![]() ![]() The central figure is another girl, Sloe, whom we meet aged four and leave aged about 20. I was delighted to find Ann Halam’s male characters as solid as the two female leads. My only slight regret is that the boys and men in The Merrybegot were so feeble, but this, in a sense, was part of the subject matter. They fitted into the story as the acorn fits into its cup. This is a fine book and I accepted its piskies and its miraculous reversal of death with delight. Together we examined the nature of sexual and religious desire of jealousy and envy of bravery and cowardice. I also learned about England during the Civil War, but more importantly, the author trusted me as a reader. I learned about Merrybegots and frolicking on a warm night in May I remembered Cider with Rosie and Hardy’s Tess and all the literature of love and loss that awaits those who have enjoyed this book. I held my breath and turned page after page. Gradually, tragically and ludicrously, their three young lives entwine. In the West Country at the end of the 17th century we meet three girls: Nell, the granddaughter of the local cunning woman and healer, and sisters Patience and Grace, the daughters of a horrible Puritan minister, newly arrived in the village. It startled me and then held my attention. The Merrybegot’s proof copy had a little jewelled frog on its cover, which seemed apt for such a lively and brilliant work. Gaye Hicyilmaz explores fiction for young readers about love, loss and growing up ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |