When We Were Divided
In 1643 England is in the middle of a vicious civil war. But while the great men of the country squabble, in the tiny village of Heptonstall in Yorkshire, three women are divided by more familial, personal disputes, caused by misinterpretations and misfortune.
This is the English Civil War from a female viewpoint, particularly a female civilian viewpoint. It concentrates not on big battles but the petty rivalries and misunderstandings that lead to jealousy and conflict between individuals forced (because it is a very closed society) to live side by side. The conflicts within the family are mirrored in the conflicts in the broader national family. There is also an unresolved mystery as to just what exactly caused the initial rifts.
The emphasis is very much on the internal feelings of the participants. It’s extremely densely written, and I found it hard to get through, but the historical feel is really good, illustrating the social conditions of the time very well.
