Description
Book Synopsis1665. King Charles II has returned from exile but the scars of the English Civil Wars are yet to heal and now the Great Plague engulfs the land. When Alethea is cast out on the streets of London, a long road to Derbyshire lies ahead of her.
Trade Review‘It’s rare for a historical novel to feel so timely’ Jo Baker, Sunday Times bestselling author of Longbourn
‘Exciting and immersive. It took me straight into the heart of Restoration England in all its rich and vivid detail. I was gripped! Such beautiful writing too - Anna is a stunning new talent’ Nicola Cornick, international bestselling author of House of Shadows
‘Impeccably researched and wonderfully atmospheric, with a heroine you can’t help rooting for’ Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man
‘A thoroughly engaging romp… By turns entertaining, surprising and thought-provoking, this is an impressive debut’ Jane Johnson, author of The Sea Gate
‘A gripping depiction of what people will do to survive, the long-held beliefs and scruples questioned and cast aside as well as the unexpected kindnesses and unusual alliances made. In elegant prose, this enthralling novel puts a human face to the trials, terrors and enduring hopes of the plague years’ Catherine Meyrick, author of The Bridled Tongue
'A thrilling and original tale of reinvention! Death in a time of plague is expected. What happens to Abney's heroine Alethea is not. The Master of Measham Hall is a vivid and extraordinary journey of survival, and ultimately an exploration of what we gain and what we lose as we pass through this world' VL Valentine, The Plague Letters
‘A powerful and engaging story, full of good characters, satisfying plot turns, and excellent scene-setting. With all the details and insights on offer, it feels like a rich and rewarding panorama of English culture in the 1660s. The transformation of Alethea was wonderful to read, and genuinely gripping’ Richard Hamblyn
