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In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced
Set against the lush backdrop of early 20th-century India, In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced – the debut novel from Justine Bothwick – is the moving story of one woman’s journey back to herself.
Agra, 1938: Eighteen-year-old Florence Hunt has grown up riding horses past the Taj Mahal and chasing peacocks through her backyard under the critical gaze of her father. Increasingly enamoured with his work on the booming railway, Florence yearns to know more, but finds herself brushed away, encouraged only to perform the more ladylike hobbies of singing and entertaining guests. So when a dazzling young engineer walks into her life, she finds herself not only gripped by secret lessons in physics but swept entirely off her feet.
Portsmouth, 1953: Fifteen years later, Florence finds herself pregnant and alone in post-war England – a far cry from her sun-drenched existence in India. Struggling to cope with the bleakness of everyday life in a male-dominated world, Florence is desperate to find the woman she used to be. But when someone from her past reaches out, Florence might just have a chance to start over.
Soaring from the shimmering heights of the big top to the depths of heartbreak, can Florence find the happiness, independence, and passion she once had in order to start living again?
Agra, 1938: Eighteen-year-old Florence Hunt has grown up riding horses past the Taj Mahal and chasing peacocks through her backyard under the critical gaze of her father. Increasingly enamoured with his work on the booming railway, Florence yearns to know more, but finds herself brushed away, encouraged only to perform the more ladylike hobbies of singing and entertaining guests. So when a dazzling young engineer walks into her life, she finds herself not only gripped by secret lessons in physics but swept entirely off her feet.
Portsmouth, 1953: Fifteen years later, Florence finds herself pregnant and alone in post-war England – a far cry from her sun-drenched existence in India. Struggling to cope with the bleakness of everyday life in a male-dominated world, Florence is desperate to find the woman she used to be. But when someone from her past reaches out, Florence might just have a chance to start over.
Soaring from the shimmering heights of the big top to the depths of heartbreak, can Florence find the happiness, independence, and passion she once had in order to start living again?
305 pages, Paperback
Published July 22, 2021
8 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Justine Bothwick
4 books9 followersJustine Bothwick grew up in Kent and Hampshire, and studied in London. In 2005, she moved to Italy and now teaches English in an international secondary school in Rome. She is married to a Roman architect. Together they have a flat in the city with a small balcony on which she grows her ever expanding collection of plants and watches the local birdlife.
Justine is a graduate of the Manchester Writing School’s Creative Writing MA programme. She has short stories published in The Lonely Crowd, Fictive Dream, Confingo Magazine, and Virtual Zine, and forthcoming with Nightjar Press. Her work was highly commended in the Bath Short Story Award 2020. Her debut novel – In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced – will be published with Agora Books in June 2021.
Justine is a graduate of the Manchester Writing School’s Creative Writing MA programme. She has short stories published in The Lonely Crowd, Fictive Dream, Confingo Magazine, and Virtual Zine, and forthcoming with Nightjar Press. Her work was highly commended in the Bath Short Story Award 2020. Her debut novel – In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced – will be published with Agora Books in June 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 18, 2021
What a wonderful, well written book. The cover was beautiful which drew me in immediately. The story as so compelling and I loved the descriptions of India. The story was interesting and very easy to read. I loved this one.
June 24, 2021
In the Mirror, A Peacock Danced is a captivating and compelling piece of sublime historical fiction set against the backdrop of Portsmouth, England and Agra, a city on the banks of the Yamuna river, in Uttar Pradesh, India. It's 1938 in India and Florence is becoming a woman as she is celebrating her eighteenth birthday and is in love for the very first time. Growing up in India under The British Raj and with British colonial rule, she was raised by her somewhat misogynistic father and Sita her "amah" after her mother’s sad passing, and although she had always been endlessly fascinated by engineering, and especially the railway her father works in and around, the time doesn't allow her to do such laborious or dangerous work. Because, of course, that is deemed to be the employment of men and she should be suited to a more ladylike existence. She adores her life in her native colonial India but is sent to Britain after the War of Independence in which India gained independence from our rule and lives in Portsmouth with her Aunt Sarah. The aim is for her to pursue her dreams in a richer part of the world, find a husband to marry and start a family.
But Florence misses Agra terribly and desperately longs for home and the balmy nights and daydreaming days. Before too long she begins to lose her way in life. She finds herself feeling bored with the monotonous everyday stresses and strains of running and maintaining a household; a job she never had to lift a finger to do in her native land due to able domestic servants. But then a surprise visitor arrives just in the nick of time to remind Florence that she has much to give and live for. This is a captivating, luscious and intoxicating piece of historical fiction complete with exotic location and the sense of time and place evoked superbly. I was swept away by the moving and alluring tale and found the outdated views of the time were accurately illustrated as well as addressing British colonialism, imperialism, woman’s rights, capitalism, desire and passion. The sights, sounds and smells of the time were vividly described so much so that I could transport myself to the banks of the Yamuna river and the hustle and bustle of the markets and can understand why Florence was reluctant to leave. An exquisite, richly atmospheric and absorbing read. Highly recommended.
But Florence misses Agra terribly and desperately longs for home and the balmy nights and daydreaming days. Before too long she begins to lose her way in life. She finds herself feeling bored with the monotonous everyday stresses and strains of running and maintaining a household; a job she never had to lift a finger to do in her native land due to able domestic servants. But then a surprise visitor arrives just in the nick of time to remind Florence that she has much to give and live for. This is a captivating, luscious and intoxicating piece of historical fiction complete with exotic location and the sense of time and place evoked superbly. I was swept away by the moving and alluring tale and found the outdated views of the time were accurately illustrated as well as addressing British colonialism, imperialism, woman’s rights, capitalism, desire and passion. The sights, sounds and smells of the time were vividly described so much so that I could transport myself to the banks of the Yamuna river and the hustle and bustle of the markets and can understand why Florence was reluctant to leave. An exquisite, richly atmospheric and absorbing read. Highly recommended.
July 1, 2021
I thought this was a delightful story with such a rich and diverse narrative. I loved this book immediately from the cover and I think the beauty of the book is matched by the pages within. For a debut novel, this is a fantastic piece of writing.
What I enjoyed most of all about this story is how different it is to books that feature war and romance. Set in India, I loved the exotic location and I think Bothwick’s writing completely transports readers to this luscious place, where the British have established themselves as part of the colony. Following Florence, it is clear that the privileges she experiences as an upper-class white woman in Agra are not providing a happy life; everywhere she turns, Florence encounters the sense of being trapped and prohibited from following her dreams. Early on it is established that Florence’s family life is not a happy one and I could not believe how unsupportive and domineering her father is. Although this book is set before the Second World War, the dated ideologies hold firmly to patriarchy and do not reflect the rapidly changing world. As a result, Florence is more of a commodity than a woman who can experience liberty and make her own decisions.
The novel switches between Agra before the war and Portsmouth, in the 1950s. Here, a stark contrast is established between the two settings. Whilst Agra is warm, vibrant and exciting, Portsmouth is drab, dreary, grey and loveless. It is evident that Florence is desperately unhappy and, despite attempting to be an independent, working woman, still faces judgement for her sex. The lack of opportunity echoes her father’s treatment of her, even though over a decade has passed. I felt for Florence and her desperation emanates off the pages until her sadness leads to a near-tragedy.
Watching Florence over these two time periods, it is clear that she needs to break the patriarchal domination in order to live a happy, fulfilling life. Although the war features in this book, it is not a leading element of the story and for that I was appreciative. On the other hand, Bothwick details the political unrest in India, leading to civil war, riots and protests. To be honest, this is something I know nothing about and I think Bothwick’s narrative shows how well-researched the story is. It adds to the historical element of quite an emotive story.
Emotions run rampant through this book and I think I felt all on the spectrum, pretty much matching Florence’s character. I felt love and joy, particularly as the circus became more prominent for Florence. I shared her heartache over relationships and experienced her fear in the later pages. Furthermore, there is an overwhelming sense of family isolation that you cannot escape from with this story, and I think this beautifully links to the title of the novel.
The reference to peacocks in the title is a nod to the setting. However, the behaviour of a peacock is symbolic to Florence’s personality. Her father wants Florence to be that peacock: to perform on demand and show-off to the world through her equally poor singing and dancing. After all, being in one of the British colonies, it simply demonstrates their presence in India. On the other hand, Florence does not want to be this type of person and yearns for the escapism that a mirror’s reflection can provide. As Florence grows and gradually finds happiness, it metaphorically connects to a mirror’s reflection. Florence’s happiness remains largely secret and the peacock dancing demonstrates her freedom and abandonment that she attempts to connect with – even if it means keeping it hidden from those closest to her. Although it may be perceived as an unusual title, the layers of meaning truly become clearer as the narrative progresses.
I think this was a lovely story and beautifully written. The cover is marvellous and intriguing and I felt the same about Bothwick’s novel: I could not put this down. It has so many areas that are explored from race to politics, equality to family and love… it is a story that should appeal to many readers across a range of genres.
With thanks to Agora books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What I enjoyed most of all about this story is how different it is to books that feature war and romance. Set in India, I loved the exotic location and I think Bothwick’s writing completely transports readers to this luscious place, where the British have established themselves as part of the colony. Following Florence, it is clear that the privileges she experiences as an upper-class white woman in Agra are not providing a happy life; everywhere she turns, Florence encounters the sense of being trapped and prohibited from following her dreams. Early on it is established that Florence’s family life is not a happy one and I could not believe how unsupportive and domineering her father is. Although this book is set before the Second World War, the dated ideologies hold firmly to patriarchy and do not reflect the rapidly changing world. As a result, Florence is more of a commodity than a woman who can experience liberty and make her own decisions.
The novel switches between Agra before the war and Portsmouth, in the 1950s. Here, a stark contrast is established between the two settings. Whilst Agra is warm, vibrant and exciting, Portsmouth is drab, dreary, grey and loveless. It is evident that Florence is desperately unhappy and, despite attempting to be an independent, working woman, still faces judgement for her sex. The lack of opportunity echoes her father’s treatment of her, even though over a decade has passed. I felt for Florence and her desperation emanates off the pages until her sadness leads to a near-tragedy.
Watching Florence over these two time periods, it is clear that she needs to break the patriarchal domination in order to live a happy, fulfilling life. Although the war features in this book, it is not a leading element of the story and for that I was appreciative. On the other hand, Bothwick details the political unrest in India, leading to civil war, riots and protests. To be honest, this is something I know nothing about and I think Bothwick’s narrative shows how well-researched the story is. It adds to the historical element of quite an emotive story.
Emotions run rampant through this book and I think I felt all on the spectrum, pretty much matching Florence’s character. I felt love and joy, particularly as the circus became more prominent for Florence. I shared her heartache over relationships and experienced her fear in the later pages. Furthermore, there is an overwhelming sense of family isolation that you cannot escape from with this story, and I think this beautifully links to the title of the novel.
The reference to peacocks in the title is a nod to the setting. However, the behaviour of a peacock is symbolic to Florence’s personality. Her father wants Florence to be that peacock: to perform on demand and show-off to the world through her equally poor singing and dancing. After all, being in one of the British colonies, it simply demonstrates their presence in India. On the other hand, Florence does not want to be this type of person and yearns for the escapism that a mirror’s reflection can provide. As Florence grows and gradually finds happiness, it metaphorically connects to a mirror’s reflection. Florence’s happiness remains largely secret and the peacock dancing demonstrates her freedom and abandonment that she attempts to connect with – even if it means keeping it hidden from those closest to her. Although it may be perceived as an unusual title, the layers of meaning truly become clearer as the narrative progresses.
I think this was a lovely story and beautifully written. The cover is marvellous and intriguing and I felt the same about Bothwick’s novel: I could not put this down. It has so many areas that are explored from race to politics, equality to family and love… it is a story that should appeal to many readers across a range of genres.
With thanks to Agora books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2021
A wonderful prose for a beautiful book.
I was first drawn to this book by the peculiar title and stunning cover, then I started reading it and couldn't stop.
Narrated in a dual timeline in pre and post war India and post war England, it follows Florence's ups and downs of life.
The descriptions in general, and of India in particular, are breathtaking, utterly beautiful.
Florence is a strong character who lets herself go at times, as it is common, but who picks up her life and turns it around again.
Justine Bothwick is a new author to me, but this book made me want to know her better and read other books by her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was first drawn to this book by the peculiar title and stunning cover, then I started reading it and couldn't stop.
Narrated in a dual timeline in pre and post war India and post war England, it follows Florence's ups and downs of life.
The descriptions in general, and of India in particular, are breathtaking, utterly beautiful.
Florence is a strong character who lets herself go at times, as it is common, but who picks up her life and turns it around again.
Justine Bothwick is a new author to me, but this book made me want to know her better and read other books by her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2021
Agra, 1938: Florence Hunt has spent her younger years enjoying the finer things in life from riding horses to the glittering backdrop of the grand Taj Mahal and being fascinated by the wondrous wildlife in her very own backyard, especially the majestic peacock. However, her father is always quick to point out her flaws and judge Florence despite her increasing curiosity with his work on the railway but she is quickly brushed aside and told to take up more ladylike hobbies. Then one day, an engineer steps into her life and changes it forever.
Portsmouth, 1953: fifteen years later, Florence is with child and alone in this new world of a worn out post-war England which could not be further from her sun-soaked life in India. However, Florence is determined to make a life for herself in this male centric world but as she will discover, a ghost from her past could catch up to her sooner than she realises…
Shifting between her life of struggling with her father and finding a new friend in the local circus which she is soon drawn to, and following Florence as she raises her son in such a strange land with no one to turn to, she must fight to make her own future and learn to adapt if she wants a new life.
Sumptuous, dazzling and heartbreaking, this is a pure joy of a novel which is in equal parts moving as it is joyful.
Portsmouth, 1953: fifteen years later, Florence is with child and alone in this new world of a worn out post-war England which could not be further from her sun-soaked life in India. However, Florence is determined to make a life for herself in this male centric world but as she will discover, a ghost from her past could catch up to her sooner than she realises…
Shifting between her life of struggling with her father and finding a new friend in the local circus which she is soon drawn to, and following Florence as she raises her son in such a strange land with no one to turn to, she must fight to make her own future and learn to adapt if she wants a new life.
Sumptuous, dazzling and heartbreaking, this is a pure joy of a novel which is in equal parts moving as it is joyful.
June 2, 2021
In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced, was an incredibly lush and exotic book set in the early 20th century India.
Young Florence lives a passionate life in this splendid and dazzling world where she resides. She is used to exploring the Taj Mahal and Red Fort as well as other cultural and historic monuments in this beautiful, breathtaking country of superlatives!. She awakens each day to the glorious sunshine and the familiar but strange sound of peacocks along with the colors and scents of her garden.
Florence's father is a railroad baron and she likes nothing more to follow him to work and to learn about the science, math, and engineering principles of the development and function of the railroad. But Florence's father discourages these behaviors in his daughter as being inappropriate for an accomplished young woman and insists she focus on womanly pursuits which she finds extremely boring and not to her liking..
A brilliant young physics engineer arrives on the scene to work on her father's railroad and Florence is fascinated by his knowledge, wit, kindness, and dazzling good looks. The two quickly strike up a friendship but plans do not go as Florence anticipates and in a whirlwind of catrostrophic events she finds herself in post-war England, pregnant, and struggling with the conflict of her previous life of passion and adventure with her days of boredom , sameness, and hardships.
A run in with the circus life gets Florence thinking and she begins to realize she must determine her own future if she's to find the happiness, independence, and passion of her previous life,
This book is full of eloquent prose and vivid discriptions and realistic characters. I began to care about them,especially Florence.. You will quickly begin to cheer for Florence as she fights for a life of her own making.
This is a debut novel for Justine Bothwick but I'm sure it won't be her last. This well researched and elegantly written historical fiction novel was a joy to read and will keep me on the look out for her next book! .
Thank you to Justine Bothwick, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for a honest review. #IntheMirroraPeacockDanced #NetGalley
Young Florence lives a passionate life in this splendid and dazzling world where she resides. She is used to exploring the Taj Mahal and Red Fort as well as other cultural and historic monuments in this beautiful, breathtaking country of superlatives!. She awakens each day to the glorious sunshine and the familiar but strange sound of peacocks along with the colors and scents of her garden.
Florence's father is a railroad baron and she likes nothing more to follow him to work and to learn about the science, math, and engineering principles of the development and function of the railroad. But Florence's father discourages these behaviors in his daughter as being inappropriate for an accomplished young woman and insists she focus on womanly pursuits which she finds extremely boring and not to her liking..
A brilliant young physics engineer arrives on the scene to work on her father's railroad and Florence is fascinated by his knowledge, wit, kindness, and dazzling good looks. The two quickly strike up a friendship but plans do not go as Florence anticipates and in a whirlwind of catrostrophic events she finds herself in post-war England, pregnant, and struggling with the conflict of her previous life of passion and adventure with her days of boredom , sameness, and hardships.
A run in with the circus life gets Florence thinking and she begins to realize she must determine her own future if she's to find the happiness, independence, and passion of her previous life,
This book is full of eloquent prose and vivid discriptions and realistic characters. I began to care about them,especially Florence.. You will quickly begin to cheer for Florence as she fights for a life of her own making.
This is a debut novel for Justine Bothwick but I'm sure it won't be her last. This well researched and elegantly written historical fiction novel was a joy to read and will keep me on the look out for her next book! .
Thank you to Justine Bothwick, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book in exchange for a honest review. #IntheMirroraPeacockDanced #NetGalley
October 3, 2021
This book contrasts Florence's early life in India just before and during World War 2 with her life as a divorcee with a child in England in the 1950s. It's that contrast that makes this book different from the shelves full of books about young British women in India in the first half of the 20th century and sets it apart (but not necessarily above) the works of Julia Gregson, Dinah Jeffries, Jane Coverdale and others.
I'm not entirely sure I was convinced by the privilege of her youth. In the hierarchy of privilege in India, her dad, a railway engineering manager, might well have been considered a bit above the 'boxwallahs' (business men, import-export etc) but a long way below the magistrates, collectors and civil service types. I felt the horse riding past Agra and going on elephant hunts at Christmas might have been a little bit over-egged although I loved the character of her father who kept forcing her to sing and dance at social events, very much against her will.
She has a romance that was utterly beyond the pale but seems little commented on and then marries a man of mixed-race from the entertainment trade, again with little censure. Both things felt rather too progressive for a girl of her class and character, as did the swift attainment of a divorce in the 1950s with one partner in the UK and the other in India. Surely it was harder than that, especially for the less well-off members of society. And then there's a weird sub-plot around circus artistes which just took this book away from 'just about believable' and put it into the realms of fantasy. I'm not saying it wasn't a pleasant fantasy, but I just wasn't buying Florence's involvement with the circus on either continent.
It's nice. If you like this kind of thing then you'll like this kind of book. Personally, I'm looking for a lot more historic rigour in novels set in India. I applaud the split location and its sense of "What happens after the happy ever after" which is always intriguing, but simply put, it felt a bit too fluffy. I also applaud the writer's decision not to sort everything out with a nice tidy romance which many writers of her genre would have found too tempting to include.
It's a nice book.
Thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for my review copy.
I'm not entirely sure I was convinced by the privilege of her youth. In the hierarchy of privilege in India, her dad, a railway engineering manager, might well have been considered a bit above the 'boxwallahs' (business men, import-export etc) but a long way below the magistrates, collectors and civil service types. I felt the horse riding past Agra and going on elephant hunts at Christmas might have been a little bit over-egged although I loved the character of her father who kept forcing her to sing and dance at social events, very much against her will.
She has a romance that was utterly beyond the pale but seems little commented on and then marries a man of mixed-race from the entertainment trade, again with little censure. Both things felt rather too progressive for a girl of her class and character, as did the swift attainment of a divorce in the 1950s with one partner in the UK and the other in India. Surely it was harder than that, especially for the less well-off members of society. And then there's a weird sub-plot around circus artistes which just took this book away from 'just about believable' and put it into the realms of fantasy. I'm not saying it wasn't a pleasant fantasy, but I just wasn't buying Florence's involvement with the circus on either continent.
It's nice. If you like this kind of thing then you'll like this kind of book. Personally, I'm looking for a lot more historic rigour in novels set in India. I applaud the split location and its sense of "What happens after the happy ever after" which is always intriguing, but simply put, it felt a bit too fluffy. I also applaud the writer's decision not to sort everything out with a nice tidy romance which many writers of her genre would have found too tempting to include.
It's a nice book.
Thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for my review copy.
June 14, 2021
Thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
This is a beautiful debut novel, centred around a woman’s journey of self discovery as she tries to resist the patriarchal society that confines her. Florence, our protagonist, is a gorgeous soul who has passion and tenacity for her life and dreams.
The plot follows a dual timeline: in 1938 Agra, India where Florence was born and raised, and 1953, Portsmouth, England where Florence now lives with her Aunt. The timeline alternates between past and present as Bothwick unravels the events of Florence’s life that have led her to where she is in the present day.
It’s a stunning book, brimming with emotion and beauty, it’s a truly immersive story that had me gripped from the very first page. I think one of the reasons I felt captivated by the story was because of the protagonist, Florence. Florence is a memorable and powerful character, I was in awe at her resilience and passion for life. There were times where she lost herself, but that made her restoration with her self and identity even more remarkable. Bothwick’s writing made me think about the small pleasures in life, the importance of our sense of selves and identities, and how it’s never too late to change the tracks on the train of life.
To summarise, this book was: impactful, scenic, educational, enthralling and gorgeously written. It’s a complex mix of historical fiction, feminism and racial injustice - I’d highly recommend!
This is a beautiful debut novel, centred around a woman’s journey of self discovery as she tries to resist the patriarchal society that confines her. Florence, our protagonist, is a gorgeous soul who has passion and tenacity for her life and dreams.
The plot follows a dual timeline: in 1938 Agra, India where Florence was born and raised, and 1953, Portsmouth, England where Florence now lives with her Aunt. The timeline alternates between past and present as Bothwick unravels the events of Florence’s life that have led her to where she is in the present day.
It’s a stunning book, brimming with emotion and beauty, it’s a truly immersive story that had me gripped from the very first page. I think one of the reasons I felt captivated by the story was because of the protagonist, Florence. Florence is a memorable and powerful character, I was in awe at her resilience and passion for life. There were times where she lost herself, but that made her restoration with her self and identity even more remarkable. Bothwick’s writing made me think about the small pleasures in life, the importance of our sense of selves and identities, and how it’s never too late to change the tracks on the train of life.
To summarise, this book was: impactful, scenic, educational, enthralling and gorgeously written. It’s a complex mix of historical fiction, feminism and racial injustice - I’d highly recommend!
June 25, 2021
Young Florence has high hopes and dreams. Unfortunately, the year is 1938 and the place is Agra in India. Under the critical gaze of her father, Florence seems destined for a life of ladylike hobbies and entertaining guests. But Florence wants more. Endlessly fascinated by all things mechanical, she wants to learn how things like engines work. Fifteen years later, we find Florence in post-war England. How did she get there? Why did she leave India? And will she ever be able to make her dream come true?
Through various timelines and switching back and forth between India and England, Florence’s life of ups and downs is slowly revealed. From the death of her mother, to her first love, to marriage and her extremely complicated relationship with her father, Florence is one of those characters who quickly endears herself to the reader. You root for her, you want better things for her and more than anything, you hope she finds a way to break away from her male dominated surroundings.
A lot of the story is set against the mesmerising and beautiful landscape of Agra. Justine Bothwick’s descriptions truly bring this setting to life. But not everything about this place is stunning. Some of Florence’s experiences happen near the beginning of India’s struggle to get away from British rule and things get somewhat ugly. I know very little about this piece of history but this novel has definitely left me wanting to find out a lot more about it.
Having these dual settings allows the author to tackle a variety of themes. There is domestic abuse, there is misogyny but more than anything there is racism and discrimination. Some of it Florence sees through they eyes of the servants at her father’s house in India; their differences never something she gave much thought until tensions in the country started to rise. But she is also faced with these issues in England, through her son.
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced is a well-written story about fighting for your independence, about life’s trial and tribulations, about never giving up hope and about how it’s never too late to chase your dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Florence, a woman who is most definitely ahead of her time.
Through various timelines and switching back and forth between India and England, Florence’s life of ups and downs is slowly revealed. From the death of her mother, to her first love, to marriage and her extremely complicated relationship with her father, Florence is one of those characters who quickly endears herself to the reader. You root for her, you want better things for her and more than anything, you hope she finds a way to break away from her male dominated surroundings.
A lot of the story is set against the mesmerising and beautiful landscape of Agra. Justine Bothwick’s descriptions truly bring this setting to life. But not everything about this place is stunning. Some of Florence’s experiences happen near the beginning of India’s struggle to get away from British rule and things get somewhat ugly. I know very little about this piece of history but this novel has definitely left me wanting to find out a lot more about it.
Having these dual settings allows the author to tackle a variety of themes. There is domestic abuse, there is misogyny but more than anything there is racism and discrimination. Some of it Florence sees through they eyes of the servants at her father’s house in India; their differences never something she gave much thought until tensions in the country started to rise. But she is also faced with these issues in England, through her son.
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced is a well-written story about fighting for your independence, about life’s trial and tribulations, about never giving up hope and about how it’s never too late to chase your dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Florence, a woman who is most definitely ahead of her time.
December 15, 2021
This book was fine but it didn't quite grab me so I ended up skimming to the end.
The book takes place in several time tracks. The main character is Florence. She grew up in India with her rail engineer father but ended up back in England (where her family is from) as a divorced mother of a small boy. How exactly this all came to pass is detailed in the back-and-forth chapters.
I had a bit of a hard time attaching to Florence. On the one hand, she had a fascinating story. On the other, she seemed pretty naive and made quite a few bad decisions. Florence likes numbers and organization, but her father makes her take dance and voice lessons and shows her off by doing duets with her at parties. Florence thinks that this is the worst sort of coercion and feels utterly trapped. However, later, she ends up in a circus! As I read the early parts of Florence's life, she seemed like a spoiled person who didn't know how good she had it. Yes, she could not do exactly as she liked, but her father did love her and tried to provide her with opportunities.
In her later days, Florence lives with her aunt and learns what true drudgery is- she must do washing, scrub silverware, clean floors as her aunt has a strict cleaning regimen that must be followed every week. Eventually Florence finds a job but events conspire to bring her home again. Florence gets married to basically the first guy that asks because she's desperate to have her own home, but that doesn't work out either due to another poor choice.
The peacock story is about a bird who loves its looks so much that in the end it is weighed down by its heavy, beautiful tail and can't escape to where it wants to go. This did feel a bit like Florence to me. That's a hard character to attach to. The historical details were interesting, but throwing in a circus, several romances and many life changes kept the book from feeling as realistic as I like historical fiction to feel. It's a well-written book and if I had a bit more patience I might have sunk into it, but I'm having a problem doing that with books lately and this book didn't rise to the occasion.
The book takes place in several time tracks. The main character is Florence. She grew up in India with her rail engineer father but ended up back in England (where her family is from) as a divorced mother of a small boy. How exactly this all came to pass is detailed in the back-and-forth chapters.
I had a bit of a hard time attaching to Florence. On the one hand, she had a fascinating story. On the other, she seemed pretty naive and made quite a few bad decisions. Florence likes numbers and organization, but her father makes her take dance and voice lessons and shows her off by doing duets with her at parties. Florence thinks that this is the worst sort of coercion and feels utterly trapped. However, later, she ends up in a circus! As I read the early parts of Florence's life, she seemed like a spoiled person who didn't know how good she had it. Yes, she could not do exactly as she liked, but her father did love her and tried to provide her with opportunities.
In her later days, Florence lives with her aunt and learns what true drudgery is- she must do washing, scrub silverware, clean floors as her aunt has a strict cleaning regimen that must be followed every week. Eventually Florence finds a job but events conspire to bring her home again. Florence gets married to basically the first guy that asks because she's desperate to have her own home, but that doesn't work out either due to another poor choice.
The peacock story is about a bird who loves its looks so much that in the end it is weighed down by its heavy, beautiful tail and can't escape to where it wants to go. This did feel a bit like Florence to me. That's a hard character to attach to. The historical details were interesting, but throwing in a circus, several romances and many life changes kept the book from feeling as realistic as I like historical fiction to feel. It's a well-written book and if I had a bit more patience I might have sunk into it, but I'm having a problem doing that with books lately and this book didn't rise to the occasion.
October 20, 2021
Novel set in AGRA and PORTSMOUTH
A novel that transports the reader back in time, starting out pre WW2 and continuing through into the 1950s. It is a tumultuous period in world history and there is growing unrest in India, as the country moves towards Independence (in 1947).
Florence is living with her widowed father in Agra. Theirs is not an easy relationship and she takes solace in riding her horses and enjoying a modicum of freedom that was unusual in those times. She has had a fairly privileged upbringing. The point soon comes when marriage is in the air and a suitable husband has to be identified.
In post war Portsmouth we alight upon Florence once again, living with her aunt in reduced circumstances – another tricky relationship, this time between aunt and niece, and Florence’s son has made an appearance.
Her life in India, with its relative ease and colour has morphed into a grey existence in Portsmouth and it is the change in fortunes that drives the novel forward.
The author is skilled at opening up couple and family relationships, the political history of India, the backdrop of WW2, love interests, Florence’s interest in engineering; and she knows how to get her reader invested in the characters and storyline. Arcing across all these complex topics is the circus and Florence’s delight at becoming involved – it is almost her metaphor for freedom. The circus is also a leitmotif, linking the stories both in India and Portsmouth, but I feel it is superimposed at the expense of the other themes that were being developed. It almost hijacks the story that was coming together so very well and takes the narrative in another, more fanciful direction. I was left wanting more information about Florence’s personal relationships/friendships and their impact on her and her future life.
Including the circus is certainly a different take on that period of history and adds colour and tension.
I nevertheless enjoyed the novel, the author is a good writer and I am curious to see where she goes next.
A novel that transports the reader back in time, starting out pre WW2 and continuing through into the 1950s. It is a tumultuous period in world history and there is growing unrest in India, as the country moves towards Independence (in 1947).
Florence is living with her widowed father in Agra. Theirs is not an easy relationship and she takes solace in riding her horses and enjoying a modicum of freedom that was unusual in those times. She has had a fairly privileged upbringing. The point soon comes when marriage is in the air and a suitable husband has to be identified.
In post war Portsmouth we alight upon Florence once again, living with her aunt in reduced circumstances – another tricky relationship, this time between aunt and niece, and Florence’s son has made an appearance.
Her life in India, with its relative ease and colour has morphed into a grey existence in Portsmouth and it is the change in fortunes that drives the novel forward.
The author is skilled at opening up couple and family relationships, the political history of India, the backdrop of WW2, love interests, Florence’s interest in engineering; and she knows how to get her reader invested in the characters and storyline. Arcing across all these complex topics is the circus and Florence’s delight at becoming involved – it is almost her metaphor for freedom. The circus is also a leitmotif, linking the stories both in India and Portsmouth, but I feel it is superimposed at the expense of the other themes that were being developed. It almost hijacks the story that was coming together so very well and takes the narrative in another, more fanciful direction. I was left wanting more information about Florence’s personal relationships/friendships and their impact on her and her future life.
Including the circus is certainly a different take on that period of history and adds colour and tension.
I nevertheless enjoyed the novel, the author is a good writer and I am curious to see where she goes next.
July 8, 2021
A girl born and brought up in India and it is now 1938 where India is at the crossroads of an independence struggle. The British are not wanted
and Florence has to go home. She who has only known the warmth and color of the tropics is expected to conform to a rigorous insular life with
her aunt and make a life for herself. Her father seems unconcerned about her, just feels she has let him down by not shining at whatever he
expected her to do.
Florence's is clever with a bent for mathematics and engines - things which are not considered feminine enough and despite her long stint of work
with machines and in a supervisory capacity in a factory is not taken much notice of when she does apply to follow a line of studies. Florence's
story told between the time lines of Agra 1938 and Portsmouth 1953 could not be more of a contrast and she struggles to lift her head above
water and to make something of herself and her life. Subjugated by a husband who is a bully, with no family support of any kind she and her
son Robert have to find a way to survive.
The story is very descriptive in both countries - and shows how difficult it was for Britishers who had lived in the East for so long to try
to adapt to a country which they were strangers to and to a lifestyle they were not familiar with.
Heartbreak, derogatory attitudes faced by Florence would have broken many women but Florence strives to survive knowing that a better future
could be got.
The story was very rich in both emotion (sad, tense and happy) as well as very evocative of places where it took place.
and Florence has to go home. She who has only known the warmth and color of the tropics is expected to conform to a rigorous insular life with
her aunt and make a life for herself. Her father seems unconcerned about her, just feels she has let him down by not shining at whatever he
expected her to do.
Florence's is clever with a bent for mathematics and engines - things which are not considered feminine enough and despite her long stint of work
with machines and in a supervisory capacity in a factory is not taken much notice of when she does apply to follow a line of studies. Florence's
story told between the time lines of Agra 1938 and Portsmouth 1953 could not be more of a contrast and she struggles to lift her head above
water and to make something of herself and her life. Subjugated by a husband who is a bully, with no family support of any kind she and her
son Robert have to find a way to survive.
The story is very descriptive in both countries - and shows how difficult it was for Britishers who had lived in the East for so long to try
to adapt to a country which they were strangers to and to a lifestyle they were not familiar with.
Heartbreak, derogatory attitudes faced by Florence would have broken many women but Florence strives to survive knowing that a better future
could be got.
The story was very rich in both emotion (sad, tense and happy) as well as very evocative of places where it took place.
June 30, 2021
This book transports the reader to another history in time experiencing life in India pre-independence. Against that rich political backdrop, we are also transported to Florence’s privileged life as a British person living in India and enjoying the adventures and cultural spoils as a person of her status.
This is a really enjoyable slow-burn read, which is typically how I like my stories to be so that layers to a story can unfold gradually and we learn more about the characters as we go. There is a real element of joy and happiness that springs out from the book when reading about Florence’s passion with horses, engineering and asserting her strong willed and independent nature and defying convention. This is in stark contrast to Florence’s mood when she moves to Plymouth, when you noticeably sense her losing herself. The reader can’t help but root for Florence to find happiness again.
I love reading about the bond between Florence and Sita, which is so special. The tales of the circus also adds sparkle and magic to this wonderful story of love, loss, belonging and self-discovery.
Described as perfect for fans of Water for Elephants and The Secret Life of Bees. Highly recommend!
This is a really enjoyable slow-burn read, which is typically how I like my stories to be so that layers to a story can unfold gradually and we learn more about the characters as we go. There is a real element of joy and happiness that springs out from the book when reading about Florence’s passion with horses, engineering and asserting her strong willed and independent nature and defying convention. This is in stark contrast to Florence’s mood when she moves to Plymouth, when you noticeably sense her losing herself. The reader can’t help but root for Florence to find happiness again.
I love reading about the bond between Florence and Sita, which is so special. The tales of the circus also adds sparkle and magic to this wonderful story of love, loss, belonging and self-discovery.
Described as perfect for fans of Water for Elephants and The Secret Life of Bees. Highly recommend!
June 25, 2021
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced is a historical novel that only covers a short period in time, between 1938 and 1953. It is however a very important time in India, where much of this novel takes place. During that time India gained independence from England and there was also the partition from Pakistan. I have read about both before but never anything that shows the level of anger, fear and worry from all affected.
Florence lives with her widowed father in Agra. She loves her life, apart from her father trying to live his dream of being an entertainer through her. Her passion is engineering, but with attitudes to women at the time she is discouraged. I have to admit that the engineering terminology went way over my head but thankfully they are only a small part of this novel. Instead we got to know Florence, her friends, her family and witness her unhappy marriages.
I found it fascinating that Florence had more freedom in India than she did in England. I thought she was listened to more, less patronised and was a lot happier. She didn’t want to be sent to a finishing school and married off. She wanted to be in a country with people she loved. Her relationship with Sita and Ravi was one that meant a lot to her, probably more than the one she had with her father.
I found this novel to be original and an extremely accurate account of an important time in history. Different to many that are set at the same time, the war only plays a small part, but when it did it highlighted the differences in attitude to the English armies compared to the Indian. It was hardly surprising that it caused a lot of upset.
I would definitely be interested in reading more by this author and also more about Indian history.
Florence lives with her widowed father in Agra. She loves her life, apart from her father trying to live his dream of being an entertainer through her. Her passion is engineering, but with attitudes to women at the time she is discouraged. I have to admit that the engineering terminology went way over my head but thankfully they are only a small part of this novel. Instead we got to know Florence, her friends, her family and witness her unhappy marriages.
I found it fascinating that Florence had more freedom in India than she did in England. I thought she was listened to more, less patronised and was a lot happier. She didn’t want to be sent to a finishing school and married off. She wanted to be in a country with people she loved. Her relationship with Sita and Ravi was one that meant a lot to her, probably more than the one she had with her father.
I found this novel to be original and an extremely accurate account of an important time in history. Different to many that are set at the same time, the war only plays a small part, but when it did it highlighted the differences in attitude to the English armies compared to the Indian. It was hardly surprising that it caused a lot of upset.
I would definitely be interested in reading more by this author and also more about Indian history.
January 10, 2022
I have mixed feelings for this book. On one hand, I loved the feeling of being transported to India. The scenes were so vivid and captivating. It would make a stunning movie. The time jumps were done well and I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed by the ending, and I can’t say I loved any of the characters. There was enough suspense to keep me engaged, but the way things wrapped up felt almost anticlimactic. Overall, it was a good, relatively quick read.
April 7, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Story gripped me and I loved the ending.
October 2, 2022
I enjoyed this book but would have liked more depth on the historical fiction side of things. I liked Florence and her engineering ambition particularly appealed to me but felt wrong throughout that this story of the terrible effects of colonisation was told only through a white woman’s eyes. It had lots of interesting bits but would have been much better with different perspectives
April 11, 2021
An eloquently written story about a woman’s journey to free herself from the societal expectations that she is seemingly bound to. Torn between the familial obligations imposed on her, and the hopes and dreams for a future without restrictions, Florence finds herself reminiscing about her youth, whilst yearning for what could have been if the realities of life hadn’t have intervened.
An inspiring novel with an easy to follow narrative, which I was immediately drawn to due to its setting in India (one of my favourite countries). There were some beautifully vivid descriptions of the unfolding scenes, however for me there wasn’t quite enough of it to capture the energy of the landscape’s magnetism, and desolation - this could have elevated the story’s theme a little more as they both do well to compliment each other. Florence’s journey although privileged, is an unusual one, particularly for a woman living during the early 20th century, her clandestine pastimes add to the appeal of the story. Female leads that set their sights on defying institutionalised male conventions will always capture my attention when reading historical fiction, and this story did just that. Overall, this was an enjoyable read to relax with over a lazy weekend.
Thank you to Netgalley and Agora Books for an advanced copy of the e-book.
An inspiring novel with an easy to follow narrative, which I was immediately drawn to due to its setting in India (one of my favourite countries). There were some beautifully vivid descriptions of the unfolding scenes, however for me there wasn’t quite enough of it to capture the energy of the landscape’s magnetism, and desolation - this could have elevated the story’s theme a little more as they both do well to compliment each other. Florence’s journey although privileged, is an unusual one, particularly for a woman living during the early 20th century, her clandestine pastimes add to the appeal of the story. Female leads that set their sights on defying institutionalised male conventions will always capture my attention when reading historical fiction, and this story did just that. Overall, this was an enjoyable read to relax with over a lazy weekend.
Thank you to Netgalley and Agora Books for an advanced copy of the e-book.
June 19, 2021
Before I start the review I want to say how beautiful the cover of this book is, it really captures the essence of the book. In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced is set both in Agra, India and Portsmouth, England from 1938 until 1956. In India 1938, Florence is turning eighteen, and gets her first taste of love. She has been brought up by her father and Sita her amah after the death of her mother. She loves her life in India, the freedom she has and she has an inquisitive mind around engineering and the railway her father works for; not a lady like pursuit in his eyes. After the War of Independence, Florence is sent to live with her Aunt Sarah in Portsmouth, to hopefully start a new life and find a husband. But England is a far cry from Agora, and Florence starts to lose who she is, the mundane lifestyle of cleaning and running a household are new to her after having servantsin India. But when a surprise visitor arrives, Florence starts to believe in her self again, with a chance to follow her dreams at last.
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced is as a beautiful read as the cover hints at. This was such an enjoyable book to read, both in the wonderful characters and the exotic setting of India. The plot is centered around Florence, from her eighteenth birthday in Agora until she is thirty six and living in England. Whilst the locations are complete opposites, the heat, exoticism and colourful India, and the grey, damp existence in Portsmouth, so are the two different Florence’s; India seems to feed her life force whilst Portsmouth seems to drain the life from her. In India, at eighteen, Florence is a young woman finding her place in life. Due to that era she is very much under the control of her father, who wants her to sing and dance, and not take an interest in science, the railway and combustion engines. It is a chance meeting with her father’s colleague Jay, that gives her a first taste of love. Unlike her father, Jay takes her seriously and talks engineering with her, he understands her a passion. Seeing Florence fourish, and grow was wonderful, and she used this information and experience during WWII. Florence is someone who shows no fear, she believes in herself and will try her hand at anything; from railways, to driving trucks in the war, to working in a factory to the trapeze and canon in the circus. I think her most endearing relationship was with Sita, her amah, who was a mother to her, even breastfeeding Florence as a baby after the death of her mother. Florence is certainly a determined, ambitious and loyal young woman.
My favourite part of this book was the parts set in India. Both my parents were brought up abroad, in Qatar and Singapore, so I was able to relate to some of Florence’s experiences in India, and especially her relationship with Sita. The thought of riding on elephants, seeing tigers by a lake, and having the freedom to ride your horse sounds exciting, and gives Florence a freedom she could never have in England. Justine Bothwick’s writing is sublime, she captures the nuances of her characters, the beautiful backdrop od India and the atmosphere of the Indian War of Independence. Justine Bothwick doesn’t go into to much detail of the war, so there is no heavy historical detail, but just gives us enough of the feeling at that time, and how dificult it was for those who worked for, and felt like family to their British employers. The themes of colonialism, racism, and domestic abuse are all dealt with empathy and understanding, and add to the reality of the period this book is set in.
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced was such a amazing book to read, and one I read in a day. Florence is a fascinating character, determined, ambitious and a woman ahead of her time, especially when she came to England. The writing really drew me into this book, in its vivid descriptions of the landscape, and the very different sights, smells and tastes of India and England. A stunning cover, leads into a stunning read that offers pure escapism. A brilliant debut novel and I look forward to what Justine Bothwick writes next.
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced is as a beautiful read as the cover hints at. This was such an enjoyable book to read, both in the wonderful characters and the exotic setting of India. The plot is centered around Florence, from her eighteenth birthday in Agora until she is thirty six and living in England. Whilst the locations are complete opposites, the heat, exoticism and colourful India, and the grey, damp existence in Portsmouth, so are the two different Florence’s; India seems to feed her life force whilst Portsmouth seems to drain the life from her. In India, at eighteen, Florence is a young woman finding her place in life. Due to that era she is very much under the control of her father, who wants her to sing and dance, and not take an interest in science, the railway and combustion engines. It is a chance meeting with her father’s colleague Jay, that gives her a first taste of love. Unlike her father, Jay takes her seriously and talks engineering with her, he understands her a passion. Seeing Florence fourish, and grow was wonderful, and she used this information and experience during WWII. Florence is someone who shows no fear, she believes in herself and will try her hand at anything; from railways, to driving trucks in the war, to working in a factory to the trapeze and canon in the circus. I think her most endearing relationship was with Sita, her amah, who was a mother to her, even breastfeeding Florence as a baby after the death of her mother. Florence is certainly a determined, ambitious and loyal young woman.
My favourite part of this book was the parts set in India. Both my parents were brought up abroad, in Qatar and Singapore, so I was able to relate to some of Florence’s experiences in India, and especially her relationship with Sita. The thought of riding on elephants, seeing tigers by a lake, and having the freedom to ride your horse sounds exciting, and gives Florence a freedom she could never have in England. Justine Bothwick’s writing is sublime, she captures the nuances of her characters, the beautiful backdrop od India and the atmosphere of the Indian War of Independence. Justine Bothwick doesn’t go into to much detail of the war, so there is no heavy historical detail, but just gives us enough of the feeling at that time, and how dificult it was for those who worked for, and felt like family to their British employers. The themes of colonialism, racism, and domestic abuse are all dealt with empathy and understanding, and add to the reality of the period this book is set in.
In The Mirror, A Peacock Danced was such a amazing book to read, and one I read in a day. Florence is a fascinating character, determined, ambitious and a woman ahead of her time, especially when she came to England. The writing really drew me into this book, in its vivid descriptions of the landscape, and the very different sights, smells and tastes of India and England. A stunning cover, leads into a stunning read that offers pure escapism. A brilliant debut novel and I look forward to what Justine Bothwick writes next.
July 14, 2021
As well as having one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen this year, this was an equally beautiful read.
I was drawn to this novel as this year I’ve been researching our family trees, and have discovered the true extent of the connection of my husband’s family to India, who lived in Pondichery for several generations, before coming to England in the 1950s. I’ve recently been talking to my mother in law about it, and she has recollections of the family being treated differently in England because of their mixed ancestry and their skin colour, much in the way that Robert, Florence’s son is singled out within the book. It’s a bizarre sense of displacement brought about by male power. That those who were born in India to the colonial powers are expected to identify as being ‘English’ (or French in the case of my husband’s family) and yet have never set foot into those countries. In the case of my husband’s family, they have relatives in both India and Burma (Myanmar) – far more than they have in this country and so much of who they are have been formed by those countries, their parents and grandparents etc etc having being raised there. It’s a really interesting take on nationality vs identity. This question particularly struck me during this book, when Jay is talking to Florence about his time spent studying in England, her ‘home’ and yet to her it is a far off place that she’s only heard about in stories. India is her home. Sita, her amah, is to all intents and purposes her mother. And so when she eventually goes to England it feels wrong to her and she yearns for India.
This is a world ruled by men, the colonial setting – the ultimate show of power and control within a patriarchy, really demonstrates just how dominated Florence is made to feel as a young woman, but her need to achieve more than is expected pulls parallels with the strengthening demand of independence for India herself.
This is a constant theme throughout the book, the feeling of struggling within confines and not quite fitting in. Young Florence is keen minded with an interest in engineering and mathematics, and yet because she is female this interest is quashed rather than nurtured, and although her father is keen for her to be someone ‘special’ this has to be on his terms, determined by his thoughts on what are suitable for a young woman.
This book feels so alive. The sense of place is strong and vibrant, particularly in those chapters based in India, which read in sharp contrast to the grey, dull feel of England. My main concern was that the balance between story and historical politics would be too heavily weighted towards politics, however this is not the case. The historical aspect is perfectly pitched and in keeping with, most probably the level of knowledge that Florence herself would have had. Events are observed through her eyes, on the ground as it were, and the information relayed is to understand the context of what happened, but I found it also piqued my interest and I began some of my own reading based off this.
I expected this to be a love story. But it isn’t – at least not in the traditional sense. This is about a woman who throws off convention, to find the person she truly is, discovering the confidence to finally be that woman. She learns to love herself, shutting off the world who tells her she is wrong. That she doesn’t fit.
And I loved it. It is gorgeously written and I ended the book with a feeling of empowerment and of hope. Whilst the book deals with oppression of many kinds, it also speaks to the power of following your own dreams and owning who you are. It has been a real joy to read and I don’t hesitate for a second to recommend.
I was drawn to this novel as this year I’ve been researching our family trees, and have discovered the true extent of the connection of my husband’s family to India, who lived in Pondichery for several generations, before coming to England in the 1950s. I’ve recently been talking to my mother in law about it, and she has recollections of the family being treated differently in England because of their mixed ancestry and their skin colour, much in the way that Robert, Florence’s son is singled out within the book. It’s a bizarre sense of displacement brought about by male power. That those who were born in India to the colonial powers are expected to identify as being ‘English’ (or French in the case of my husband’s family) and yet have never set foot into those countries. In the case of my husband’s family, they have relatives in both India and Burma (Myanmar) – far more than they have in this country and so much of who they are have been formed by those countries, their parents and grandparents etc etc having being raised there. It’s a really interesting take on nationality vs identity. This question particularly struck me during this book, when Jay is talking to Florence about his time spent studying in England, her ‘home’ and yet to her it is a far off place that she’s only heard about in stories. India is her home. Sita, her amah, is to all intents and purposes her mother. And so when she eventually goes to England it feels wrong to her and she yearns for India.
This is a world ruled by men, the colonial setting – the ultimate show of power and control within a patriarchy, really demonstrates just how dominated Florence is made to feel as a young woman, but her need to achieve more than is expected pulls parallels with the strengthening demand of independence for India herself.
This is a constant theme throughout the book, the feeling of struggling within confines and not quite fitting in. Young Florence is keen minded with an interest in engineering and mathematics, and yet because she is female this interest is quashed rather than nurtured, and although her father is keen for her to be someone ‘special’ this has to be on his terms, determined by his thoughts on what are suitable for a young woman.
This book feels so alive. The sense of place is strong and vibrant, particularly in those chapters based in India, which read in sharp contrast to the grey, dull feel of England. My main concern was that the balance between story and historical politics would be too heavily weighted towards politics, however this is not the case. The historical aspect is perfectly pitched and in keeping with, most probably the level of knowledge that Florence herself would have had. Events are observed through her eyes, on the ground as it were, and the information relayed is to understand the context of what happened, but I found it also piqued my interest and I began some of my own reading based off this.
I expected this to be a love story. But it isn’t – at least not in the traditional sense. This is about a woman who throws off convention, to find the person she truly is, discovering the confidence to finally be that woman. She learns to love herself, shutting off the world who tells her she is wrong. That she doesn’t fit.
And I loved it. It is gorgeously written and I ended the book with a feeling of empowerment and of hope. Whilst the book deals with oppression of many kinds, it also speaks to the power of following your own dreams and owning who you are. It has been a real joy to read and I don’t hesitate for a second to recommend.
June 21, 2021
Agra, 1938: We meet Florence Hunt on the day of her eighteenth birthday in pre-war India, where she has grown up under the firm hand of her widowed father, who is absorbed with his work on the railway. Her childhood has not been unhappy, but she feels the loss of her mother, left as she has been in the care of a father who not only refuses to consider her wishes, but also demands she confine herself solely to ladylike pursuits, despite her desire to be an engineer. She longs to to be free to govern her own destiny.
The story then moves with a jolt to Portsmouth in 1953, where Florence is now a once-divorced mother of a mixed-race son, living under very different circumstances in the home of her maternal aunt, married to a man who cares little for what she wants out of life, and always struggling with a grey and cold environment very different from that of her childhood. What happened to that spirited young girl of eighteen, who we met at the beginning of the tale?
Justine Bothwick then proceeds to spin out a story that moves back and forth between the dramatic events of pre- and post-war Agra, and the reality of a young mother in Portsmouth of the 1950s, weaving a tale that gradually unfolds the life of a woman who has experienced love, heartbreak and suffering at the hands of a male dominated world - and has lost herself along the way. But when a face from the past turns up on her doorstep, it gives her the chance to regain something of the life she has lost, and an opportunity to chase the dreams she thought would never be fulfilled.
These pages are filled with lush period detail about life in pre-independence India, at a time of considerable political turmoil, and the stark period in post-war England when social change is bubbling under the surface. Bothwick covers considerable ground in the telling of Florence's story against both these richly described backdrops, drawing on themes of women's rights, class and racism, and ties the whole piece together by injecting a storyline that revolves around freedom by exploring life in the circus, and using peacocks as an intriguing motif throughout.
Florence was such an interesting and complex character; her youthful spirit beaten down by life filled with romantic disappointment and frustrated ambition, and even though my heart broke as she fell prey to the dark deeds of others and her own inner frailties, the way she grabbed the chance to follow her dreams after pulling herself from her pit of despair was delightful - especially the way she was inspired by the love and kindness of others who had to fight for the kind of lives they wanted to live.
This is such a moving and heart warming tale about family, inner strength and the role of women, that proved to be a very enjoyable, quirky mix of historical drama and glamorous flight of fancy. I don't think I have ever read anything quite like this before, which makes it something of an impressive debut indeed. I can't wait to see what comes next from Justine Bothwick.
The story then moves with a jolt to Portsmouth in 1953, where Florence is now a once-divorced mother of a mixed-race son, living under very different circumstances in the home of her maternal aunt, married to a man who cares little for what she wants out of life, and always struggling with a grey and cold environment very different from that of her childhood. What happened to that spirited young girl of eighteen, who we met at the beginning of the tale?
Justine Bothwick then proceeds to spin out a story that moves back and forth between the dramatic events of pre- and post-war Agra, and the reality of a young mother in Portsmouth of the 1950s, weaving a tale that gradually unfolds the life of a woman who has experienced love, heartbreak and suffering at the hands of a male dominated world - and has lost herself along the way. But when a face from the past turns up on her doorstep, it gives her the chance to regain something of the life she has lost, and an opportunity to chase the dreams she thought would never be fulfilled.
These pages are filled with lush period detail about life in pre-independence India, at a time of considerable political turmoil, and the stark period in post-war England when social change is bubbling under the surface. Bothwick covers considerable ground in the telling of Florence's story against both these richly described backdrops, drawing on themes of women's rights, class and racism, and ties the whole piece together by injecting a storyline that revolves around freedom by exploring life in the circus, and using peacocks as an intriguing motif throughout.
Florence was such an interesting and complex character; her youthful spirit beaten down by life filled with romantic disappointment and frustrated ambition, and even though my heart broke as she fell prey to the dark deeds of others and her own inner frailties, the way she grabbed the chance to follow her dreams after pulling herself from her pit of despair was delightful - especially the way she was inspired by the love and kindness of others who had to fight for the kind of lives they wanted to live.
This is such a moving and heart warming tale about family, inner strength and the role of women, that proved to be a very enjoyable, quirky mix of historical drama and glamorous flight of fancy. I don't think I have ever read anything quite like this before, which makes it something of an impressive debut indeed. I can't wait to see what comes next from Justine Bothwick.
January 20, 2022
It is 1938 and Florence Hunt has grown up in Agra in "British India", her father works for the railroad. Even though his job is not as glorified as some, it has allowed her to grow up in a fairly luxurious manner, riding horses and attending parties. Florence's mother died when she was young, and she has been mostly raised by Sita, her ayah, as her father is distant and uninvolved. Florence has an interest in the workings of the railroad, but her father discourages this, preferring that she entertain their guests with a song or a dance.
Abruptly we are in Portsmouth, England, 1953. Fifteen years later Florence's life has changed dramatically. She is now a mother to Robert, and living hand to mouth and on the good graces of her aunt. Her life consists of drudgery and dead in jobs. How did her life take on such a dramatic change?
We switch back and forth between Florence's life in Agra, then to her present day circumstances in England. More time is given to her time in India, which I was glad of as I enjoyed it more. Florence has some unconventional romances in Agra, where she is exposed to the cruel differences in the lives of the Indians, whose country they live in, and the life of the English, the occupiers.
What I enjoyed about the book was, for starters, the writing. It is polished and sure, and propels you through the story in an enjoyable manner. And as others have mentioned, the book cover is gorgeous, if you are influenced by such things! There were a couple of things I did not enjoy as much. I found Florence kept making bad choices, especially in men. One mistake is understandable, two just makes you dumb in my mind! She very passively drifts into a marriage, which I found hard to understand. I also found the whole thing about the circus weird. Although the author uses it to prove a point at the end of the story, which did make me appreciate it more, I still found the whole scenario of Florence getting involved in a circus extremely unlikely. These are personal quibbles, and other reviewers disagree with me, so don't let that discourage you!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Justine Bothwick, and Agora Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. My enjoyment of the story rates a 3.5, but I'm rounding up to 4 for such good writing.
Abruptly we are in Portsmouth, England, 1953. Fifteen years later Florence's life has changed dramatically. She is now a mother to Robert, and living hand to mouth and on the good graces of her aunt. Her life consists of drudgery and dead in jobs. How did her life take on such a dramatic change?
We switch back and forth between Florence's life in Agra, then to her present day circumstances in England. More time is given to her time in India, which I was glad of as I enjoyed it more. Florence has some unconventional romances in Agra, where she is exposed to the cruel differences in the lives of the Indians, whose country they live in, and the life of the English, the occupiers.
What I enjoyed about the book was, for starters, the writing. It is polished and sure, and propels you through the story in an enjoyable manner. And as others have mentioned, the book cover is gorgeous, if you are influenced by such things! There were a couple of things I did not enjoy as much. I found Florence kept making bad choices, especially in men. One mistake is understandable, two just makes you dumb in my mind! She very passively drifts into a marriage, which I found hard to understand. I also found the whole thing about the circus weird. Although the author uses it to prove a point at the end of the story, which did make me appreciate it more, I still found the whole scenario of Florence getting involved in a circus extremely unlikely. These are personal quibbles, and other reviewers disagree with me, so don't let that discourage you!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Justine Bothwick, and Agora Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. My enjoyment of the story rates a 3.5, but I'm rounding up to 4 for such good writing.
July 15, 2021
This is the story (historical fiction) of a woman finding her freedom and her voice. In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced follows the story of our unconventional protagonist, Florence, as she grows up in India and later moves to England, navigating WWII, India’s independence, and racial discrimination. Florence isn’t your typical British woman living in pre-WWII India—she enjoys riding horses and is interested in trains and mathematics. She unfortunately has a father who wishes she would be more ladylike and scorns her at every turn—the way he speaks to her is truly painful at points. The story flips between India and the UK and spans 15 years. We see Florence fall in love, meet an empowered woman, and soar to great heights (literally and figuratively). But life has more in store for Florence and she finds her world constricting, especially once she moves to Britain. As a reader, we are cheering for Florence to fight back and stand up for herself, yet we know how hard it is for those who are different to stand alone, against societal norms.
Surprisingly, Florence’s life during WWII was skimmed over, which I found refreshing. This novel is more about cause and effect and Bothwick was very effective in how she used WWII to mould Florence’s character without going too much into the war (haven’t we’ve all read too many cookie cutter WWII historical fiction books?). This book also provided a little insight into how Indians viewed the war, which was great.
Bothwick’s novel was simply beautiful. She described everything in the right amount of detail. The characters were believable and real. The anguish, joy, and pain they felt, was tangible. Her writing was lovely and fluid—this was a quick read. Overall this provided a fresh look at women and their roles pre and post-WWII and I recommend!
Triggers: abuse, racism, bullying
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for providing me with an ARC.
“Rebellion, a new refusal to accept the mediocre, the knowledge that there was so much to do and see, and she wouldn’t be confined by the lives and conventions of those around her.” (Bothwick, 2021)YES!!!!
Surprisingly, Florence’s life during WWII was skimmed over, which I found refreshing. This novel is more about cause and effect and Bothwick was very effective in how she used WWII to mould Florence’s character without going too much into the war (haven’t we’ve all read too many cookie cutter WWII historical fiction books?). This book also provided a little insight into how Indians viewed the war, which was great.
Bothwick’s novel was simply beautiful. She described everything in the right amount of detail. The characters were believable and real. The anguish, joy, and pain they felt, was tangible. Her writing was lovely and fluid—this was a quick read. Overall this provided a fresh look at women and their roles pre and post-WWII and I recommend!
Triggers: abuse, racism, bullying
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for providing me with an ARC.
June 30, 2021
I loved loved loved this book, Florence , is a character who quickly steals your heart and, I feel, it is a very timely novel. The difference between cultures, and the way that she is treated as a white woman in India, versus a single mother of a bi-racial child in post-war Britain, is truly prescient.
There is such a disconnect between what society, seen in the patriarchal form of her father, expects of her, and the way she wants to live in a world of colour and freedom.
Instead, she is paraded by her father and made to sing at functions, she lacks a voice because there is no one listening to her. The women around her think no further than getting married to English men and being introduced into 'society'. Meanwhile, Florence wants the freedom to swing trhough the air with the circus, a place where there is a sense of managed danger, unpredictability and zero expectations.
The novel flips between her life in India, and her life with a 5 year old son, living in the basement of a very disapproving aunt. She again is a square peg in a round hole, a woman with skills and intelligence who is fascinated by engineering and production, yet caught in that awkward place where men were returning home from the war, and not exactly happy to find women working.
Her intelligence and forthrightness are smothered whilst she does her best to provide a stable home for her son, and the historical aspects of the era of Indian Partition and the re-establishment of world super powers in the aftermath of World War 2 show a woman trying to plant her feet in a world which is rapidly shifting underneath her.
I would thoroughly recommend this jewel bright, verdant novel to anyone who loves books with a strong female voice, and those who love historical fiction. Justine is a new voice who I am eager to follow through her writer's journey.
There is such a disconnect between what society, seen in the patriarchal form of her father, expects of her, and the way she wants to live in a world of colour and freedom.
Instead, she is paraded by her father and made to sing at functions, she lacks a voice because there is no one listening to her. The women around her think no further than getting married to English men and being introduced into 'society'. Meanwhile, Florence wants the freedom to swing trhough the air with the circus, a place where there is a sense of managed danger, unpredictability and zero expectations.
The novel flips between her life in India, and her life with a 5 year old son, living in the basement of a very disapproving aunt. She again is a square peg in a round hole, a woman with skills and intelligence who is fascinated by engineering and production, yet caught in that awkward place where men were returning home from the war, and not exactly happy to find women working.
Her intelligence and forthrightness are smothered whilst she does her best to provide a stable home for her son, and the historical aspects of the era of Indian Partition and the re-establishment of world super powers in the aftermath of World War 2 show a woman trying to plant her feet in a world which is rapidly shifting underneath her.
I would thoroughly recommend this jewel bright, verdant novel to anyone who loves books with a strong female voice, and those who love historical fiction. Justine is a new voice who I am eager to follow through her writer's journey.
April 5, 2021
Transport yourself to India and the circus through this beautiful story of strength and never giving up on your dreams despite the obstacles which keep trying to put you down.
This is the story of Florence Hunt who was born in Agra, India in the early 20th Century. She grew up surround by the lush jungles, roaming peacocks and going for daily rides with her horse past the Taj Mahal. She was brought up with her Amah after the death of her mother, and her rather chauvinistic father. Her father's aspirations for Florence were more to do with ‘lady-like’ activities such as singing and dancing, however, Florence aspires for more. With a head for maths and an interest in engineering having spent time working in the office at the railway with her father, on her 18th birthday in 1938, she was swept off her feet by a young engineer who encouraged her to learn with secret lessons on physics and engineering. Then the war came and everything changed.
Later in 1953, Florence is now pregnant and living with her aunt in Portsmouth, England. She is struggling to adapt to the grey dreary life in post-war Britain and her ambitions have not wilted however they are slowly fading. With a new husband and dreams diminishing, an old friend knocks on her door and brings her back to life.
I adored this story as I was fully transported to India and back again to the UK as I was taken on her journey in this wonderful time hop novel. I was on her side from the beginning to the end rooting for her, hoping she finds happiness and has the opportunity to follow her dreams. I really enjoyed learning with Florence as she was taught about engineering, I found it very insightful and just the right amount. Florence is a reminder to not give up on your dreams and aspirations. It's a beautiful uplifting story and one which I recommend to all fictional history readers, actually, anyone!
This is the story of Florence Hunt who was born in Agra, India in the early 20th Century. She grew up surround by the lush jungles, roaming peacocks and going for daily rides with her horse past the Taj Mahal. She was brought up with her Amah after the death of her mother, and her rather chauvinistic father. Her father's aspirations for Florence were more to do with ‘lady-like’ activities such as singing and dancing, however, Florence aspires for more. With a head for maths and an interest in engineering having spent time working in the office at the railway with her father, on her 18th birthday in 1938, she was swept off her feet by a young engineer who encouraged her to learn with secret lessons on physics and engineering. Then the war came and everything changed.
Later in 1953, Florence is now pregnant and living with her aunt in Portsmouth, England. She is struggling to adapt to the grey dreary life in post-war Britain and her ambitions have not wilted however they are slowly fading. With a new husband and dreams diminishing, an old friend knocks on her door and brings her back to life.
I adored this story as I was fully transported to India and back again to the UK as I was taken on her journey in this wonderful time hop novel. I was on her side from the beginning to the end rooting for her, hoping she finds happiness and has the opportunity to follow her dreams. I really enjoyed learning with Florence as she was taught about engineering, I found it very insightful and just the right amount. Florence is a reminder to not give up on your dreams and aspirations. It's a beautiful uplifting story and one which I recommend to all fictional history readers, actually, anyone!
June 28, 2021
In the Mirror, a Peacock Danced was not at all what I was expecting when I started reading it. I was immediately infatuated with Florence, a girl who grew up in Agra India, and whose father wanted nothing more than for his daughter to be like all the other daughters: prim and proper. The story alters between 1938 in India and 1945 in Portsmouth where Florence currently lives as an adult.
In 1938, during the British colonial rule in India, Florence is a young, eighteen-year-old girl, with no desire to be like the other young ladies who desperately wished to return back to England. She walked to the beat of her own drum and was fascinated with the trains that her father worked around in India. During her summer home from school, Florence falls in love for the first time with Jay, a young Indian engineer who explains how steam engines work and takes her along the tracks so that she can truly see what the job involves instead of doing the filing that her father typically assigns to her.
In 1945, Florence is married with a son. She is collapsing in on herself with the monotonous task of housekeeping that never changes while her husband goes down to the pub and is constantly taking the money that her father sends their way. The joy of living that Florence once had has escaped her and she herself missing Agra more and more and reflecting on her past life.
It was the artwork and title that drew me to this book and I have to say, that after reading it, it has left me wondering quite a bit. The historical fiction aspects that touched on British colonialism in India, as well as women rights left feeling very vulnerable and bare. It was a fantastic read and one that I would highly recommend this summer.
In 1938, during the British colonial rule in India, Florence is a young, eighteen-year-old girl, with no desire to be like the other young ladies who desperately wished to return back to England. She walked to the beat of her own drum and was fascinated with the trains that her father worked around in India. During her summer home from school, Florence falls in love for the first time with Jay, a young Indian engineer who explains how steam engines work and takes her along the tracks so that she can truly see what the job involves instead of doing the filing that her father typically assigns to her.
In 1945, Florence is married with a son. She is collapsing in on herself with the monotonous task of housekeeping that never changes while her husband goes down to the pub and is constantly taking the money that her father sends their way. The joy of living that Florence once had has escaped her and she herself missing Agra more and more and reflecting on her past life.
It was the artwork and title that drew me to this book and I have to say, that after reading it, it has left me wondering quite a bit. The historical fiction aspects that touched on British colonialism in India, as well as women rights left feeling very vulnerable and bare. It was a fantastic read and one that I would highly recommend this summer.
June 30, 2021
There is so much more to this book than that dazzling cover!
This is Florence’s story. Of growing up with the beauty of Agra, riding past the Taj Mahal in the mornings. Of spending time with her father at work on the train lines, desperate to understand the mechanics of everything. Of falling in love for the first time, and being torn apart by war, and finally, of marriage and parenthood and leaving India for the safety of England as times change.
When I say there’s so much to this story I mean it - it could be called so many things, from a coming of age novel, to a love story, historical fiction, and what it’s like to be a wife, mother, daughter. It’s exotic at times, and then equally bland as we picture 1950s England when women struggled to pursue a career of their choice. It certainly has a powerful feminist edge to it, with Florence performing all these small acts of defiance like taking part in the circus. It just really has something for everyone!
Florence is a wonderful character - a young woman who knows her own mind and isn’t prepared to settle for what’s expected of her. She wishes to be an engineer, just like her father and the man she loves. She does end up in some fairly unhappy marriages, so the story is also quite devastating at times with scenes of abuse - but she still always rises up.
The story is full of rich, historical detail and really captured the political landscape in India - I felt tense and fearful just reading certain parts. But my goodness, I was also captivated by the beauty of the country and it’s wild animals.
I absolutely adored this novel - it’s quite dark, but ultimately a story of hope and courage. The characters are wonderful and it completely swept me away to another time and place - just what I was looking for.
This is Florence’s story. Of growing up with the beauty of Agra, riding past the Taj Mahal in the mornings. Of spending time with her father at work on the train lines, desperate to understand the mechanics of everything. Of falling in love for the first time, and being torn apart by war, and finally, of marriage and parenthood and leaving India for the safety of England as times change.
When I say there’s so much to this story I mean it - it could be called so many things, from a coming of age novel, to a love story, historical fiction, and what it’s like to be a wife, mother, daughter. It’s exotic at times, and then equally bland as we picture 1950s England when women struggled to pursue a career of their choice. It certainly has a powerful feminist edge to it, with Florence performing all these small acts of defiance like taking part in the circus. It just really has something for everyone!
Florence is a wonderful character - a young woman who knows her own mind and isn’t prepared to settle for what’s expected of her. She wishes to be an engineer, just like her father and the man she loves. She does end up in some fairly unhappy marriages, so the story is also quite devastating at times with scenes of abuse - but she still always rises up.
The story is full of rich, historical detail and really captured the political landscape in India - I felt tense and fearful just reading certain parts. But my goodness, I was also captivated by the beauty of the country and it’s wild animals.
I absolutely adored this novel - it’s quite dark, but ultimately a story of hope and courage. The characters are wonderful and it completely swept me away to another time and place - just what I was looking for.
May 28, 2021
Florence grew up in bustling exotic India and is a teenager when the book starts in 1938. Her life is one of privilege as her father is a railroad baron. However, as a dreamer she feels trapped as a female yearning for more at a time when females had fewer opportunities. Her independent spirit is restricted, mostly by her Papa and the mores of the day. When she meets a fellow intellect who is not only bright but treats her as an equal she is thrilled. Her logical mind grasps mechanics readily as she learns about the inner workings of engines.
In the 1950s England Florence is pregnant and now must be independent as she is by herself in a bleak post-war world which is reeling. Her life has dramatically changed and she must learn to adjust and navigate life on her own. But she still is determined to dream big.
Both timelines are gorgeously written. The descriptions are stunningly vivid and extrasensory. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships and their evolution (especially with Robert) and her character. The circus and railroad threads running throughout are unusual and fascinating. And the cover is breathtaking! Clever title as well. Thankfully what lies between the book covers is just as beautiful. At the back is a Further Reading section which I appreciate as I am eager to learn more about the politics of India/Britain and how women lived in that era.
If you yearn for lovely writing and an original story, do pick up this book. It would appeal to General Fiction and Women's Fiction readers.
My sincere thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this marvelous book.
In the 1950s England Florence is pregnant and now must be independent as she is by herself in a bleak post-war world which is reeling. Her life has dramatically changed and she must learn to adjust and navigate life on her own. But she still is determined to dream big.
Both timelines are gorgeously written. The descriptions are stunningly vivid and extrasensory. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships and their evolution (especially with Robert) and her character. The circus and railroad threads running throughout are unusual and fascinating. And the cover is breathtaking! Clever title as well. Thankfully what lies between the book covers is just as beautiful. At the back is a Further Reading section which I appreciate as I am eager to learn more about the politics of India/Britain and how women lived in that era.
If you yearn for lovely writing and an original story, do pick up this book. It would appeal to General Fiction and Women's Fiction readers.
My sincere thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this marvelous book.
June 10, 2021
Florence grew up in bustling exotic India and is a teenager when the book starts in 1938. Her life is one of privilege as her father is a railroad baron. However, as a dreamer she feels trapped as a female yearning for more at a time when females had fewer opportunities. Her independent spirit is restricted, mostly by her Papa and the mores of the day. When she meets a fellow intellect who is not only bright but treats her as an equal she is thrilled. Her logical mind grasps mechanics readily as she learns about the inner workings of engines.
In the 1950s England Florence is pregnant and now must be independent as she is by herself in a bleak post-war world which is reeling. Her life has dramatically changed and she must learn to adjust and navigate life on her own. But she still is determined to dream big.
Both timelines are gorgeously written. The descriptions are stunningly vivid and extrasensory. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships and their evolution (especially with Robert) and her character. The circus and railroad threads running throughout are unusual and fascinating. And the cover is breathtaking! Clever title as well. Thankfully what lies between the book covers is just as beautiful. At the back is a Further Reading section which I appreciate as I am eager to learn more about the politics of India/Britain and how women lived in that era.
If you yearn for lovely writing and an original story, do pick up this book. It would appeal to General Fiction and Women's Fiction readers.
My sincere thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this marvelous book.
In the 1950s England Florence is pregnant and now must be independent as she is by herself in a bleak post-war world which is reeling. Her life has dramatically changed and she must learn to adjust and navigate life on her own. But she still is determined to dream big.
Both timelines are gorgeously written. The descriptions are stunningly vivid and extrasensory. I really enjoyed reading about her relationships and their evolution (especially with Robert) and her character. The circus and railroad threads running throughout are unusual and fascinating. And the cover is breathtaking! Clever title as well. Thankfully what lies between the book covers is just as beautiful. At the back is a Further Reading section which I appreciate as I am eager to learn more about the politics of India/Britain and how women lived in that era.
If you yearn for lovely writing and an original story, do pick up this book. It would appeal to General Fiction and Women's Fiction readers.
My sincere thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this marvelous book.
June 28, 2021
From the intriguing title, and the sumptuousness of the cover, In the Mirror a Peacock Danced draws you into the exotic world of colonial India in the heady years just before the country's independence.
The story opens in 1938 and into the life that Florence Hunt enjoys in Agra with her widowed father. In a world of privilege and dazzling colour, Florence reaches her eighteenth birthday as a beautiful self-possessed young woman with a lively mind and an enquiring nature. The story then jumps forward to 1953 where we meet up with Florence in Portsmouth and my interest was immediately piqued as to how Florence came to be living in such dreary circumstances in post-war England.
I enjoyed piecing together Florence's life in India, especially her enthusiasm for all things engineering and in particular her interest in the railways which makes her something of an oddity amongst her female contemporaries however, she is filled with a questioning mind and it is this which moves the story forward. The author writes with a lovely, light descriptive touch bringing Florence's complex character to life with all the contrasts, both in India and England.
In the Mirror a Peacock Danced flows beautifully with such an authentic feel to time and place that I was equally at home chasing the peacocks in India as I was immersed in the post war gloom of Portsmouth. Florence is a worthy protagonist, full of contrasts which comes from being caught between two worlds and it was fascinating to watch how all the pieces of her life finally came together.
I am sure that on the strength of this debut novel we shall expect to see much more from this talented new author in the future.
The story opens in 1938 and into the life that Florence Hunt enjoys in Agra with her widowed father. In a world of privilege and dazzling colour, Florence reaches her eighteenth birthday as a beautiful self-possessed young woman with a lively mind and an enquiring nature. The story then jumps forward to 1953 where we meet up with Florence in Portsmouth and my interest was immediately piqued as to how Florence came to be living in such dreary circumstances in post-war England.
I enjoyed piecing together Florence's life in India, especially her enthusiasm for all things engineering and in particular her interest in the railways which makes her something of an oddity amongst her female contemporaries however, she is filled with a questioning mind and it is this which moves the story forward. The author writes with a lovely, light descriptive touch bringing Florence's complex character to life with all the contrasts, both in India and England.
In the Mirror a Peacock Danced flows beautifully with such an authentic feel to time and place that I was equally at home chasing the peacocks in India as I was immersed in the post war gloom of Portsmouth. Florence is a worthy protagonist, full of contrasts which comes from being caught between two worlds and it was fascinating to watch how all the pieces of her life finally came together.
I am sure that on the strength of this debut novel we shall expect to see much more from this talented new author in the future.
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