Review: A fascinating histrorical family saga
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2011
The House of Women is a poignant portrayal of Victorian life as it was for women in 1870 Leeds, England. Trapped by the social restrictions and norms of the time, Grace Woodruff is forced to assume responsibility for her five sisters and a vast estate because of the failings of both her parents. With a harsh, tyrannical father who is on the verge of impoverishment because of risky investments, and a mother who is depressed by her husband's infidelities and coldness, Grace must assume duties far beyond what is expected of most women in the Victorian era.The story enthrals the reader from its inception, keeping the pages turning as one seemingly insurmountable problem after another is forced upon Grace to resolve - each dilemma worse than the one previous. The members of Grace's family are colourfully depicted with both credible faults and good qualities. Their various troubles force Grace into taking actions that are not only morally upright, but that are difficult and challenge societal expectations of the time.Beautifully written, the prose is fluid and invisible, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the story's beauty. I rejoiced and sorrowed at the never-ending troubles plaguing the Woodruff's. More importantly, however, is the underlying theme that runs throughout the tale - to stand firm in the face of adversity and to conduct oneself with honour and integrity at all times. It is an accurate depiction of women's plights in an era not so long ago.This family saga is a superb tale of an intensely strong heroine who stops at nothing to resolve issues that threaten the livelihood of her family within England's stringent class system. This is women's fiction at its most finest and a must read!The Blighted Troth: A Historical Novel of New France