An evocative and vivid tale of what it means to be a woman in the 17th century at the height of the Pendle witch trials.
Nestled in the sweeping landscape of Lancashire, Gawthorpe Hall’s young mistress Fleetwood Shuttleworth is pregnant. But instead of being thrilled at the prospect of motherhood, having already suffered three losses, she is worried about what her future holds if she fails to provide her husband Richard with an heir to the estate.
When she discovers a letter addressed to Richard, from her doctor, saying she won’t survive another pregnancy, she is desperate to give birth to a healthy baby and live to see them grow up, and she makes it her mission to protect herself and her unborn child.
A chance meeting with young midwife Alice Gray gives her hope, and Fleetwood’s unborn baby is growing… but Alice is widely suspected of witchcraft, and with the Lancaster Assizes looming, it’s not only Fleetwood’s life at stake.
This wonderfully atmospheric novel depicts an unlikely bond, which despite the historical climate and class divide, ultimately reminds us of the timeless resilience of women.
I absolutely loved this novel, and the audiobook narration by Katy Sobey was perfect. I spent my university years in Lancaster so I already knew a little about the history and the familiarity made this book even more compelling for me.
Nestled in the sweeping landscape of Lancashire, Gawthorpe Hall’s young mistress Fleetwood Shuttleworth is pregnant. But instead of being thrilled at the prospect of motherhood, having already suffered three losses, she is worried about what her future holds if she fails to provide her husband Richard with an heir to the estate.
When she discovers a letter addressed to Richard, from her doctor, saying she won’t survive another pregnancy, she is desperate to give birth to a healthy baby and live to see them grow up, and she makes it her mission to protect herself and her unborn child.
A chance meeting with young midwife Alice Gray gives her hope, and Fleetwood’s unborn baby is growing… but Alice is widely suspected of witchcraft, and with the Lancaster Assizes looming, it’s not only Fleetwood’s life at stake.
This wonderfully atmospheric novel depicts an unlikely bond, which despite the historical climate and class divide, ultimately reminds us of the timeless resilience of women.
I absolutely loved this novel, and the audiobook narration by Katy Sobey was perfect. I spent my university years in Lancaster so I already knew a little about the history and the familiarity made this book even more compelling for me.