The Convict's Wife - Libby Ashworth | Book Review

 Review of Libby Ashworth's book - The Convict's Wife

At a Glance:  

• Title - The Convict's wife  A heart-wrenching and emotional 1800s northern Saga
• Author: Libby Ashworth
• Pages - 352
• Publishers - Canelo Saga
• Format - Paperback / Kindle 
• Publication Date - Jan 20, 2022

Blurb :

Can she keep her family together?

When Molly Holden’s husband, Thomas, is convicted in 1812 of being a Luddite on the word of a secret informer, he is sentenced to be transported to Australia. Left with their baby daughter, Molly must find work to survive.

But the man who informed on Thomas is a former suitor of Molly’s, and Isaac believes that with Thomas out of the way she will return to him…

Yet Molly is determined to join her husband and find a way to pay for passage, all the while trying to stay one step ahead of Isaac’s nefarious interferences. But will it be enough to cross the ocean and be reunited with her beloved Thomas?

My Review :

This was my first read of 2022 and I finished it in one go! I guess that will tell you how absorbing the story is! Historical fiction is another genre that I am getting into and this one was totally enthralling. The story moves between Bolton and Australia as we read about the life and suffering of Thomas Holden and his wife Molly.

The story, which is based on real-life incidences, takes place in 1812 in Bolton. Molly’s husband Thomas is arrested and convicted for being a Luddite. Molly and Thomas’ parents try their best to get him acquitted but it turns out that he is to be deported to New South Wales, Australia.

Molly literally runs from pillar to post to prove that Thomas Holden was wrongly accused. She sells her things, secretly weaves quilts, and even works in the coal mine to give money to Thomas so that he can have better food and clothing in prison. Later she saves money to take a trip across the globe to join her husband but finds out that no matter how much she saves, it's going to be several years before she can have enough to pay for the trip!. Do Molly and Thomas get together? Well, read the book to find out!

Molly is portrayed as a strong woman who would not stop at anything to bring back her husband. Her commitment and love for Thomas are admirable. Molly’s in-laws and her sister Nancy were very supportive and despite their poverty and other circumstances tried to help her.  Issac Crompton was the least favorite character and so is Colonel Fletcher.

Since it is historical fiction based out in the old days in the UK, the language needed a little getting used to but after a few pages, I was totally hooked. The storyline gave a picture of what it was to live in the 1800s. The struggle of the people and how the government dealt with punishment was moving.  The struggle women went through in those days is really heartbreaking.

The author’s note gives us the background for this story and many of the letters in this book are those that Thomas actually wrote to his family and they are still preserved in the Lancashire Record office n Preston. The specialty of the Caddow Quilts that are mentioned in the story is a specialty in the Bolton area. The Wakes Holiday that is mentioned in the book is a Northern celebration and the details are also given.

If you enjoy historical fiction this one is for you. I really liked this book and am looking forward to reading the other works by this author.

About the author:

Libby was born and raised in Lancashire and comes from many generations of mill workers. It was while researching her family history that she realized there were so many stories about ordinary working people that she wanted to tell.

Libby still lives in Lancashire and is passionate about its history. She can trace her direct ancestors back to the village of Whalley in the Middle Ages. Many of her ancestors worked in the cotton industry - first as home-based spinners and handloom weavers, and later in the mills of Blackburn. It is their lives Libby has drawn on to tell her stories.

Libby also writes historical fiction under the name Elizabeth Ashworth.

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Thanks to Love Book Tours and the author for the review copy. 

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