In 1747 London, Bess Bright leaves her newborn daughter at The Foundling Hospital, with the intention of collecting when she has saved enough money to be able to look after her.
For six years Bess continues working with her father selling shrimp - hawking baskets of shrimp through the streets of London - and secretly stashing away whatever money she can.
In 1754, Bess feels that she has saved enough money for her to reclaim her daughter and for them to have a place of their own. Except, when she arrives at The Foundling Hospital she is told that her daughter is no longer there, and that it was Bess Bright that reclaimed the baby many years prior.
The story is split into 4 parts, and is told from the perspective of two characters - Bess and Alexandra.
Alexandra is a young widow who lives near The Foundling Hospital, she has barely left her house in a decade. She has a young daughter, who she does not allow outside either. Her friend, Dr Mead, who works at The Foundling, suggests that she hire a nursemaid for her daughter. Alexandra is hesitant at letting someone new into her life and home, and slowly her past and the reasons she stays shut away from the outside world finally begin to catch up on her.
I really enjoyed The Foundling, in fact I actually preferred it to the author's first book - The Familiars. This book reads really well and the story flows along nicely.
For six years Bess continues working with her father selling shrimp - hawking baskets of shrimp through the streets of London - and secretly stashing away whatever money she can.
In 1754, Bess feels that she has saved enough money for her to reclaim her daughter and for them to have a place of their own. Except, when she arrives at The Foundling Hospital she is told that her daughter is no longer there, and that it was Bess Bright that reclaimed the baby many years prior.
The story is split into 4 parts, and is told from the perspective of two characters - Bess and Alexandra.
Alexandra is a young widow who lives near The Foundling Hospital, she has barely left her house in a decade. She has a young daughter, who she does not allow outside either. Her friend, Dr Mead, who works at The Foundling, suggests that she hire a nursemaid for her daughter. Alexandra is hesitant at letting someone new into her life and home, and slowly her past and the reasons she stays shut away from the outside world finally begin to catch up on her.
I really enjoyed The Foundling, in fact I actually preferred it to the author's first book - The Familiars. This book reads really well and the story flows along nicely.