Book review - The Maids of Biddenden by GD Harper

on


* Gifted. A big thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and GD Harper for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Synopsis:

‘There is no me; there is no you.

There is only us.’

The Maids of Biddenden is inspired by the real-life story of conjoined twins Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, born in 1100 into a wealthy family from a small Kent village.

Joined at the hip, the sisters overcome fear and hostility to grow into gifted and much-loved women ­– one a talented musician and song-writer, the other a caring healer and grower of medicinal plants. Entangled in the struggles for power and influence of the great Kent nobles of the time, they achieve much in their lifetimes and leave behind a legacy in Biddenden that survives to this day.

This is the heart-warming and inspirational story of two remarkable women leading one joint life, challenging adversity to become the best they can be.

My review:

 Set in the 12th century, The Maids of Biddenden begins when conjoined twins Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst are six years old. After their mother died during childbirth the girls are sent to Malling Abbey, where they are hidden away and not expected to live long. The sisters are confined to one room and looked after by Sister Agnes. However, Eliza and Mary surprise everyone and flourish, they are bright and healthy. As they get older, the abbey can no longer look after them or provide for them. Their father is sent for, and he decides to take the girls back to his home in Biddenden. At first their stepmother is horrified by the sight of Eliza and Mary, but once the local villagers start to accept them, she begins to love them and takes on the role of their mother.

When the girls are younger, they hate being joined and lash out at each other constantly. Prior to leaving the abbey they have never seen any other children and assume that every child comes into the world joined and then get separated later. It is particularly heart-breaking when they witness other children for the first time and realise they aren’t the same, and will stay joined together forever.

The book follows the sisters at different stages in their lives, as they navigate their way joined together in one body, but with two very different minds. Some chapters are told from Eliza’s point of view and some from Mary’s. As they get older, Mary learns about the properties of plants and remedies, and she uses this knowledge to heal people. Eliza is the more confident sister; she learns how to play instruments and write songs which she performs for audiences. They learn that they have to compromise their time and sacrifice their own individual dreams, so that the other can experience theirs.

This novel is loosely based on the conjoined twins of Biddenden. There is evidence to suggest that they were real people, and the author has included some information at the end. I found this story incredibly moving and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed it that much, I was recommending it to people before I had even finished reading it! Because of the lack of/conflicting source material about the sisters, this book is likely the closest we’ll ever get to the real Maids of Biddenden, and what a wonderful tribute it is!

Buy your copy here: 

 UK, US

Author bio:

I became a full-time author in 2016, publishing three novels under the pen name GD Harper. I have been both a Wishing Shelf Book Award finalist and Red Ribbon winner, been shortlisted for the Lightship Prize, longlisted for the UK Novel Writing Award and longlisted for the Page Turner Writer Award. The Maids of Biddenden was a finalist in this year’s Page Turner Book Award for unpublished manuscripts, longlisted for the Exeter Book Prize and the Flash 500 Novel Award, and shortlisted for the Impress Prize. 

Social Media Links:

Facebook: @gdharperauthor

Twitter: @harper_author

Website: www.gdharper.com

https://www.instagram.com/gdharperauthor/

For the rest of the tour:


Comments

Post a Comment