Prairies, both to attend the wedding of her closest friend and to recover from her recent disappointment. Through Florence's eyes, the reader encounters a Victorian settlement attempting to mimic society life in England. Cannington is home to a medley of Canadians, British expatriates and would-be aristocrats. Despite outward appearances, Florence soon discovers that in Cannington, social niceties quickly give way to the practicalities of survival, and her own unquestioned beliefs are suddenly thrown into doubt by new possibilities of selfhood, and the potential of finding love outside the conventional social norms of her upbringing.

Genres: Historical Fiction

354 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2017

Reviews

[Damaris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a great and informative read on Cannington Manor, and an excellent debut by Allison Kydd. Kydd's style of writing took a little bit to get used to, as the rambling manner read a lot like an epistolary novel, although that was not the format Allison was going for. In the end, however, the book gave an excellent glimpse into the life of Canadian settlers in the late 1880's, and provides a beautiful tribute to Cannington Manor and other small heritage sites like it across Canada.

[Alison Nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannington Manor is a deeply special place. Kydd treats it with the respect it calls for. Her research and commitment to telling an authentic story shines throughout. As a long-time researcher and lover of Cannington Manor I have yet to read a fictional account so true to place and time with strong character development and an enchanting fictional story.

Her characterization of former residents of Cannington Manor is authentic and true to research. She has done the work to truly understand the people, culture and way of life.

As with any work of historical fiction, Kydd has had to grapple with one-sided sources. In her case, the absence of written sources to the Indigneous perspectives of this time and place is perhaps the only pitfall, however Kydd makes calculated observations on the challenges of this time through her main character. Whilst perhaps a stretch for a person of her time and status, these observarions contribute a needed commentary on the unjust realities that immigration, settlement and the policies that encouraged it have had and continue to have on Indigenous peoples.

Kydd has written the book I always hoped someone would write about Cannington Manor and is to be commended for her efforts.

[Betty Hegerat · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is a British family of good-standing to do when their eldest daughter is jilted and there is no other eligible gentleman waiting in the wings? Jane Austen would certainly have had the mannered solution, but Allison Kydd’s narrative broadens horizons. Having grown up in close proximity to Cannington Manor, an historic park that began as an aristocratic English colony, Allison Kydd knows both the landscape and the history well. Clearly, though, she has also done the research necessary to recreate Cannington Manor in the 1890’s and imagine the impact on poor Florence when she is shipped off to Canada to attend her cousin’s wedding. Strongly evocative of Austen’s novels of social commentary, Few and Far draws the contrast between the landed gentry and the common folk—in this case, the rougher edged” Canadians” who know and have weathered the challenges of the prairie. Far more than historical romance, this is a novel rich in language, and touching in the depiction of a young woman’s naivety in a culture both familiar and yet distressingly different. --Betty Jane Hegerat

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Giveaway.

I really enjoyed this tale. Told in a slightly tongue in cheek style, it meanders along in a gentle way. There are lots of small, historical details that make it feel genuinely written in the period but with some elements of style and phrasing that raise a little smile.

The central character in this first person narration, is naive to a degree but aware of that naivety in a delightfully self-questioning way. The novel is well researched, so that it feels realistic in both setting and events. The story is, although somewhat predictable, relaxing to read and the climax is suitably satisfying.

[Olive Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, but found that it dragged on a bit. The day to day life of the people in Cannington Manor was interesting, but I felt the romance between Florence and Lionel seemed to be just inserted as an afterthought.

[Barb Boon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story sparked my interest because the setting is Cannington Manor, which is so close to home.

[Margaret Stimson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This title interested me because our daughter-in-law is descended from a settler who was born in Cannington Manor. This unlikely community in Southern Saskatchewan developed through the efforts of a group of wealthy British families. The story features many characters who actually existed. The exceptions are the two main characters, a young Englishwoman and the object of her romantic interest who is an introverted Canadian settler. The book is written in a style reminiscent of Jane Austin.