![]() ![]() The meek and mild youngster uses herbs and concoctions to help Fleetwood through her turbulent pregnancy, and her peculiar tactics do just the trick. ![]() She finds a note from her husband, Richard’s, doctor, claiming that Fleetwood shall die should she carry the baby to full term and deliver.ĭetermined to give her powerful partner an heir – and survive herself – she employs a mysterious midwife she met accidentally in the grounds of the hall: Miss Alice Grey. ![]() I like to think this is exactly what happened.įleetwood finds herself pregnant for a fourth time at the age of 17, after suffering a number of miscarriages. I love the fact that real names of people like Alice and Fleetwood were used – it fills the gaps in history with imagination and creativity. The Familiars is an incredibly well-researched and beautifully written book, encapsulating the gothic ambience whilst conveying just the right era, dialogue and unfortunate attitude towards women. It follows noblewoman Fleetwood Shuttleworth, which I would say is a brilliant character name – but was actually the real name of the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall. The historic fiction story is based on the Pendle Hill Witch Trial in Lancashire, 1612. ![]() The Familiars is a wonderfully spellbinding debut novel and Sunday Times bestseller from Stacey Halls. ![]()
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