The Swift and the Harrier
Minette Walters
Reviewed by Helen
What a beautifully written story, filled with history and so well told by the author, this time in England was hard where family pitted against family and friend against friend as the people fought for the Royalists or the Parliamentarians and we meet Mistress Jayne Swift, physician and Sir William Harrier in a tale not to be missed.
Jayne is the daughter of gentry in Dorset and England is on the cusp of civil war, Jayne has her opinions and is neutral, being a physician her opinion is to help people not hurt although many do not think of her as a doctor she is honoured by many especially when war breaks out and Jayne is there to save them
Jayne first meets William when she arrives at Lady Alice’s home, who is a parliamentarian and he is her footman, as the story unfolds William is often in different disguise and Jayne is not sure whose side he is on but she does come to know that he is there to protect her whenever he can and their friendship grows as does the war and the injured people, men woman and children are hurt and starving and Jayne works tirelessly to do what she can.
As the war rages Jayne continues to work with the injured getting caught up in the siege at Lyme where she runs the hospital she continues to stay neutral and is stubborn to a fault and stands her ground she shows such strength and courage and the respect grows for the woman physician who can’t be called a doctor.
I read this one slowly, I savoured every word, yes it is brutal, harsh and cruel at times but sadly that is war, but the author has done it so well, so very well I loved this story, I loved learning the history and I loved seeing Jayne and William find happiness together even though it takes many years for the war to end. I would highly recommend this story, really it is not to be missed.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review
Jayne is the daughter of gentry in Dorset and England is on the cusp of civil war, Jayne has her opinions and is neutral, being a physician her opinion is to help people not hurt although many do not think of her as a doctor she is honoured by many especially when war breaks out and Jayne is there to save them
Jayne first meets William when she arrives at Lady Alice’s home, who is a parliamentarian and he is her footman, as the story unfolds William is often in different disguise and Jayne is not sure whose side he is on but she does come to know that he is there to protect her whenever he can and their friendship grows as does the war and the injured people, men woman and children are hurt and starving and Jayne works tirelessly to do what she can.
As the war rages Jayne continues to work with the injured getting caught up in the siege at Lyme where she runs the hospital she continues to stay neutral and is stubborn to a fault and stands her ground she shows such strength and courage and the respect grows for the woman physician who can’t be called a doctor.
I read this one slowly, I savoured every word, yes it is brutal, harsh and cruel at times but sadly that is war, but the author has done it so well, so very well I loved this story, I loved learning the history and I loved seeing Jayne and William find happiness together even though it takes many years for the war to end. I would highly recommend this story, really it is not to be missed.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review
5 stars
November 2, 2021 by Allen & Unwin
