Fallen Grace
Grace Parkes is about to give birth. She is fifteen, single, orphaned, poor and living in Victorian London in 1861. Resigned to the fate of a fallen woman, her sister depends on her to provide as they rent a room in the notorious Seven Dials area of the city. Her ruined, desperate state is abhorrent to society yet, Grace, aptly named, struggles on with determination, dedicated to her older, less able, sister, Lilly.
Grace and Lilly were born in better circumstances but are alone in a society that cares little for the plight of the vulnerable, desperate poor. Grace’s life is shadowed by death. The bereavement industry that blossomed as a result of the mortality rate of the era, is what apparently saves the girls from starvation as Grace becomes a ‘mute’ and Lilly a maid. However, this is yet another ruse of a cynical and greedy family, who seek to use them for their own reward.
I am being deliberately vague regarding the detail of the plot as I would hate to give anything away. Victorian class divides filter throughout the novel. The whole challenge of surviving in stark poverty and the social attitudes towards death and bereavement are explained around this sensitively written and intriguing novel. Never does historic detail take precedence over the characters or plot. Each chapter is headed with an advertisement, quote or epitaph of the time which adds flavour to the feel of the book.
Subtlety is used in all aspects of the story, which touches on child abuse and rape. However, this is handled in a way suitable for the younger end of the readership, whilst the effects and results are included so that older readers will not miss the devastating consequences.
This is an excellent story, sensitively told, extremely informative about life and its complexities in Victorian London. Highly recommended.
