Tags
18th century england, beatrice lacey, book review, england, farm, historical fiction, meridon, myfictionallove, philippa gregory, the favored child, wideacre, wideacre trilogy
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory tells the vigorous tale of Beatrice Lacey, the red head beauty of Wideacre, Sussex, England. “A Lacey through and through,” Beatrice falls in love with the land at a young age, however, being a young girl in eighteenth century England, the land was entailed to her younger brother. Beatrice’s obsession for this beautiful and rich land leads her to redefine the role that women have on the land- her land. Beatrice grows up to be the most beautiful girl on the land and captures the heart of Ralph, the Gypsy’s son, but his love for her was not enough to sustain her, and her passion and desire for the land impels her to close her heart to the people of the land and destroy the land that once yield at her touch. Nothing is too dangerous or immoral for Beatrice who slowly but surely destroys the lives of her once beloved people and family while haunted by her past with Ralph. So many events have changed Wideacre and its people, but the one thing Beatrice refuses to let go of is her land. Or perhaps the love and innocence that Doctor John offers her is all she needs to leave what she once loved behind.
The story of Wideacre can be compared to a tragedy spanning over three volumes. The Wideacre series tells the tale of the Lacey women and their struggle to find themselves while the land of Wideacre calls out to them again and again. I loved reading Wideacre; Gregory knows exactly how to draw an audience into a story and by the end of the book you will still be cheering for Beatrice. It is a story about passion and obsession that takes over the life of an innocent girl who simply wanted to live her entire life on the land and not be taken away with it. Gregory’s first novel has proved to be a promising read for anyone who picks it up and also proves Gregory’s skills as a young novelist. I give this book: 5/5 stars and I recommend it with confidence to anyone who likes historical fiction. You will fall in love with the enchanted land of Wideacre.
***Spoiler alert!!!***