BOOK REVIEW: The Foundling by Stacey Halls

London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at London’s Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst – that Clara has died in care – the last thing she expects to hear is that her daughter has already been reclaimed – by her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl – and why.

Less than a mile from Bess’ lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend – an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital – persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.

Publisher: Zaffre Books

Pages: 400

I was so impressed with Stacey Halls’ debut novel, The Familiars, I knew I would have to read her latest book, The Foundling. Set in Georgian London, the story follows Bess Bright who left her daughter Clara at the Foundling Hospital when she was just hours old. Bess saves up all the money she can over the next six years and returns to claim her daughter, only to be informed that the young girl has already been claimed by her mother. Bess does not understand, who would impersonate her and why would they take Clara?

Alexandra Callard is the complete opposite to Bess, she is a wealthy widow living in comfort with her young daughter Charlotte. She only leaves the house once a week with her daughter to attend church. For the rest of the time she keeps herself and Charlotte safely indoors, the dangers locked outside. Alexandra’s world comes crashing down when a friend persuades her to take on a nursemaid for her child, the young woman is a natural with Charlotte and Alexandra becomes fearful that her secrets will be uncovered now she has allowed a stranger into her home. 

The Foundling is beautifully written, one of my favourite elements of the book is Halls’ detailed descriptions of London. She creates such vivid images in your mind by describing little details that build up to a fantastically rich and vibrant picture. 

Bess and Alexandra are from different walks of life and both have endured great difficulties. Alexandra has a lot more power due to her wealth plus the fact that her husband is dead. Bess is in a terribly vulnerable state: poor, unmarried and mother to an illegitimate child. Her situation highlights the difference  between the social classes, however hard Bess works, she can never dream of having the life that Alexandra does.

The Foundling Hospital was a real place, I had very conflicted feelings about it. That something like this was necessary is shocking on its own. The lottery of babies being chosen is abhorrent to read about. To have reached rock bottom and made the decision to give up your own child and to have to endure being made a spectacle of for the entertainment of wealthy benefactors is just horrendous. 

The Foundling is historical fiction as its best. Halls weaves a compelling story around historical fact which makes for an enthralling read. I highly recommend this book. 

Many thanks to Zaffre books for sending me a review copy. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Familiars by Stacey Halls

To save her child, she will trust a stranger.To protect a secret, she must risk her life.
Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old, married, and pregnant for the fourth time. But as the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall, she still has no living child, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a letter she isn't supposed to read from the doctor who delivered her third stillbirth, she is dealt the crushing blow that she will not survive another pregnancy.
Then she crosses paths by chance with Alice Gray, a young midwife. Alice promises to help her give birth to a healthy baby, and to prove the physician wrong.
As Alice is drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the North-West, Fleetwood risks everything by trying to help her. But is there more to Alice than meets the eye?
Soon the two women's lives will become inextricably bound together as the legendary trial at Lancaster approaches, and Fleetwood's stomach continues to grow. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake.
Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.

Publisher: Zaffre

Pages: 432

I am so pleased that I finally got around to reading this book as it is wonderful. It is definitely in my top 5 of books that I have read this year. Fleetwood Shuttleworth is mistress of Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire, she is only 17 years old and pregnant with her 4th child. The three previous pregnancies have not gone full term and she is feeling the pressure to provide her husband Richard with the precious heir that he wants. Fleetwood meets Alice Grey, a midwife who uses natural remedies and says she can ensure that Alice and her child will both survive this time. Fleetwood employs Alice and takes her into her home, she feels a connection to this young woman and trusts her to keep to her word. Rumours of witchcraft are building in the local area and Richard and Fleetwood have many influential friends who want to impress the King by bringing those accused to justice. When Alice becomes implicated in the infamous Pendle Witch Trials, Fleetwood is torn between loyalty to her husband and loyalty to her new friend who has promised to keep her and her unborn child alive. Fleetwood is determined to save Alice but she will have to risk everything to do so.

Stacey Halls has written such a fantastic story, I just could not stop turning the pages. I instantly liked Fleetwood as a character and it was interesting to see her grow and develop throughout the story. Halls explores how little power women had at this point in history, although Fleetwood is married to Richard and mistress of one of the finest houses in the country, she has very limited power. The women accused of witchcraft are damned not just by their sex but also because they are poor. They have no power whatsoever and nothing to bargain with, Fleetwood recognises this fact and knows she must try to help in any way she can. 

The Pendle Witch Trials provide a fascinating backdrop to Fleetwood’s story and Stacey Halls research shines through. She weaves her story around the reported facts to create a haunting account of those troubled times. 

I can highly recommend The Familiars, the writing is enticing and vivid, I loved the story that Stacey Halls told and I can’t wait to read more by this author.