I really enjoyed reading this book. I am a fan of historical fiction so it fits into my usual genre. The story follows a hawker in the fish market who has an illegitimate child. With the stigma of being an unmarried mother in the 18th century and the cost of raising a child when the family only made enough to scrape by already, Bess has no choice but to give the baby up to the Foundling Hospital in London, which I have since discovered was a real place.
However, when she returns six years later to collect her daughter, she discovers that another woman took the child after she had been in the Foundling Hospital only one night.
I really enjoyed reading about 18th century London and I felt for Bess as the story told her search to reclaim the child.
I was a little disappointed by the end, which I felt was a bit unrealistically "and they all lived happily ever after-esque." Without giving too much away, this certainly wouldn't have been the case, at least as the characters took time to adjust to their new lives.
That said, I would definitely try another book by this author.
However, when she returns six years later to collect her daughter, she discovers that another woman took the child after she had been in the Foundling Hospital only one night.
I really enjoyed reading about 18th century London and I felt for Bess as the story told her search to reclaim the child.
I was a little disappointed by the end, which I felt was a bit unrealistically "and they all lived happily ever after-esque." Without giving too much away, this certainly wouldn't have been the case, at least as the characters took time to adjust to their new lives.
That said, I would definitely try another book by this author.