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The Low Road
A gripping, atmospheric tale of two women, destitute, and in love in 19th century London.
In the quiet Waveney Valley of Norfolk, 1813 the body of a woman – Mary Tyrell – is found. She’s been accused of murdering her own newborn, and has taken her own life.
Her young daughter, Hannah, is left behind, and, with her world turned upside down, she is sent to the “Refuge for the Destitute” in the bustling big city, London, where she will be trained for a life of domestic service.
It is at the Refuge that Hannah meets Annie Simpkins, a fellow resident. Together Hannah and Annie forge a friendship that deepens into a passionate love affair. But the strength of their illicit bond is put to the test when the girls are caught stealing from the laundry and sentenced to be transported to Australia—perhaps never to have their paths cross again.
A gripping, atmospheric tale that brings to life the forgotten voices of the past – convicts, servants, the rural poor – as well as a moving evocation of love that blossomed in the face of prejudice and ill fortune.
In the quiet Waveney Valley of Norfolk, 1813 the body of a woman – Mary Tyrell – is found. She’s been accused of murdering her own newborn, and has taken her own life.
Her young daughter, Hannah, is left behind, and, with her world turned upside down, she is sent to the “Refuge for the Destitute” in the bustling big city, London, where she will be trained for a life of domestic service.
It is at the Refuge that Hannah meets Annie Simpkins, a fellow resident. Together Hannah and Annie forge a friendship that deepens into a passionate love affair. But the strength of their illicit bond is put to the test when the girls are caught stealing from the laundry and sentenced to be transported to Australia—perhaps never to have their paths cross again.
A gripping, atmospheric tale that brings to life the forgotten voices of the past – convicts, servants, the rural poor – as well as a moving evocation of love that blossomed in the face of prejudice and ill fortune.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published September 19, 2023
9 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Katharine Quarmby
18 books27 followersAward-winning writer, editor and journalist with extensive knowledge of writing and editing across print, TV, radio and online.
Katharine’s latest books include her debut, prize listed novel, The Low Road, which was published in hardback in June 2023 and in paperback by Eye Lightning in November 2025. Set in rural Norfolk, London and Australia in the early nineteenth century, it is based on a true story that Katharine uncovered in her Norfolk hometown, of a Norfolk woman, Mary Tyrell, who was staked through the heart after death in 1813. She had been questioned repeatedly about a suspected infanticide.
An older daughter, known only by the initials A.T., had survived. Katharine traced her to the Refuge for the Destitute in Hackney. She had met another destitute, Anne Simpkins, there and they forged a friendship that deepened into love. In December 1821 they stole laundry from the Refuge, but were caught, stood trial at the Old Bailey, and were sentenced to transportation.
The Low Road novel is about uncovering lost histories: the stories of poor women from rural areas, the stories of the imprisoned, the stories of convicts sent to penal colonies, the stories of people who often left no records as a result of illiteracy and hardship. It also contains an important strand of narrative that explores experiences left out of the history books: a same-sex romance that evolves into a marriage of sorts two centuries before this was legally possible.
Aside from The Low Road, Katharine mainly writes now on environmental journalism and is also an editor.
Katharine’s latest books include her debut, prize listed novel, The Low Road, which was published in hardback in June 2023 and in paperback by Eye Lightning in November 2025. Set in rural Norfolk, London and Australia in the early nineteenth century, it is based on a true story that Katharine uncovered in her Norfolk hometown, of a Norfolk woman, Mary Tyrell, who was staked through the heart after death in 1813. She had been questioned repeatedly about a suspected infanticide.
An older daughter, known only by the initials A.T., had survived. Katharine traced her to the Refuge for the Destitute in Hackney. She had met another destitute, Anne Simpkins, there and they forged a friendship that deepened into love. In December 1821 they stole laundry from the Refuge, but were caught, stood trial at the Old Bailey, and were sentenced to transportation.
The Low Road novel is about uncovering lost histories: the stories of poor women from rural areas, the stories of the imprisoned, the stories of convicts sent to penal colonies, the stories of people who often left no records as a result of illiteracy and hardship. It also contains an important strand of narrative that explores experiences left out of the history books: a same-sex romance that evolves into a marriage of sorts two centuries before this was legally possible.
Aside from The Low Road, Katharine mainly writes now on environmental journalism and is also an editor.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 30, 2023
Well, this was bleak.
I don't want to say enjoyable because of all the tragedy, but it was a compelling read, if you shielded your heart a bit and accepted that poor Hannah was unlikely to catch a break. I shed some tears for a certain character near the end.
Well written, Quarmby really pulls you feet first into Hannah's story, a striking tale of poverty and the prejudice faced by the poorest of the time. You follow Hannah into adulthood, and do have to remind yourself of her age in her teenage years when she's doing something rash.
This was also an interesting exploration of the hidden LGBT+ community of the time, which was carefully done.
I admired how Quarmby didn't shy away from the more difficult aspects of prison life, and of the limited options working class women had.
A perfect read to get into that more autumnal mood. I might need to go and read something more whimsical to cheer myself up.
I don't want to say enjoyable because of all the tragedy, but it was a compelling read, if you shielded your heart a bit and accepted that poor Hannah was unlikely to catch a break. I shed some tears for a certain character near the end.
Well written, Quarmby really pulls you feet first into Hannah's story, a striking tale of poverty and the prejudice faced by the poorest of the time. You follow Hannah into adulthood, and do have to remind yourself of her age in her teenage years when she's doing something rash.
This was also an interesting exploration of the hidden LGBT+ community of the time, which was carefully done.
I admired how Quarmby didn't shy away from the more difficult aspects of prison life, and of the limited options working class women had.
A perfect read to get into that more autumnal mood. I might need to go and read something more whimsical to cheer myself up.
September 30, 2023
8 year old Hannah lives with her mother on a farm in Norfolk. They are 'in service', working for the farmer and his wife. Hannah is contented with this life, enjoying such activities as milking and watching fish in the nearby stream. Everything changes on the day her mother gives birth to another child. What happens next is the starting point for a novel that explores the many indignities and injustices to which the poor were subjected in the early part of the 19th century. Hannah finds herself being moved backwards and forwards between various institutions and other, much less comfortable, periods of servitude, until she is sentenced to transportation.
Through it all she has two key objectives: to discover what really happened to her mother and to reconnect, physically and emotionally, with the girl she met at the first of the various institutions to which she was committed.
The book has been meticulously researched, as you would expect from an experienced journalist like Quarmby. I especially liked the way in which Hannah's suffering is handled with such restraint. Suffering that is frequently mitigated by the kindness of others, all of whom are evidently constrained by the prevailing beliefs and moral sensibilities of their time.
All of these characters are well realised, as they struggle to resolve their inner conflict between empathy for the young women in their care and the moral imperatives imposed by a society that demands that transgression is appropriately punished. Inevitably there are, too, men and women who reveal sadistic tendencies, only too ready to inflict pain on those they regard as incapable of being reformed.
Quarmby's descriptions of the various settings bring the scenes to life, whether it's the noise and odour of a cramped ward in which women sleep in hammocks so close together that they can hold hands, a riverside community in rural Norfolk or the rapidly developing colonial settlement that was Sidney in the 1820s. The work undertaken by the inhabitants of these places is also brought to life: the close contact with animals necessary when milking, the heat and humidity of a laundry, admiration for the products of intricate needlework.
Overall, this is an excellent evocation of the lives of working class people, women especially, as endured in the early nineteenth century. Hannah's progress from innocent child to motherhood contains enough twists, turns and set backs to keep you reading long into the night or, as I did, so late on Saturday afternoon that I missed the start of Strictly! I give it five well earned stars.
Reviewed by Frank Parker for Rosie Amber, 18 September 2023
Through it all she has two key objectives: to discover what really happened to her mother and to reconnect, physically and emotionally, with the girl she met at the first of the various institutions to which she was committed.
The book has been meticulously researched, as you would expect from an experienced journalist like Quarmby. I especially liked the way in which Hannah's suffering is handled with such restraint. Suffering that is frequently mitigated by the kindness of others, all of whom are evidently constrained by the prevailing beliefs and moral sensibilities of their time.
All of these characters are well realised, as they struggle to resolve their inner conflict between empathy for the young women in their care and the moral imperatives imposed by a society that demands that transgression is appropriately punished. Inevitably there are, too, men and women who reveal sadistic tendencies, only too ready to inflict pain on those they regard as incapable of being reformed.
Quarmby's descriptions of the various settings bring the scenes to life, whether it's the noise and odour of a cramped ward in which women sleep in hammocks so close together that they can hold hands, a riverside community in rural Norfolk or the rapidly developing colonial settlement that was Sidney in the 1820s. The work undertaken by the inhabitants of these places is also brought to life: the close contact with animals necessary when milking, the heat and humidity of a laundry, admiration for the products of intricate needlework.
Overall, this is an excellent evocation of the lives of working class people, women especially, as endured in the early nineteenth century. Hannah's progress from innocent child to motherhood contains enough twists, turns and set backs to keep you reading long into the night or, as I did, so late on Saturday afternoon that I missed the start of Strictly! I give it five well earned stars.
Reviewed by Frank Parker for Rosie Amber, 18 September 2023
September 19, 2023
I have read work by Katherine Quarmby before and love the spare precision and lyrical quality of her writing. So I knew I would love this. This time she has turned her attention to a sweeping historical tale of love and loss, grief and redemption. Life in early 19th century England is indeed nasty and brutish, and yet there is found beauty, kindness and meaning. And after all the pain and suffering, the violence and cruelty, the final section set in Australia has such a lyrical beauty - a gift of peace after trauma and grief.
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February 27, 2024"The Low Road" takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the gritty realities of early 19th-century England, and boy, does it pack a punch! Quarmby's storytelling prowess is undeniable as she weaves a tale of love, loss, and resilience that'll have you hooked from page one.
From the tranquil countryside of Norfolk to the bustling streets of London and the unforgiving landscapes of Botany Bay, we follow the journey of Hannah Tyrell, a young woman whose life is marred by tragedy and hardship. But amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope shines through in the form of her forbidden love affair with Annie Simpkins, a fellow resident of the Refuge for the Destitute.
Quarmby doesn't hold back in depicting the harsh realities faced by working-class women during this era, from the stifling constraints of societal norms to the brutalities of the criminal justice system. Yet, amidst the despair, there are moments of profound kindness and resilience that remind us of the indomitable human spirit.
The characters are flawlessly portrayed, their struggles and triumphs leaping off the page with raw emotion. And the historical backdrop is brought vividly to life, transporting readers to a bygone era with impeccable detail.
Sure, this isn't a light-hearted read by any means. There are tears to be shed, hearts to be broken, and injustices to be faced. But therein lies the beauty of "The Low Road" — it's a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
So if you're ready to embark on an emotional rollercoaster that'll keep you turning pages long into the night, look no further than "The Low Road". It's a journey you won't soon forget.
From the tranquil countryside of Norfolk to the bustling streets of London and the unforgiving landscapes of Botany Bay, we follow the journey of Hannah Tyrell, a young woman whose life is marred by tragedy and hardship. But amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope shines through in the form of her forbidden love affair with Annie Simpkins, a fellow resident of the Refuge for the Destitute.
Quarmby doesn't hold back in depicting the harsh realities faced by working-class women during this era, from the stifling constraints of societal norms to the brutalities of the criminal justice system. Yet, amidst the despair, there are moments of profound kindness and resilience that remind us of the indomitable human spirit.
The characters are flawlessly portrayed, their struggles and triumphs leaping off the page with raw emotion. And the historical backdrop is brought vividly to life, transporting readers to a bygone era with impeccable detail.
Sure, this isn't a light-hearted read by any means. There are tears to be shed, hearts to be broken, and injustices to be faced. But therein lies the beauty of "The Low Road" — it's a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
So if you're ready to embark on an emotional rollercoaster that'll keep you turning pages long into the night, look no further than "The Low Road". It's a journey you won't soon forget.
September 5, 2023
The Low Road tells the story of Annie and Hannah two women struggling to survive in the Regency/Victorian era. This is a beautiful and powerful story of forbidden love and loss that endures to the ends of the earth.
I absolutely loved this book. I am obsessed with the Victorian era so I was really excited to read this. I also liked that it was based on real-life characters. The author has really done her research and shown us the hardships of those times. It is very well written with a seamless storyline and characters that are poignantly brought to life that you feel totally compelled to care about. The story is quite brutal at times but that's part of those times and needs to be told to show you the strength of the characters.
The Low Road is a gripping and beautifully told story with a page turning tale of the lives and loves of poor and destitute women in the early 19th Century. At times it is a hard and uncompromising read but it does bring to life the nearly disappearing history of working class life and its struggles in the Regency/Victorian era. It was a joy to find such a well- written and enjoyable book, the author has brought the history vividly to life and I am so pleased that I had the chance to read it. Highly recommended!
I absolutely loved this book. I am obsessed with the Victorian era so I was really excited to read this. I also liked that it was based on real-life characters. The author has really done her research and shown us the hardships of those times. It is very well written with a seamless storyline and characters that are poignantly brought to life that you feel totally compelled to care about. The story is quite brutal at times but that's part of those times and needs to be told to show you the strength of the characters.
The Low Road is a gripping and beautifully told story with a page turning tale of the lives and loves of poor and destitute women in the early 19th Century. At times it is a hard and uncompromising read but it does bring to life the nearly disappearing history of working class life and its struggles in the Regency/Victorian era. It was a joy to find such a well- written and enjoyable book, the author has brought the history vividly to life and I am so pleased that I had the chance to read it. Highly recommended!
June 28, 2023
Set in the unforgiving landscape of nineteenth century England, The Low Road tells the story of Hannah Tyrell. Born to a single mother in a small village in Norfolk, Hannah and her mother Mary are regarded as pariahs in the parish. But for the kindness of the farmer and his wife who employ Mary, they would be destitute. As it is, Hannah’s early years are spent somewhat idyllically, as she learns farmwork while simultaneously revelling in her mother’s love.
Everything changes with the arrival of a stern and judgemental new vicar, who regards Mary with suspicion. Then the farmer’s wife dies in childbirth, and Hannah’s life begins to unravel. In his desperate grief, the farmer allows unsavoury men to drink in his home, insisting that Mary serve them. The inevitable happens, and Mary gives birth in front of a shocked Hannah. Worse is to follow as the baby dies, and Mary begs nine-year-old Hannah to hide the body. When the baby is discovered, Mary is accused of infanticide and commits suicide in prison.
From then on Hannah is cast adrift, and eventually the village decide she needs to be sent away to the Women’s Refuge in London where she is to learn how to be a servant. It is there that Hannah meets and falls in love with Annie Simpkins. Theirs is of course a love that can never be, and when the pair are caught stealing from the laundry, they are condemned to serve their time in Botany Bay. Hannah, however is reprieved at the last minute, while Annie is sent away.
This is a powerful story of a love that endures even to the ends of the earth. Painstakingly researched and based on real-life characters, Quarmby brings Hannah and Annie poignantly to life. She shows us too, the hardships of life for single women with no families during the period, and how so many were condemned with no support or sympathy. At times a hard, and uncompromising read, nonetheless Quarmby has fashioned a beautiful story of forbidden love and loss, and the doggedness of the human spirit, that ultimately leads to redemption.
Everything changes with the arrival of a stern and judgemental new vicar, who regards Mary with suspicion. Then the farmer’s wife dies in childbirth, and Hannah’s life begins to unravel. In his desperate grief, the farmer allows unsavoury men to drink in his home, insisting that Mary serve them. The inevitable happens, and Mary gives birth in front of a shocked Hannah. Worse is to follow as the baby dies, and Mary begs nine-year-old Hannah to hide the body. When the baby is discovered, Mary is accused of infanticide and commits suicide in prison.
From then on Hannah is cast adrift, and eventually the village decide she needs to be sent away to the Women’s Refuge in London where she is to learn how to be a servant. It is there that Hannah meets and falls in love with Annie Simpkins. Theirs is of course a love that can never be, and when the pair are caught stealing from the laundry, they are condemned to serve their time in Botany Bay. Hannah, however is reprieved at the last minute, while Annie is sent away.
This is a powerful story of a love that endures even to the ends of the earth. Painstakingly researched and based on real-life characters, Quarmby brings Hannah and Annie poignantly to life. She shows us too, the hardships of life for single women with no families during the period, and how so many were condemned with no support or sympathy. At times a hard, and uncompromising read, nonetheless Quarmby has fashioned a beautiful story of forbidden love and loss, and the doggedness of the human spirit, that ultimately leads to redemption.
July 5, 2023
I’ve never been a huge fan of historical fiction, but I think this may be the one to have changed my mind. In this book you follow the journey of Hannah Tyrell, orphaned at a young age in rural Norfolk and forever judged by the moral “crimes” of her dead mother. The reader follows Hannah from a refuge for the destitute where she falls in love with Annie, a fellow resident, to her first domestic servant’s job and eventual journey to a convict colony in Australia.
Many hefty themes are explored: the treatment of women in the criminal justice system, poverty, same-sex relationships, prison reform and the colonisation of indigenous lands. I think this would be a great read for a YA audience who are learning about 19th century history.
It’s a beautiful novel that’s perfectly paced and introduces you to so many characters whose lives are beset by tragedy that it’s pretty heartbreaking. The fact that it’s based on real-life accounts makes it all the more tragic, and it really whets your appetite to want to find about more about this period in history.
With thanks for Unbound for the copy in exchange for an honest review
Many hefty themes are explored: the treatment of women in the criminal justice system, poverty, same-sex relationships, prison reform and the colonisation of indigenous lands. I think this would be a great read for a YA audience who are learning about 19th century history.
It’s a beautiful novel that’s perfectly paced and introduces you to so many characters whose lives are beset by tragedy that it’s pretty heartbreaking. The fact that it’s based on real-life accounts makes it all the more tragic, and it really whets your appetite to want to find about more about this period in history.
With thanks for Unbound for the copy in exchange for an honest review
July 25, 2023
Set in the 19th century, The Low Road follows the life of Hannah Tyrell: a child born out of wedlock near Harleston. Through her life, Hannah witnesses the harsh realities of being a woman in servitude; from being judged by parishoners, silenced, abused and exiled; The Low Road is a heartbreaking novel about love and resilience.
Quarmby's writing is powerful and emotive, albiet a little less poetic that I tend to prefer. The story is slow at times, but I appreciated the time this gave me to get to know Hannah outside of her suffering.
The relationships between the many female characters was my favourite part of The Low Road, capturing love and forgiveness, compassion and hurt in it's many forms.
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone with an interest in women's history, especially those local to Norwich and its surrounding areas.
3.5/5 ⭐
Quarmby's writing is powerful and emotive, albiet a little less poetic that I tend to prefer. The story is slow at times, but I appreciated the time this gave me to get to know Hannah outside of her suffering.
The relationships between the many female characters was my favourite part of The Low Road, capturing love and forgiveness, compassion and hurt in it's many forms.
I'd definitely recommend this to anyone with an interest in women's history, especially those local to Norwich and its surrounding areas.
3.5/5 ⭐
July 2, 2023
This is an epic story that keeps you turning the pages wanting things to be OK for Hannah and Annie in the harsh realities of the early 19th century. Rural Norfolk, squalid London, criminal (in)justice, transportation, prison, disease, love against the odds - think Charles Dickens, Sarah Waters, Kate Grenville. Would highly recommend !
June 24, 2023
An extraordinary novel, beautifully told, of working class Georgian women, a group of people whose lives and loves rarely has a light shone on it. It’s an adventure, a love story that crosses continents and an epic tale of the power of redemption.
August 21, 2023
Fast paced page turner. Story enhanced by historical detail and I learned a lot about the early 19th century including what happened to women convicts. A tough but enjoyable read.
June 30, 2023
The flesh & blood of a epic personal tale. The writing style constrains the characters to time & place but perhaps holds back a more heartfelt warmth to better enrich the tale. I found more meat in the building of the story & felt the ending deserved a greater confidence to enrobe the main character & fill out further the character & dynamic of her long term love.
January 19, 2024
Two things this story is not 1) easy and 2) happy. But if you're a fan of real, tell-it-like-it-was historical fiction, this title is fascinating. The meticulous research is evident on every page.
This book has an emphasis on historical rather than fiction, thus the characters are a bit weak, but with all that they are going through, you hardly notice. Also, I would have appreciated an occasional subtle reference to how long had passed between certain events. These are the most minor of complaints when offered such potent detail of these poor, abused, Victorian "criminals".
#Edelweiss
This book has an emphasis on historical rather than fiction, thus the characters are a bit weak, but with all that they are going through, you hardly notice. Also, I would have appreciated an occasional subtle reference to how long had passed between certain events. These are the most minor of complaints when offered such potent detail of these poor, abused, Victorian "criminals".
#Edelweiss
December 20, 2023
Hannah lives in rural Norfolk. She is born of love and knows she is loved, but when her mother dies, the security of Hannah’s existence is whipped away. Like so many people of her era, she has no means and the society in which she lives can barely cope with someone like her. Dragged off to the very different environment of London, she is left to the vagaries of Victorian charity and blasted with the severity of the law for crimes committed through the desperation of poverty. I was almost relieved when she was deported to Botany Bay, because surely that could not be worse than Britain!
It must be said – this is no easy read: Katharine Quarmby has put a lot of research into Hannah’s saga, and I found the constant grind of injustice and affliction difficult. Hannah does know love, and inspires love throughout her journey, but it honestly seems that this is not enough at times. Just surviving drives Hannah and the women she meets to some grim places, and the condescension and hypocrisy displayed by middle class society is breath-taking. I was amazed that suicides were still buried with a stake through their hearts!
Beautiful writing, at times lyrical, is marred for me by changes in tense which I found jarring. I realise that tense is a personal taste for readers, but the changing around from past to present did not hang together for me.
Be prepared for some hard truths and great writing.
It must be said – this is no easy read: Katharine Quarmby has put a lot of research into Hannah’s saga, and I found the constant grind of injustice and affliction difficult. Hannah does know love, and inspires love throughout her journey, but it honestly seems that this is not enough at times. Just surviving drives Hannah and the women she meets to some grim places, and the condescension and hypocrisy displayed by middle class society is breath-taking. I was amazed that suicides were still buried with a stake through their hearts!
Beautiful writing, at times lyrical, is marred for me by changes in tense which I found jarring. I realise that tense is a personal taste for readers, but the changing around from past to present did not hang together for me.
Be prepared for some hard truths and great writing.
June 24, 2023
I loved Quarmby’s evocative fictionalisation of protagonist Hannah attempting to find not just survival but sustenance within a quagmire of 1800’s opposition, first in Norfolk then London and ultimately Australia, at a time when circumstances were already rotten for women without means - but especially for those trying to survive trauma with a legacy of mistrust and disdain. Quarmby’s impeccable attention to historic detail bought to life both the Bleak and the Beautiful and, as the love story between two women emerges, so does the reader’s faith in persistence toward purpose.
August 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down while reading and after finishing was left thinking about it for days. Halfway through the book I was beginning to think that things had gone from bad to worse for too long, but as the story draws from real events, in the end I was just left amazed at what the characters had gone through. On finishing the book I was left moved not only by the end but also by the story as a whole. The level of detail was just right for me to be able to visualise the events and appreciate the huge amount of research that must have gone into writing this book.
June 18, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book which I received as an advance copy. The plot was pacey, the characters well drawn and it was brilliantly researched. Set in the 1800s, the book exposes the lack of choices for poor women and workers who are punished and sanctioned by officials who run towns and institutions. At the heart of the story is the relationship between two young women who meet at an orphanage in Hackney before being transported. It’s a gripping read.
April 21, 2024
When I first came across The Low Road, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this novel, based on a true story: two young women thrown together by circumstance, with a strong will to survive in a society where where the fight for everyday survival – against starvation, abuse, rape – never stopped.
In the early 19th century, young Hannah lives with her mother, a midwife, on a farm in rural Norfolk. When her mother is accused of infanticide, and to be put on trial, she takes poison to avoid the horrors of trial by torture that so often blighted those legal processes. Judged a suicide, her mother is then staked through the heart, in what caused anxiety in the young girl. And with folk being superstitious – like mother, like daughter – Hannah is sent to a home for the destitute in London. A bleak place for any child to end up in.
Over time, she forges a friendship with Annie, which slowly grows into affection and love. This is an aspect rarely written about, and while some may find it not very credible, I think the opposite. But more of that later.
When the girls are accused of stealing from the institution, they are condemned to Australia, but it still takes six years before they finally head southwards. Separated from her friend and lover, Hannah must forge her own future. But in the vastness of Australia, dangers lurk, and she has to look out for herself.
Will she ever see Annie again? Well, read the book!
The Low Road is a fascinating tale of survival in the early 19th century. Women, particularly those from poor backgrounds, are treated woefully, and are easy prey for those with an agenda. They have no rights. The rich and powerful make the laws, and girls like Hannah and Annie find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. Starvation is accepted by the rich and the emerging middle classes, blaming the poor for their own fate – but do everything they can to maintain the status quo.
It's a tough read at times, as Ms Quarmby describes the cruel treatment in great (but never sordid) detail. She does not shy away from showing us the relentless dangers young women faced wherever they went. Very well-researched, Ms Quarmby delves into the dark underbelly of society, showing up the class system for what it was. Yet we also see kindness and affection, sometimes from unexpected quarters. Two sides of a coin – or two sides of a city, if you will.
The author takes us on a vivid journey through rural Norfolk, the streets of London (grimy or genteel) and the vast Australian territories, and we can see each location through Hannah's eyes. We get a strong sense of her thoughts, and how her actions affect each step in her life. Her love for Annie remains strong throughout, and I think that is her strongest attribute. Grown out of desperation and loneliness, I find it completely believable that two women would form a loving relationship, beyond that of a close friendship, even in a society throttled by a strict moral code (which usually applied to women only, anyway, not men!).
But despite depicting the darkest side of society, The Low Road is a compelling novel that shows how there is always a glimmer of hope, even when everything seems stacked against you. It shows up society for what it was, and proves that resilience, love, and a strong survival instinct can help you in forging a life out of misery.
Highly recommended.
In the early 19th century, young Hannah lives with her mother, a midwife, on a farm in rural Norfolk. When her mother is accused of infanticide, and to be put on trial, she takes poison to avoid the horrors of trial by torture that so often blighted those legal processes. Judged a suicide, her mother is then staked through the heart, in what caused anxiety in the young girl. And with folk being superstitious – like mother, like daughter – Hannah is sent to a home for the destitute in London. A bleak place for any child to end up in.
Over time, she forges a friendship with Annie, which slowly grows into affection and love. This is an aspect rarely written about, and while some may find it not very credible, I think the opposite. But more of that later.
When the girls are accused of stealing from the institution, they are condemned to Australia, but it still takes six years before they finally head southwards. Separated from her friend and lover, Hannah must forge her own future. But in the vastness of Australia, dangers lurk, and she has to look out for herself.
Will she ever see Annie again? Well, read the book!
The Low Road is a fascinating tale of survival in the early 19th century. Women, particularly those from poor backgrounds, are treated woefully, and are easy prey for those with an agenda. They have no rights. The rich and powerful make the laws, and girls like Hannah and Annie find themselves at the bottom of the food chain. Starvation is accepted by the rich and the emerging middle classes, blaming the poor for their own fate – but do everything they can to maintain the status quo.
It's a tough read at times, as Ms Quarmby describes the cruel treatment in great (but never sordid) detail. She does not shy away from showing us the relentless dangers young women faced wherever they went. Very well-researched, Ms Quarmby delves into the dark underbelly of society, showing up the class system for what it was. Yet we also see kindness and affection, sometimes from unexpected quarters. Two sides of a coin – or two sides of a city, if you will.
The author takes us on a vivid journey through rural Norfolk, the streets of London (grimy or genteel) and the vast Australian territories, and we can see each location through Hannah's eyes. We get a strong sense of her thoughts, and how her actions affect each step in her life. Her love for Annie remains strong throughout, and I think that is her strongest attribute. Grown out of desperation and loneliness, I find it completely believable that two women would form a loving relationship, beyond that of a close friendship, even in a society throttled by a strict moral code (which usually applied to women only, anyway, not men!).
But despite depicting the darkest side of society, The Low Road is a compelling novel that shows how there is always a glimmer of hope, even when everything seems stacked against you. It shows up society for what it was, and proves that resilience, love, and a strong survival instinct can help you in forging a life out of misery.
Highly recommended.
July 7, 2023
2.5 stars rated up. I loved the beginning of this: a compelling main character, strong writing, good set-up for an epic story. Everything about that first part of the story was gripping and emotionally engaging, and I could not wait for Hannah to find a way to claw her way out of all that injustice and misery. I loved her bitterness and anger and I was rooting hard for her. When Annie came along, I really REALLY wanted to root for that relationship as well – I adore sapphic historicals and there aren’t enough good ones. I didn’t get a strong chemistry vibe from them and Annie’s appeal was basically summed up as “she blonde” and “she wore pants that one time” but it had potential.
Alas, it all kind of fizzled out for me somewhere in that interminable middle part, where the girls bounce back and forth between the same institutions about five times, the plot gets mired in the minutiae of the author’s research, and Hannah and Annie’s relationship goes from One True Love to “eh, I was over her” to half-arsed reconnection attempts and falling apart again. I’d been looking forward to the Australian leg of the story, but when we finally get there, it was like a different book, and possibly a different main character altogether. It was full of unexpected turns, but… not in a good way?
So… lots of potential, but I was bored with the direction it took. It’s apparently based on real events and unfortunately that shows – “unfortunately” because of that common problem with fictionalising real life: real life doesn’t make narrative sense [insert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend song here]. In real life, people stumble aimlessly through life, things happen randomly and with no sense of pacing, people drop in and out of your life without having a story-driven purpose.
I thought the book’s strongest suit was its focus on female relationships throughout – Hannah’s bond with her mum, with Annie, with friends at the Refuge, with the quaker ladies and various side characters. Annie remained somewhat opaque throughout the narrative, more of an outline of a love interest rather than a real person, which was a shame, as her and Hannah’s connection was clearly meant to be a strong central pillar of the story, but I never really felt it.
Basically, I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. The author clearly did a ton of research and poured a lot of love into this; she’s also a good writer. I just kinda wish she’d gone full fiction because this didn’t really work for me as a novel.
Alas, it all kind of fizzled out for me somewhere in that interminable middle part, where the girls bounce back and forth between the same institutions about five times, the plot gets mired in the minutiae of the author’s research, and Hannah and Annie’s relationship goes from One True Love to “eh, I was over her” to half-arsed reconnection attempts and falling apart again. I’d been looking forward to the Australian leg of the story, but when we finally get there, it was like a different book, and possibly a different main character altogether. It was full of unexpected turns, but… not in a good way?
So… lots of potential, but I was bored with the direction it took. It’s apparently based on real events and unfortunately that shows – “unfortunately” because of that common problem with fictionalising real life: real life doesn’t make narrative sense [insert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend song here]. In real life, people stumble aimlessly through life, things happen randomly and with no sense of pacing, people drop in and out of your life without having a story-driven purpose.
I thought the book’s strongest suit was its focus on female relationships throughout – Hannah’s bond with her mum, with Annie, with friends at the Refuge, with the quaker ladies and various side characters. Annie remained somewhat opaque throughout the narrative, more of an outline of a love interest rather than a real person, which was a shame, as her and Hannah’s connection was clearly meant to be a strong central pillar of the story, but I never really felt it.
Basically, I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. The author clearly did a ton of research and poured a lot of love into this; she’s also a good writer. I just kinda wish she’d gone full fiction because this didn’t really work for me as a novel.
February 6, 2024
The debut historical fiction novel, The Low Road by Katharine Quarmby, is a tragic tale about female prisoners banished from Britain to Australia in the 19th century. Based on real-life events, the story takes place in the Victorian era when women were judged by rigid moral codes and suffered social injustice. At the beginning of the story, Hannah Tyrell reflects on how her fate was cast at the moment her out-of-wedlock mother—Mary Tyrell—gave birth to her. She recalls how they were taken in by a kind couple in exchange for work on their farm. Fate throws Hanna's mother a cruel twist when she is raped and impregnated. She keeps her pregnancy a secret until her baby dies shortly after birth. Arrested for murder, she is jailed and commits suicide. Hannah is forced to witness the gruesome act of her mother's body being staked through the heart for her unpardonable sin before being buried.
Later, Hannah is sent away to the Refuge for the Destitute in London, where she is trained in domestic service. She meets and falls deeply in love with a fellow resident, Annie Simpkins. Their strong bond and friendship are tested after they are caught stealing from the Refuge's laundry and are imprisoned in filthy prisons where they wait for their sentences. Eventually, they are separately banished to Botany Bay where they may not see each other again.
Author Katharine Quarmby has written a compelling story told from the first-person perspective of Hannah Tyrell. The lyrical stream-of-consciousness narrative delves into her inner thoughts and emotions from childhood to adulthood. The tale is gripping and engaging as we learn about the injustices that Hannah and her mother must endure. The aspect I liked best about the book is Hannah's relationships with other females: her mom, her friends at the Refuge, and other various side characters. Mary Tyrell comes across as a strong and tragic heroine—a protective mother who has a profound impact on her daughter Hannah. The spiritual bond between mother and daughter permeates throughout the story.
The story reflects the author’s impeccable research and passion for the subject. At mid-point, the story promises to be an epic tale of Hannah's fight to overcome her struggles. However, the relationship between Hannah and Annie did not resonate with me, and the story veered in a different direction than I anticipated when Hannah arrived in Australia. Still, it is an evocative, gripping tale of cruelty juxtaposed with courage and kindness that an orphaned girl experiences, struggling to survive poverty and seek love on the other side of the world.
I recommend The Low Road to historical fiction readers interested in the realistic depiction of female convicts transported from Britain and Ireland to Australia where they help build a young colony in a harsh land.
Later, Hannah is sent away to the Refuge for the Destitute in London, where she is trained in domestic service. She meets and falls deeply in love with a fellow resident, Annie Simpkins. Their strong bond and friendship are tested after they are caught stealing from the Refuge's laundry and are imprisoned in filthy prisons where they wait for their sentences. Eventually, they are separately banished to Botany Bay where they may not see each other again.
Author Katharine Quarmby has written a compelling story told from the first-person perspective of Hannah Tyrell. The lyrical stream-of-consciousness narrative delves into her inner thoughts and emotions from childhood to adulthood. The tale is gripping and engaging as we learn about the injustices that Hannah and her mother must endure. The aspect I liked best about the book is Hannah's relationships with other females: her mom, her friends at the Refuge, and other various side characters. Mary Tyrell comes across as a strong and tragic heroine—a protective mother who has a profound impact on her daughter Hannah. The spiritual bond between mother and daughter permeates throughout the story.
The story reflects the author’s impeccable research and passion for the subject. At mid-point, the story promises to be an epic tale of Hannah's fight to overcome her struggles. However, the relationship between Hannah and Annie did not resonate with me, and the story veered in a different direction than I anticipated when Hannah arrived in Australia. Still, it is an evocative, gripping tale of cruelty juxtaposed with courage and kindness that an orphaned girl experiences, struggling to survive poverty and seek love on the other side of the world.
I recommend The Low Road to historical fiction readers interested in the realistic depiction of female convicts transported from Britain and Ireland to Australia where they help build a young colony in a harsh land.
August 31, 2023
This read will sit with me for a while - surely the sign of great writing?
The book starts off in Norfolk in 1813. After her mother Mary Tyrell is staked through the heart after her death by suicide, Hannah is sent sent away to the Refuge for the Destitute in London. Here she is trained for a life of domestic service but all the while her past sits brooding inside her. She meets and falls in love with a fellow resident but from here things start to fall apart. Ultimately they both end up being transported to Botany Bay but are separated. We learn of their fates in Australia and how female transportees were treated there, for good and for bad.
It's a brutal tale at times, tenderly told. Katherine has based this novel on the true story of Mary Tyrell and her research gives the writing wonderful depth. After the first few chapters I truly felt like I was the narrator - also called Hannah - as I was reading. Not because we had the same name. I could feel her emotions and clung to every sentence hoping everything would turn out ok. The plot is excellent and the relationships bind the book together like the threads in my clothes. Katherine explores the ups and downs between friends and lovers, mothers and their children. And shares how young girls and women were tied to those who look after or imprison them. The dark horrors of Victorian England for women in particular were hard to read about. Rape is followed by motherhood, which is in turn followed by shame and babes being torn from the bosom to be given away. Choice and empathy is not an option. Women are imprisoned for pilfering when all they need is help. They are sent away from villages, refuges or even their own country because of the power of men, or for the weakest of crimes.
Yet throughout, friendship and love shines out, making it an uplifting and gripping read. It makes me thankful to be a women in modern times. We may not have fixed everything but we've certainly come a long way. Fans of historical fiction such as The Marriage Portrait or Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell or older titles The Potato Factory by Bryce Courtenay should also enjoy The Low Road.
The book starts off in Norfolk in 1813. After her mother Mary Tyrell is staked through the heart after her death by suicide, Hannah is sent sent away to the Refuge for the Destitute in London. Here she is trained for a life of domestic service but all the while her past sits brooding inside her. She meets and falls in love with a fellow resident but from here things start to fall apart. Ultimately they both end up being transported to Botany Bay but are separated. We learn of their fates in Australia and how female transportees were treated there, for good and for bad.
It's a brutal tale at times, tenderly told. Katherine has based this novel on the true story of Mary Tyrell and her research gives the writing wonderful depth. After the first few chapters I truly felt like I was the narrator - also called Hannah - as I was reading. Not because we had the same name. I could feel her emotions and clung to every sentence hoping everything would turn out ok. The plot is excellent and the relationships bind the book together like the threads in my clothes. Katherine explores the ups and downs between friends and lovers, mothers and their children. And shares how young girls and women were tied to those who look after or imprison them. The dark horrors of Victorian England for women in particular were hard to read about. Rape is followed by motherhood, which is in turn followed by shame and babes being torn from the bosom to be given away. Choice and empathy is not an option. Women are imprisoned for pilfering when all they need is help. They are sent away from villages, refuges or even their own country because of the power of men, or for the weakest of crimes.
Yet throughout, friendship and love shines out, making it an uplifting and gripping read. It makes me thankful to be a women in modern times. We may not have fixed everything but we've certainly come a long way. Fans of historical fiction such as The Marriage Portrait or Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell or older titles The Potato Factory by Bryce Courtenay should also enjoy The Low Road.
October 30, 2023
‘The Low Road’ is a historical novel from the pen of British-based author, Katharine Quarmby. It’s the moving story of Hannah Tyrell who was born out of wedlock in Regency England to a loving mother, who paid a terrible price after having been abused. The story is told solely from the perspective of Hannah, sometimes in the present tense and sometimes in the past. After her mother’s death, Hannah’s life takes a downward spiral, leading first to her entering a home for the destitute and then prison. We witness her struggles as she tries to survive and also sympathise with her desire to find out who was responsible for her mother’s ill-treatment which ultimately led to her suicide.
After another spell of incarceration, Hannah journeys to the other side of the world to Australia and arrives in Sydney Cove where her new life begins.
There are references to various people, events and institutions, which helps pinpoint the action in history. Some of the descriptive passages are quite harrowing to read with the fear of the workhouse ever-present for those who could not support themselves. It is tribute to the skill of the author that she is able to create an atmosphere which may well educate and shock in equal measure.
We are presented with a stark reminder of the powerlessness of the poor in a world where influence and status go hand-in-hand with injustice and cruelty. A world filled with hunger and disease, where death of the downtrodden is inevitable and hardly noteworthy. Whilst there is a lot of darkness, this book is far from depressing as there are glimmers of light provided by social reformers and some kind-hearted folk who see the best in Hannah.
When writing across a time span, there is a need for balance between detailed events and brief narrative and this obviously creates pacing challenges for any author. There were a few areas where arguably more depth might have added to overall impact but I appreciate the
difficulty in achieving this whilst maintaining momentum and being mindful of word count.
I was surprised that Hannah was still in education and considered to be a child at the age of fourteen, particularly as she was at the lowest end of the social scale. At this time, the first Education Act, making it compulsory for children to attend school between the ages of five and thirteen, was still over half a century away. However, I read in the acknowledgements that this story was the result of painstaking research from secondary data.
I think fans of this genre will thoroughly enjoy Hannah’s resolute tale of survival with its powerful social history messages and award four-and-a-half stars.
After another spell of incarceration, Hannah journeys to the other side of the world to Australia and arrives in Sydney Cove where her new life begins.
There are references to various people, events and institutions, which helps pinpoint the action in history. Some of the descriptive passages are quite harrowing to read with the fear of the workhouse ever-present for those who could not support themselves. It is tribute to the skill of the author that she is able to create an atmosphere which may well educate and shock in equal measure.
We are presented with a stark reminder of the powerlessness of the poor in a world where influence and status go hand-in-hand with injustice and cruelty. A world filled with hunger and disease, where death of the downtrodden is inevitable and hardly noteworthy. Whilst there is a lot of darkness, this book is far from depressing as there are glimmers of light provided by social reformers and some kind-hearted folk who see the best in Hannah.
When writing across a time span, there is a need for balance between detailed events and brief narrative and this obviously creates pacing challenges for any author. There were a few areas where arguably more depth might have added to overall impact but I appreciate the
difficulty in achieving this whilst maintaining momentum and being mindful of word count.
I was surprised that Hannah was still in education and considered to be a child at the age of fourteen, particularly as she was at the lowest end of the social scale. At this time, the first Education Act, making it compulsory for children to attend school between the ages of five and thirteen, was still over half a century away. However, I read in the acknowledgements that this story was the result of painstaking research from secondary data.
I think fans of this genre will thoroughly enjoy Hannah’s resolute tale of survival with its powerful social history messages and award four-and-a-half stars.
April 10, 2024
An epic tale of life of early 19th Century life set in set in Norfolk, London, and New South Wales
The Low Road is a fictionalised rendering of largely true events set in the early 19th Century. Hannah was born in rural Norfolk. While she was still young her mother was wrongly accused of murdering her new born sister and committed suicide while awaiting trial. She was buried, Hannah watching, with a stake driven through her heart. Hannah was brought up in a good home in the village but was eventually found petty thieving and sent to a Refuge for the Destitute in London to ‘mend her ways’ and be trained for service. Here she met Annie who was to become the love of her life. The two escaped from the refuge, were caught, and punished for stealing laundry as they left. They survived life in Newgate prison and were, separately, transported to Australia having fallen out. They lost touch.
Because the story is based on fact, it becomes so much more real and disturbing. The conditions, particularly in London, were horrific. Poverty and filth were everywhere. We encounter a few good people (such as Quaker and social reformer Elizabeth Fry), a few openly bad people and a few bad people masquerading as good. The hypocrisy and cruelty of some is truly frightening. Reminds me of the Mother and Baby homes, and Laundries, of Ireland in the last century. Ordinary people, if they had ‘strayed’, were seen as beneath redemption. The Church and other institutions have a lot to answer for.
Katharine is also an investigative journalist, and the quality, depth and detail of her research is clear. In reality the trail of the lives of Hannah and Annie dried up when they were in Newgate. But Katharine has surmised (on the basis of what happened to others) that they were transported to Australia. Most transportees were sent for a period of 7 years, but there was never any realistic prospect of them being able to pay for the return voyage. It was a life sentence. And, in practice, a sentence that worked out quite well for several. Some enjoyed a much better life than they had experienced back in England. Punishment and rehabilitation that sometimes worked – even if that was not the intention.
The Low Road is a book from which I learnt a lot. It will make you think.
The Low Road is a fictionalised rendering of largely true events set in the early 19th Century. Hannah was born in rural Norfolk. While she was still young her mother was wrongly accused of murdering her new born sister and committed suicide while awaiting trial. She was buried, Hannah watching, with a stake driven through her heart. Hannah was brought up in a good home in the village but was eventually found petty thieving and sent to a Refuge for the Destitute in London to ‘mend her ways’ and be trained for service. Here she met Annie who was to become the love of her life. The two escaped from the refuge, were caught, and punished for stealing laundry as they left. They survived life in Newgate prison and were, separately, transported to Australia having fallen out. They lost touch.
Because the story is based on fact, it becomes so much more real and disturbing. The conditions, particularly in London, were horrific. Poverty and filth were everywhere. We encounter a few good people (such as Quaker and social reformer Elizabeth Fry), a few openly bad people and a few bad people masquerading as good. The hypocrisy and cruelty of some is truly frightening. Reminds me of the Mother and Baby homes, and Laundries, of Ireland in the last century. Ordinary people, if they had ‘strayed’, were seen as beneath redemption. The Church and other institutions have a lot to answer for.
Katharine is also an investigative journalist, and the quality, depth and detail of her research is clear. In reality the trail of the lives of Hannah and Annie dried up when they were in Newgate. But Katharine has surmised (on the basis of what happened to others) that they were transported to Australia. Most transportees were sent for a period of 7 years, but there was never any realistic prospect of them being able to pay for the return voyage. It was a life sentence. And, in practice, a sentence that worked out quite well for several. Some enjoyed a much better life than they had experienced back in England. Punishment and rehabilitation that sometimes worked – even if that was not the intention.
The Low Road is a book from which I learnt a lot. It will make you think.
August 20, 2023
What a powerful and impactful book!
The Low Road follows the life of Hannah Tyrell, a young woman born to an unmarried woman in the early 19th Century. We follow her turbulent childhood, the hardships of her youth, and eventually the stability she finds as an adult.
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Quarmby doesn’t shy away from the injustices Hannah faces, and the way society actively shuns her just because of her circumstances. Her story could be the story of so many women at this time, which makes it all the more heartbreaking.
As much as the story is about hardship, Hannah’s tenacity and determination balance the dark side of this story. She’s a great perspective to read from, as we witness the world through her eyes. I particularly enjoyed seeing how her perception of others – and other people’s treatment of her – changed across the course of the book.
I also thought this was a great depiction of the lives of queer woman in this era. Women’s sexuality is often written out of history, and this felt like a very honest portrayal of a woman following her heart in a world that has no words for it.
This is a beautifully written triumph of a book, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I hope we get more historical fiction from Quarmby, because the world is better for it.
I was given a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
The Low Road follows the life of Hannah Tyrell, a young woman born to an unmarried woman in the early 19th Century. We follow her turbulent childhood, the hardships of her youth, and eventually the stability she finds as an adult.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
Quarmby doesn’t shy away from the injustices Hannah faces, and the way society actively shuns her just because of her circumstances. Her story could be the story of so many women at this time, which makes it all the more heartbreaking.
As much as the story is about hardship, Hannah’s tenacity and determination balance the dark side of this story. She’s a great perspective to read from, as we witness the world through her eyes. I particularly enjoyed seeing how her perception of others – and other people’s treatment of her – changed across the course of the book.
I also thought this was a great depiction of the lives of queer woman in this era. Women’s sexuality is often written out of history, and this felt like a very honest portrayal of a woman following her heart in a world that has no words for it.
This is a beautifully written triumph of a book, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I hope we get more historical fiction from Quarmby, because the world is better for it.
I was given a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2023
This book is beautifully written with a simplicity that underlies its poignant, complex themes. Hannah's childhood voice is so clear and eloquent, the injustices she suffers as an orphan child are so carefully drawn out that her reactions always feel truthful and believable.
The love story between Hannah and Annie is so delicately drawn, and brought to life against impossible odds - these spirited young women are pushed into unendurable conditions, but refuse to bend to the pressures of their society. Hannah's terrible plight, the horror she is forced to witness after her mother's suicide, her banishment from her hometown and reinvention as an Object in a home for the Destitute, all forge her childhood, but she remains a survivor, capable, despite everything, of love and loyalty.
Quarmby weaves a picaresque tale that spans the globe, and yet is wrought with exquisite attention to detail. Hannah's first sight of Annie, for example, plaiting her hair, is one tiny example. The depth of research is clear, and builds a real and terrifying world for the reader - always essential and truthful to the story. Hannah's voice, for me, was the most powerful element in the book - simple, clear and poetic, I was utterly drawn in to her story. Her writing reminded me of Sarah Waters - vast and detailed at the same time; touching on the illicit while creating a world that is wholly real.
The love story between Hannah and Annie is so delicately drawn, and brought to life against impossible odds - these spirited young women are pushed into unendurable conditions, but refuse to bend to the pressures of their society. Hannah's terrible plight, the horror she is forced to witness after her mother's suicide, her banishment from her hometown and reinvention as an Object in a home for the Destitute, all forge her childhood, but she remains a survivor, capable, despite everything, of love and loyalty.
Quarmby weaves a picaresque tale that spans the globe, and yet is wrought with exquisite attention to detail. Hannah's first sight of Annie, for example, plaiting her hair, is one tiny example. The depth of research is clear, and builds a real and terrifying world for the reader - always essential and truthful to the story. Hannah's voice, for me, was the most powerful element in the book - simple, clear and poetic, I was utterly drawn in to her story. Her writing reminded me of Sarah Waters - vast and detailed at the same time; touching on the illicit while creating a world that is wholly real.
February 22, 2024
FINALLY! I have read a historical book written in the modern day that I really enjoyed - that was excellent. Poor Hannah and Annie got everything thown at them because of the hypocrisy and pious intolerance of the "good" people of the village and the charties who were there to help the "fallen". One does wonder how the human species has survived so long with they way they have historically treated their women. Sadly for some women it is still not much better.
I saw an excellent movie called The Nightingale that was about convicts sent to australia. After watching that I did a little search about those years. I had always known from our Irish history that people were sent over for the most trivial crimes and that the Irish were very over-represented in the number sent over. But Australia was also a convient dumping ground for English "undesirables" like Annie and Hannah who were also sent for very minor offences.
I imagine that conditions on the boats were much worse than they would appear to be from this novel but that is a small gripe.
I need to research the protests in the factories as I assume that is based on actual events. Interesting to see what resulted from it.
From https://www.nationalarchives.ie/topic....
During the 62 years of transportation from Ireland to Australia, some 30,000 men and 9,000 women were sent as convicts to Australia for a minimum period of seven years - many more followed their loved ones as free settlers to a new life in the colony.
Nice bit of history about the real Hannah (who was actually called Ann)
https://lithub.com/raising-the-dead-f...
I saw an excellent movie called The Nightingale that was about convicts sent to australia. After watching that I did a little search about those years. I had always known from our Irish history that people were sent over for the most trivial crimes and that the Irish were very over-represented in the number sent over. But Australia was also a convient dumping ground for English "undesirables" like Annie and Hannah who were also sent for very minor offences.
I imagine that conditions on the boats were much worse than they would appear to be from this novel but that is a small gripe.
I need to research the protests in the factories as I assume that is based on actual events. Interesting to see what resulted from it.
From https://www.nationalarchives.ie/topic....
During the 62 years of transportation from Ireland to Australia, some 30,000 men and 9,000 women were sent as convicts to Australia for a minimum period of seven years - many more followed their loved ones as free settlers to a new life in the colony.
Nice bit of history about the real Hannah (who was actually called Ann)
https://lithub.com/raising-the-dead-f...
September 10, 2023
This historical novel concerns the fate of two adolescent girls, Hannah and Annie, in rural Norfolk in 1813. Their families' poverty leads them to be caught up in criminality and eventual deportation to Australia. I'm not unfamiliar with Katharine Quarmby's journalism, which is generally punchy and direct whilst also being subtle, and The Low Road (her debut novel) is similar in style, with the spareness and formality of the 19th century language (female convicts who were "disorderly, or found in carnal connection") sometimes powerfully elevated by small bursts of lyricism, such as the descriptions of the birds of Australia, of a seal off Hobart, or a lustful man with "a hungry look on his greasy face." Often, along with the momentum of the strong plot about characters you care about and are gradually moved by, the strength of the novel is simply, as with much good writing, in the artful absence of infelicity, but then there are fine passages like this:"West Country girls, with a stride that suits the hills and the coombes of a green landscape, the gentle drop to a valley, the climb up on the other side." Tragic and sometimes heart-rending, with much cruelty but also a lot of kindness, and ultimately uplifting. And also a real page-turner.
January 23, 2024
THE LOW ROAD is a sombre story that starts in Norfolk and finishes in Australia. Hannah's life as a child is almost idyllic, living on a farm with her mother, together with the farmer and his wife. Unfortunately, it wasn't to last, and the death of the goodwife set in motion a sequence of events that would change Hannah's life forever.
Told from Hannah's perspective, in both present and past tense, you see how 'nicely' poor people were judged, even more so if they were female and the constant threat of unwanted attention. It explained how a child could be found guilty of its mother's 'moral' crimes, which was shocking by itself, but add it together with the rest, and it's one helluva story on every level.
I can't say as I was fully behind the love between Annie and Hannah, although I understand how it would be something to hold on to. It never seemed balanced and real to me, just convenient.
A gripping book to read on hard times in history; absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 22, 2024
Told from Hannah's perspective, in both present and past tense, you see how 'nicely' poor people were judged, even more so if they were female and the constant threat of unwanted attention. It explained how a child could be found guilty of its mother's 'moral' crimes, which was shocking by itself, but add it together with the rest, and it's one helluva story on every level.
I can't say as I was fully behind the love between Annie and Hannah, although I understand how it would be something to hold on to. It never seemed balanced and real to me, just convenient.
A gripping book to read on hard times in history; absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 22, 2024
September 1, 2023
Such a gripping and hauntingly beautiful tale. We are started, straightaway, with a grim beginning, leaving our main character as an orphan, who is then shipped away into the life of servitude. Not much left to make her life her own, she finds solace in make what little she can her own path, including friendships and love life. This develops and she become inseparable and develops a bond most can only strive toward with a friend or lover. Then things take a turn and life changes drastically. Reading along as all these changes and important moments unfold in her life was so intriguing. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t help but finish the book very swiftly. It is definitely a tale that pulls on heartstrings and opens your eyes to so many things, especially how both women and orphans were treated in those days. I found myself very engaged in the book and completed linked to finding out more about the characters and the story it is all linked with. Overall, a brilliant book and definitely a must read!
March 18, 2024
Katharine Quarmby creates an evocative and immersive version of a little explored period of English history in The Low Road. Set in 18th century East Anglia - the English region renowned for its witch trials a century earlier - we follow Hannah, the daughter of a Lilith character, as she too is forced into outsider roles at the mercy of a society designed to punish women who didn’t conform. The use of the first person fosters a sense of intimacy and empathy not just with the narrator but also with her peers and companions whose stories become woven together with her own. Quarmby presents deftly crafted prose which at times verges on the poetic. The only criticism is that, at times, I craved a bit more emotional candour from Hannah, who sometimes felt emotionally impenetrable. Overall, an absorbing and welcome historical fiction exploring a perspective that for too long has been excluded from our understanding of women’s survival during a more hostile and limiting era.
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