Based in 17th-century Dorset, but echoing recent history of the Independence and Brexit votes, the divide across England here is caused by a civil war between the powers: The King and Parliament.
The swift of the title is protagonist Jayne Swift who, unusually for a woman of this time, works as a physician and aids those on both sides of the fight. Her character appears both strong and extremely interesting, and it is through her encounter with William Harrier that makes the book's title make sense in the same way as Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Ernest does upon reading it.
What is also interesting is that both of their surnames also happen to be species of bird and, tellingly, while the swift may be a delicate summer visitor to the UK, the harrier is a larger and more aggressive bird of prey. Like their namesake birds, both characters have strong convictions and, despite being worlds apart, also have an undeniable bond. A beautifully simple cover for what seems like a powerful and complex read, I'd love the chance to read this book all the way through.
The swift of the title is protagonist Jayne Swift who, unusually for a woman of this time, works as a physician and aids those on both sides of the fight. Her character appears both strong and extremely interesting, and it is through her encounter with William Harrier that makes the book's title make sense in the same way as Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Ernest does upon reading it.
What is also interesting is that both of their surnames also happen to be species of bird and, tellingly, while the swift may be a delicate summer visitor to the UK, the harrier is a larger and more aggressive bird of prey. Like their namesake birds, both characters have strong convictions and, despite being worlds apart, also have an undeniable bond. A beautifully simple cover for what seems like a powerful and complex read, I'd love the chance to read this book all the way through.