BR - Fallen Grace By Mary Hooper


Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (6 Jun 2011) Genre: Historical Fiction  Source: Publishers
  Rating: 
                
     "Damned mourning bands and a couple of black ties!" came the reply from the man as he pulled off his top hat. He had a deeply lined face, a greying beard and his hair was receding - but he also had very bright blue eyes, which seemed the youngest part of him.  


My Thoughts - Historical Fiction isn't one of my most favoured genre’s, but it’s books like Fallen Grace that make me more than willing to make the exception. Fallen Grace centres on the not so glamorous streets of Victorian London around the mid 1800s. It's the story of a fifteen year old girl who is struggling to survive alongside her older sister Lily. Her mother is dead and her father long gone before their birth. Meanwhile a promising future is left behind by our MC due to becoming pregnant which leaves her with no other alternative than to momentarily leave Lily to find a suitable place to give birth.  

It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see this girl so lost and afraid. Who has clearly been raped and robbed of her innocence and left with a child when she is a mere child herself. Readers in my opinion will adore her instantly. She is:  loving, caring, sensible, determined and smart. She is naive, but her past experiences have made her a little more self aware and street smart, something that will come in handy if she and her sister are to survive.

Eventually she comes across a place which tends to “fallen girls” such as her, but unfortunately her baby is pronounced dead, and immediately the midwife urges her that she bury the child at a certain location -- upon where she will meet the charming Mr James Solent and the cunning Unwins. Both, unknown to her, will play a big part in her life in the near future. Upon her return the girls spend their days selling watercress: just about getting by.

There were times when Grace would come face to face with someone who would be described as quite rich e.g. Charlotte: all superior, stuck up and spoilt. You would then look at Grace’s past, how close she and Lily have been to starvation, and alongside her you felt furious and vexed that this spoilt brat didn't realise just how good she had it. What further angered me were the Unwins – Charlotte’s parents. It wasn’t enough that they were frauds, no. They then had to take advantage of two girls who were suffering as it is. However, it is people like Mr James Solent that reminded me that there are good people out there too.

Lily is so naïve, and although she wasn’t given an actual diagnosis it’s clear that she may have some form of special needs. More – so it’s lovely to see the great bond they share. Because of her sister’s condition --Grace has taken the role of the older sister/ protector and looks out for Lily -- which in a way may have just resulted in making Grace more responsible and mature before her time, but then again, it’s also the harsh realities that they face which contribute to this. Which then leads me to my point: I was glad that the author didn’t hold back. I was glad that she verily exposed the cruelty, harshness and brutality of others, and made it clear that life is cruel, especially if you have no money or family. I suppose I know that, but it was just hard to read it at times. It was hard to see the suffering of others and see poverty so vividly.

Particular highlights of the book were not only the brief appearances of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Albert but THE Charles Dickens. The moment was absolutely magical and I found myself repeatedly reading the scene over and over again. I genuinely felt that I was meeting the man himself! 

In conclusion I'll admit I had my highs and lows with the book. Particularly, when the pace would slow down and eventually pick back up. Also it can be a little hard to get into which is why I can't guarantee that you will all love it. I'll say it right now to be clear. This book will be loved by many and not so much by others: it's not for everyone, but by the end of it, it had completely won me over. I was left pleasantly surprised when I realised just how much I had connected with Grace, and felt for those who had been in her situation and were still going through it. Regardless, what I can promise you is that Fallen Grace is definitely an eye opener.


Prince Albert was gazing out of the window into the dark streets. Grace's eyes locked with Prince Albert's and she immediately sank into curtsey. On rising, she blushed to see that he was nodding in acknowledgment and smiling. Not knowing what else to do, she curtseyed again, and while her knee was still bent, the traffic eased and the royal carriage moved off.

Posted by Blueicegal ♥ at 13:21
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