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Abel's Daughter
A dramatic tale of a wronged woman who rises above adversity to grasp love and happiness at last. For fans of Josephine Cox and Catherine Cookson.Shocked beyond measure at her wrongful imprisonment, Phoebe Pardoe finds it hard to adjust to the harshness of life in the infamous Handsworth Prison. Abused and beaten, she struggles to maintain her unconquered spirit, little suspecting that her arrest is the work of her jealous Aunt Annie.Phoebe has a guardian angel in the form of Sir William Dartmouth, who eventually engineers her release. But even so, cruelly disinherited, Phoebe must strive to make a living for herself in a man's world. Especially as Annie has not given up her perverse quest for revenge...
- GenresHistoricalFictionRomance
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
12 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Meg Hutchinson
37 books26 followersThis author has also released books under the name Margaret Astbury.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 28, 2019
Love Meg Hutchinson 'books
This is the second time l have read Abels Daughter l thoroughly enjoyed it the second time around. I loved the ending happy
This is the second time l have read Abels Daughter l thoroughly enjoyed it the second time around. I loved the ending happy
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November 12, 2021 Phoebe Pardoe’s life is plunged into the abyss when her father’s death ensures that she is left only his love and a small inheritance from her grandmother. Thrown out of her home by her vindictive aunt she struggles to survive after her affluent upbringing until she is accused of a crime. Suddenly Phoebe finds herself thrown into the black despair of the infamous Handsworth prison. An unexpected angel arrives in the form of Sir William Dartmouth who eventually engineers her release. Now with her freedom but little else, Phoebe must make a living for herself in a man's world.
I like prison settings, so this really captured my interest. The prison section is actually quite short but talks about issues that rarely come up in novels based in this historical setting. I enjoyed the character of Phoebe because she is strong and capable but she is represented as a bit too pure and good. She worries about people other than herself in every instance and also makes very naïve assumptions based upon her innocence.
The villain of the piece Aunt Anne, conversely, is to evil, though her reasons are somewhat understandable, her actions are extreme, bordering on unbelievable and in this instance, Annie Pardoe is not given the excuse of madness to explain away her actions.
The plot is interesting and there are many twists and turns that tug upon the heart strings and the trials and tribulations that Phoebe has to go through to survive are realistic. But the ending I found, difficult to believe because the romance in the story wasn’t nurtured for me and the circumstances the love interest finds himself in does not bode well for an immediate happy ending.
Over all it was a good story but there was a bit too much of the fairytale about it for me, innocent girl plunged into a terrible situation is rescued by the romantic lead and goes on to save the poor and needy. She is thwarted at every turn by the terrible villain but retains her sweet dignity and against all odds prospers.
It just wasn’t what I wanted for a historical fiction in a prison setting.
I like prison settings, so this really captured my interest. The prison section is actually quite short but talks about issues that rarely come up in novels based in this historical setting. I enjoyed the character of Phoebe because she is strong and capable but she is represented as a bit too pure and good. She worries about people other than herself in every instance and also makes very naïve assumptions based upon her innocence.
The villain of the piece Aunt Anne, conversely, is to evil, though her reasons are somewhat understandable, her actions are extreme, bordering on unbelievable and in this instance, Annie Pardoe is not given the excuse of madness to explain away her actions.
The plot is interesting and there are many twists and turns that tug upon the heart strings and the trials and tribulations that Phoebe has to go through to survive are realistic. But the ending I found, difficult to believe because the romance in the story wasn’t nurtured for me and the circumstances the love interest finds himself in does not bode well for an immediate happy ending.
Over all it was a good story but there was a bit too much of the fairytale about it for me, innocent girl plunged into a terrible situation is rescued by the romantic lead and goes on to save the poor and needy. She is thwarted at every turn by the terrible villain but retains her sweet dignity and against all odds prospers.
It just wasn’t what I wanted for a historical fiction in a prison setting.
September 24, 2021
Meg Hutchinson at her best. Abel's Daughter is one you won't want to put down, I almost forgot I was reading a book, as I was transported in to Phoebe's world.
Honestly I had a tear or two, creep out of my eyes as I was reading, probably just the dust from the pages ;-) .
Honestly I had a tear or two, creep out of my eyes as I was reading, probably just the dust from the pages ;-) .
November 30, 2023
not too bad, not so good. Boring and entertaining at the same time
July 15, 2016
I don't know what to say!
I wasn't going to write a review for this one but I have to as I always do.
First of all. Kill thy feelings for Edward as you begin reading this book. He dies. Mont-greedy-rose will live. Phoebe gets her property back by whatever means. Maudie is a clever woman.
And worse Phoebe falls for Edward's father only because he was kind to her and he too falls for her and they get married. Nothing's wrong with that. Love is blind I get it. I do. But Edward loved her. Not for money or anything but for her guts mostly. For the fact she was smart. I wonder if anyone heard him screaming with pain when she married William Dartmouth. But of course how could they? He dies. Drowns. Sophie dies. Annie the bitter woman dies. Samuel the neuter dies.
Just great.
Why? But why Edward? He could have lived. Nay?
I wasn't going to write a review for this one but I have to as I always do.
First of all. Kill thy feelings for Edward as you begin reading this book. He dies. Mont-greedy-rose will live. Phoebe gets her property back by whatever means. Maudie is a clever woman.
And worse Phoebe falls for Edward's father only because he was kind to her and he too falls for her and they get married. Nothing's wrong with that. Love is blind I get it. I do. But Edward loved her. Not for money or anything but for her guts mostly. For the fact she was smart. I wonder if anyone heard him screaming with pain when she married William Dartmouth. But of course how could they? He dies. Drowns. Sophie dies. Annie the bitter woman dies. Samuel the neuter dies.
Just great.
Why? But why Edward? He could have lived. Nay?
June 15, 2017
It was really good. I really Love Meg Hutchinson.
April 17, 2017
As usual well written book. Certainly makes
As usual well written truly moving .certainly makes me feel as part of the story and as always looking forward to more
As usual well written truly moving .certainly makes me feel as part of the story and as always looking forward to more
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews