In this totally absorbing historical-fiction
novel we meet Victoria, a young woman in the 1800’s, at various stages of her
life. First as a child, living in a lighthouse, we are privy to the hardship
she endures. Her parents are finely drawn – the strict, over-bearing, religious
father, the effervescent but stifled mother whose only escape is in light-heartedly
playing the piano.
The author seems to have great
knowledge of the functioning of an ancient lighthouse, with details that
illuminate us as well as the cliff-crashing ocean below. In fact, this period
in Victoria’s childhood has many dramatic shifts that keeps the reader involved
in this young girl’s development.
However, there is a parallel story
that brings another aspect of her life into focus. Time has passed, and, now a
young woman, we find her captive in a convent shelter for pregnant unmarried
girls. There is an engrossing description of the harsh atmosphere in such a
place and every detail rings true. There is a mystery regarding the identity of
the man who is father to Victoria’s child that is only revealed later. Meanwhile,
there are heartbreaking scenes when we meet the other young mothers and realize
their plight in this unsympathetic and judgmental world.
As this is historical-fiction, and
the era is mid 1800’s, the sudden vivid introduction of the Civil War adds a
blazing focus on ordinary life at the time. This comes close to breaking our
hearts as the losses and the numbers so coolly add up. As experienced by this particular
young woman, it brings tragedy that threatens to shatter her life and the
future of those she loves.
For my usually non-fiction
aficionado husband, Ralph, this turned out to be a 3 a.m. read which, when I
worked at Dell Publishing, was the key mark of a great book. His comment was that
“It reads as if it’s true… it’s fiction that reads like non-fiction!”
Plaudits to author Patchen for
taking us on this journey into a past world where unknown people, such as
Victoria, lived and loved so bravely.
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