Tidelands
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4.2 • 294 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . . From Philippa Gregory, the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.
On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life.
England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom. Alinor’s suspicious neighbours are watching each other for any sign that someone might be disloyal to the new parliament, and Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her as a woman who doesn’t follow the rules. They have always whispered about the sinister power of Alinor’s beauty, but what they don’t know about her and James are far more damning. This is the time of witch-mania, and if the villagers discover the truth, they could take matters into their own hands.
Praise for Tidelands:
‘Utterly Gripping. Impossible to Put Down. This is the first book in The Fairmile Series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Alinor and her descendants. A must read!’ Better Reading
‘The first in a planned series ... The author crafts her material with effortless ease. Her grasp of social mores is brilliant, the love story rings true and the research is, as ever, of the highest calibre' Daily Mail
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In Tidelands, Philippa Gregory infuses historical fiction with a sharp, feminist edge. Set during the English Civil War in 1648, the book follows herbalist, midwife and mother Alinor, who defies those in power at the time. A former historian, Gregory’s novels are always fuelled by deep, exacting historical detail and this is no different. Containing many complex and fascinating characters, Tidelands is the first riveting novel in an ongoing series that will follow Alinor’s family through many generations.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl) deviates from her usual focus on historical figures to shine a light on the plight of common women in 1640s England in the dynamic first book of her new Fairmile series. Alinor, a midwife with knowledge of herbal remedies, is in difficult circumstances. Her fisherman husband has been gone for months, and she must care for herself and her two growing children during a precarious time in England's history. King Charles, forced off his throne by Parliament, has been banished to the Isle of Wight following his defeat in civil war. It's also a period when a strong woman on her own, like the beautiful Alinor who has skills that others can't understand, can easily be accused of being a witch; the author cleverly plants such seeds of suspicion throughout. At the open, Alinor meets a handsome, young Catholic priest, a royals champion with the means to help the king escape. She helps the priest find a haven, and their ensuing romance has devastating consequences for both. Against the backdrop of political turmoil, Gregory's narrative displays the harrowing mores of the time, showcasing the vulnerability of women who speak their mind and introducing a family struggling out of poverty who will provide plenty of grist for the mill of a continuing saga. History buffs and Gregory's fans alike will be anticipating the next installment.
Customer Reviews
A good yarn
If you enjoy English historical fiction, then this is recommended.
History of common folk
Absorbing tale of an isolated community during the English Civil War. An obvious lead-in to a series in the conclusion.
Very disappointing!
I’ve read a lot of Philippa Gregory’s books and loved every single one. This, on the other hand, was very very disappointing. The story itself was fascinating and had so much promise. But the excessive level of historical detail was a constant distraction from the story. A little bit of historical context relevant to the story is useful but I was left with the distinct impression that Philippa’s primary focus was parading her historical knowledge under the guise of a story. The story itself came in a poor second place and it really showed in the end. The end itself was incredibly disappointing. Made me regret reading the book. All that reading investment for that ending? It was as if Philippa woke one morning and decided she’d had enough of writing the book, yawned which resulted in an involuntary movement of her hand which in turn wrote the last paragraph. I’m now weary of reading anything new from this author,