Frances Quinn

Durie Proudfoot is a bit of a misfit in her village in Sussex. Awkward and clumsy, a traditional role is not for her. But her wish to follow the family tradition of being a bonesetter is thwarted by the fact that she's female, and women can't enter a profession like this, can they?

The book follows her to London where, with her sister, she works in her sister in her aunt's sweet shop. It follows her as she dips her toe in the waters of romance, and even gets to follow her dream, with not always comfortable consequences. I wish I hadn't read the afterword first, as through it, I learnt that this story is based on a real life story, so I knew in advance what some of the twists and turns might be. But it didn't stop me enjoying a rattling good yarn.… (mehr)

‘’Like many counties in Ireland, stories are in the DNA of the people. The landscape is the fabric of the stories - what sews us together or unfortunately, at times, rips us apart. Stories are a way of coming to terms with our fortunes and misfortunes, and with the quirks of others; in short, a way of making sense of the human condition.’’

On this journey in Armagh, one of the most historic counties on the Emerald Island, you will meet heroes and heroines, gods and goddesses. The tragic story of the Children of Lir, the larger than life figure of Cú Chulainn, Deirdre’s sorrows, the haunting mermaid Liban, Conor Mac Nessa. You will trace Saint Patric’s footsteps, pray by the Holy Wells (and read an extraordinary story about the Night of the Well), dance with fairies in both traditional tales and sightings of our times, meet changelings, get spooked by ghostly footsteps in the night and modern ghost stories. And this is a mere handful of the treasures waiting for you in Co. Armagh.

Unfortunately, the experience would have been truly unique if it hadn’t been for the lifeless, weak, confusing, dry writing, the writer’s obvious and inexplicable aversion to Christianity and the sorrowful attempts to appear ‘’humorous’’ and ‘’spirited.’’ In my opinion, apart from a few beautiful moments, this volume is one of the weakest in the series due to Quinn’s approach. A pity, really, because the content is excellent.… (mehr)

All Endurance Proudfoot wants is to follow in her father's footsteps and become a bonesetter but when her sister becomes pregnant she is shipped off to London. Durie fails to excel in her aunt's pastry shop but she succeeds as a society bonesetter, even as she incurs the wrath of the Doctors. Durie innocent and clumsy but talented at her work but when love appears will she recognise it or be taken in?
This is a very gentle piece of 18th Century fiction. The research is strong, particularly about the Foundling Hospital and the hierarchy of medical treatment. However it is essentially a soft novel focused about a woman in a man's world and true romance, in that respect it is really enjoyable… (mehr)