Mrs Engles
Lizzie Burns is a young factory worker from the Irish slums of Manchester. Mary, her elder sister, is in a relationship with the factory owner, Fredrick Engles. When Mary dies, Lizzie steps into Fredrick’s affections and a world of politics and people she is unused to. After they move to London Lizzie becomes the lady of a fine house with servants, security and society. But the past is not an easy thing to shed, and Lizzie finds herself drawn to things she knows she ought to have nothing more to do with.
Gavin McCrea’s debut novel is a rich and interesting read. Lizzie Burns is a memorable and fully formed character that stays with you. Her thoughts and musings, as she moves through a world she was not raised to, are cynical, insightful, amusing and touching. Lizzie happens to be the partner of a famous man, but her voice is that of everywoman, a voice seeking to come to terms with the world, to understand people she loves and has loved, to find a place where she is at ease with life. Mrs Engles is a good read that provides a voice to those who stand in the shadows of fame and history.
