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Reviewed by Mimie Odigwe for Readers' Favorite
Set in 19th-century rural England, Betsey by Marcia Clayton is a gripping prequel to The Hartford Manor Series. It follows the early life of Betsey Lovering, an eight-year-old child growing up poor with a mother struggling to take care of her children, a father whose drinking results in violence, and two brothers. When tragedy strikes and their family is divided, Betsey is saddled with looking after her little brother, Norman. Throughout the hard, lonely times, Betsey draws comfort from a gypsy healer and her granddaughter, as well as her neighbors Aunty Kezia, Uncle Mal, and their sons. Soon, she becomes witness to a love triangle between Gypsy Freda’s granddaughter, Jane, Thomas, the son of Lord Fellwood, and the local miller, Jasper Morris, and is further burdened by a darker secret to keep.
Betsey is the story of a young girl shouldering responsibility far beyond her age. She is an outstanding protagonist: curious, kind, and determined. Dealt a heavy hand from childhood, we see poverty, domestic abuse, hunger, child labor, and other harsh realities of a bygone era through her eyes. The novel offers a panorama of working-class life, forbidden love, class gaps, friendship, and hope, alternating between heavy emotions and moments of warmth. With a strong protagonist and supporting characters, the plot flows seamlessly from childhood to youth, balancing action and pace and leaving questions to be answered in subsequent sequels. Marcia Clayton has written a beautiful historical novel that takes readers into the hardships and joys of another age. A must-read for all fans of historical fiction.
