Confinement

by Katharine McMahon

The plight of a nineteenth century schoolteacher, trapped by her duty to her job, is mirrored by a modern day woman's fight to escape the shackles of a broken marriage. Bess Hardemon, a tough and canny young teacher living in the mid-nineteenth century, is determined to make a difference at her new school, Priors Heath. Under the austere gaze of the Reverend Carnegie and his deputy, Miss Simms, the young girls remain underfed and unstimulated -- until the arrival of the bright, motivated young Bess.

At the cost of her own chance of finding love, Bess remains trapped by her duty, a confinement echoed a century later by Sarah, a teacher at the modern-day Priors Heath who must make her own choice between her duty to her pupils and her efforts to save a broken marriage.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature, School Stories

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Katharine McMahon is the author of 10 novels, including the bestselling The Rose of Sebastopol, which was a Richard and Judy pick for 2007. The Crimson Rooms and The Alchemist's Daughter.

Her latest book, The Hour of Separation, is our in paperback on 22nd August.

Her fiction is based on the lives of extraordinary women. She loves to explore how women in the past - but with a contemporary slant. The Hour of Separation tells the story of a complex friendship played out against a backdrop of resistance and betrayal in two world wars.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two parallel narrative in Katharine McMahon's Confinement: the story of Bess Hardemon a nineteenth century pioneer of education for girls who struggles to overcome prejudice and ignorance to create Prior's Heath School for Girls; and the story of Sarah Beckett a pupil at the same school in the late nineteen sixties.

The two narratives share the same set of themes: the conflict between ambition and domesticity; the expectations that society imposes on women; the fine line between selfishness and self-fulfilment; and the way that the past informs the present.

In a discussion of this book that appears at the end of this edition, Katherine McMahon declares that this is also a book about being a writer in that it focuses on the contradictory impulses towards withdrawal from, and participation in, the world that so many authors wrestle with.

It's very much a woman's book; men come out of it pretty badly overall. But that didn't detract from my pleasure in reading it. I enjoyed the strong characterisation, the close attention to period detail and, most of all, the forensic dissection of the characters' attempts, sometimes misguided or ill-judged, to find meaning in their daily lives.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book on my travels and immediately misread the blurb on the back- I thought this book was about a Victorian hospital, Priors Health. Oops. It's actually about a school called Priors Heath with two parallel stories- Bess in the 1850s and Sarah from late 1960s-1990s. From each story (told in alternate chapters), we learn more about both stories. Bess is a very forward thinking headmistress at Priors Heath, while Sarah is a restrained student. Later we see Sarah grown up, thinking about her choices (or lack of them).

I found this book well written, but restrained. I wasn't overly sympathetic towards Sarah; I felt she lacked conviction and passion. I didn't really care what happened to her. Bess was a more dynamic character and I would have happily read a lot more about her.

The supporting characters, Christina and Imogen were sketchily written. Christina seems sycophantic, Imogen moody. The plotlines involving them were interesting but I would have liked to have seen more feeling.

Apparently this book has been compared with Jane Eyre. I think Jane Eyre shows a lot more feeling and passion. Don't read it if you're looking for a substitute, but this book is good for cosy, rainy days.

[Beate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about two women finding their place in society; one woman tries to do so in the 1970's and 1990's, the other one in the 19th century. Both have to struggle with confinement and the expectations society puts on their shoulders. A very good read!

[Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confinement is the first of Katharine McMahon's novels that I've read and didn't love. Confinement consists of a dual narrative: one involving Bess Hardemon, the Victorian founder of a prestigious girls' school and the other involving Sarah Beckett, who attends the school in the late 1960s.

Bess's story was outstanding; a sort of anti-Jane Eyre (though conditions at the school are not quite as horrific as those at Lowood!) in which our heroine decides not to end by marrying "him" after which she experiences a horrible personal betrayal.

My problem with the novel, though, hinged on Sarah Beckett, who lets a short liaison at the age of 17 determine most of her adult life. We've all experienced the intense emotions of being in love at 17, but I daresay most people don't make that particular love affair the lodestone of their subsequent life and measure all other relationships against that one. Although I feel sure I wasn't meant to, I totally sympathized with Sarah's husband and children, because she was, quite honestly, just annoying and whiny and I didn't really care at all what happened to her.

[Breigh]

eh. It was sort of entertaining, but I wouldn't read it twice.

[Molly Tierney · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slow start, I couldn't put it down. Two time periods of a single place, a school for girls. The education of women, women's roles, and defining one's propose in life were some of the compelling themes. I always like this writer.

[Charlotte Pissaridou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read but a little disappointing

I enjoyed the two parallel stories but found myself wanting more detail about parts of their lives particularly about Bess.

[Zoella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's quite obvious from the outset that this is one of McMahon's first books. It's not as strong as others (Foot Steps, The Rose of Sebastopol and The Alchemist's Daughter). The parts of the novel that were set in the 1800s were enjoyable, well written and engaging, however the modern narrative was weak in places and unrewarding to those that persevere with it!
This was similar to Anya Seton's Green darkness, both writers, known for their successful historical fiction, trying a dual narrative in two time periods. I'm sorry, it just didn't work for me. I did want it to!
Perhaps publishing houses shouldn't reprint books that authors wrote sometime ago, just because their other newer novels meet with critical success. At this point I'm thinking Joanne Harris, or even worse: Stephenie Meyer's The Host.
I'm still optimistic because I'm now reading McMahon's The Crimson Rooms. Here's hoping this one is better!

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two worlds, two women, both confined.

I bought this book looking to understand just how the heroines: Bess and Sarah weave their way through what they hope to achieve and what the society has in mind for them.
I will admit that it partially met my expectation.

A story of women who are deemed inferior by society, yet they pursue education and knowledge relentlessly. Bess, chooses to pursue the management of Priors Heath School for Girls, and never gets married.
Sarah, years on is forced to choose between her marriage and her desire to teach at the school that so enlightened her, and was formed by Bess.

I got to reconsider my view of love and friendship given the relationship between Christina and Peachey, and Bess and Carnegie. I fear Imogen was too rigid, and selfish, and this made Sarah frail sometimes.

It's a good story because the Writer successfully takes you through two different periods of time with such ease.

[Redfox5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It seems strange that 100 years ago girls were still struggling for an education that we now take for granted and don't vaule nearly as much as we should do. I disliked Bess, she was going a lot of good work for the girls of the school, yet it seemed like she didn't like them as individuals. She was also a bit of a cold fish. Same with Sarah about the puplis, she seems disintrested when they take a liking to her. The questions that come up in Sarah's life are hard to answer epecially - Should I stay with a man I don't love for the sake of the children? This must be an awful thing to go through and I felt for her. I can't explain why I liked Imogen's charcter more than anyone else in the book but the pages seemed more intresting when her name came up.

[Goddess Of Blah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so sorry but this was so BORING!!!

The characters were annoying and the plot was dull.


This was unfortunately really tedious. And stupid at times.



zzzzzz SNOOZE FEST zzzzzzz

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read but I felt that because of the switches I
Time and character, neither character's story felt fully developed
I would have preferred the book to have bee
Set in one time and one character. There are successful time jump books
But this did not feel like one. Maybe the book should have been longer and characters stories explored in more depth. Because of this the book was quite frustrating
To read as I kept waiting for characters and the relationship between the characters to develop more but they did not.

[Rachel Cude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a fascinating insight into two different women's lives - professional (as tecahers) and private, and how the job both saves them, but in some way damages them too. The insight into Victorian schooling is chilling and yet draws you in. Both the modern day and the Victorian characters are finely drawn, and the time slips between the two are skilfully managed, so you're simultaneously unwilling to leave one character behind but keen to see what the other is up to. A great read, and I look forward to sampling more of this author's work.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read very much although I did find the modern day school teacher incredibly annoying, she was a very flaky character who seemed to blame everyone else for the way that her life was going.

The headteacher from the past - Bess, was a joy though. Ahead of her times, strong-willed and feisty yet quite tragic and sometimes dramatic.

It was interesting to read about the same school within two different time lines, the changes, the differences and the similarities.

[Alexandra Roach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting rather than earth shattering novel showing the lives of two women a century apart united by the same school. The title was chosen to reflect the limitations on women's lives and while they no doubt still exist the "modern" story seemed rather insipid compared to the Victorian one despite the modern character having rather more options and opportunities than her counterpart.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written, and I loved Bess' story as a determined and clever teacher in the 1850s, but I think it would have been better to focus solely on the Victorian era. By the end, I was so unimpressed with Sarah's character and actions (her selfishness, infidelity, inconsistency and lack of depth or ambition) that it rather ruined the story for me.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 teachers at the same school separated by a century. Both want to do the best for their pupils by the standards of their day. Both also struggle with relationships with family and friends and what should be their priority. Interesting perspectives set in parallel stories that keep you attention.

[Hannio J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasnt sure at first whether I would enjoy this book but it soon dragged me into the story and I found myself fascinating by the characters wantin to know what would happen to them.

I wasnt sure how each plot would end but the ending worked.

I think I would definitely read it again.

[Toast · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed. I like KMcM but this book felt aimless and unfocused. I wasn't sure what story she was trying to tell. Her characters were listless and unbecoming, I couldn't feel for any of them. The bit players had more spark. Felt like homework that needed to be done.
Toast

[Penny Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of similarities between Bess and Sarah. Both doing what they think is best for the children in their care.

[Dominika · Rating 3 out of 5]

really boring..... couldn't even finish it.....

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

repetitive but good.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Beth (bibliobeth)]

An okay read, liked the themes of this novel and will be checking out more of her work.

[Lexa]

It