THE SWIFT AND THE HARRIER
Dorset, 1642. England is on the cusp of civil war.
Jayne Swift, a daughter of the Dorset gentry, has resisted all offers of
marriage and instead trained as a physician, using her skills to tend to her
Royalist father's tenants and the local population. When civil war sweeps
England she vows to remain neutral and aid the injured whether they be Royalist
or Parliamentarian.
William Harrier is first introduced to Jayne as footman to Lacy Alice, a
Dorchester parliamentarian, but every time she encounters him, he seems to be
in a different guise, and it's not always clear which side of the war he's
fighting for.
As the battles continue to rage, bringing pain and suffering to both sides,
Jayne never wavers in her vow of neutrality. Throughout it all, from the
terrifying siege of Lyme Regis, to the execution of the King, she always seems
to find herself drawn back to William. But what does she really know of him?
His past is a mystery, and his future seems uncertain.
The Swift and the Harrier is a sweeping tale of adventure and loss, sacrifice
and love with a unique and unforgettable heroine at its heart.
What a lively adventure THE SWIFT AND THE HARRIER by Minette Walters turned out to be! This story takes place during the English Civil War (mid 17th century). It’s the first book I’ve read about this time in English history and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Walters give us two heroic characters in Jayne Swift and William Harrier. Jayne is a well respected and in-demand physician, even though being a woman means her training will never be formally recognised. She tends as diligently to the poor as she does the wealthy, and when civil war battles take place in her part of the world, she helps the injured of both sides. Jayne meets William, a footman, and as the war progresses, their paths cross multiple times. Jayne realises William is not just a footman – if he ever was one. He has only ever been helpful to Jayne, and he is lauded by his colleagues, but his chameleon appearances and disguises have Jayne wondering who he really is. More importantly is he friend or a foe?
Walters covers many topics in this book, and we readers get a front row seat for the journey. We witness the barbarity people invoke in the name of their beliefs. We’re observers during major battles. We watch people banding together to help one another, as well as seeing the liberties others take to gain their spoils of war.
Beyond the battles and the political machinations, I was really interested in Jayne’s work as a physician. As a keen learner and forward thinker, Jayne was still hampered by the overall lack of scientific knowledge in the entire profession at that time in history. Interestingly, some modern medical practices have reverted to ‘old-fashioned’ remedies that Jayne uses in this book.
The language flowed nicely and I found the book easy to read. I’ll admit I am fickle about language. I don’t want 21st century dialogue in an historical tale, but neither do I want to read the kind of spoken English I will erroneously describe as ‘Shakespearean-like’ that I struggle to understand and find difficult to read effortlessly. The introductory notes about the English Civil War and the couple of maps helped in staging the setting so I didn’t feel lost.
Walters skilfully weaves together fact and fiction into the overall plot, giving reading a chance to experience and witness that period of time. Fans of historical fiction should definitely consider giving this book a go.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher, Allen & Unwin.
Since 1992, Minette Walters has been captivating readers and critics alike with her psychological novels that explore the dark heart beating below a calm surface. Her unique ability to bring crime ‘uncomfortably close to home’ has earned her the title ‘Queen of British crime fiction’, and her novels have been published in 35 different languages. Her flair for biting dialogue and razor-sharp characterisations have made each of her novels a consistent bestseller around the world.
Never one to follow rules, Minette eschews a series character, preferring instead to have each novel stand on its own. With a readership in the millions, her fans clearly endorse this break from tradition. Minette’s work has also won crime writing’s top awards, including the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey award for best first novel for The Ice House and the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best crime novel published in America for The Sculptress. Five of her novels have been adapted for television.
https://minettewalters.co.uk/
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