That Bonesetter Woman
London, 1757, and two very different sisters arrive on the stagecoach from Sussex. Endurance (‘Durie’) is strong and big-boned, while petite Lucinda cherishes acting ambitions but first must discreetly deal with the unfortunate aftermath of having been ‘taking advantage of’ by her employer. Durie is clumsy at women’s work, yet her hands have the uncanny skill to reset broken bones and soothe sprains. Her father has been the town bonesetter, and Durie cherishes the hope that she can follow in his footsteps. However, the attitudes of the times, not to mention the medical establishment, are set against her.
The sisters’ adventures are well portrayed mainly from Durie’s point of view, and with extensive dialogue, much of it very amusing. The narrative is fast-moving and lively, as the girls meet with sudden success, but then see it snatched away by self-serving men. Eventually Durie discovers true romance. Though I enjoyed such settings as the Tower of London, theatres, the Foundling Hospital, and a coffee house full of sexist doctors, I thought at times the story was a little light on the historical background. Given that this is the period of the Seven Years’ War, I would have expected Durie to encounter wounded soldiers and sailors on the streets, but the war is not mentioned. Indeed at one point there is a speculation about getting a dress ‘straight from Paris’: I doubt this would have been a possibility.
There is little period grimness here—no beggars or executions—unless you include the descriptions of Durie’s work as a bonesetter. In all this is an enjoyable read, feminist history which does not neglect sources of humour or romance. It deserves to reach a wide audience.
