Rebecca's Children

Good read. With a good inlook into that period. I found the story easy to read and follow. I did find my attention drifting but that may be due to my lack of reading stories from this era and area

Thank you for allowing me to read.

Rebecca's Children, by Kate Dunn, introduced me to an entire chapter of life in Wales that I was previously unaware of. Dunn is a fantastic storyteller. She interweaves the tale of her protagonist, Mary, with the facts of the Welsh Rebecca Riots of the nineteenth century. Dunn cleverly tells us the main story in the form of a flashback. This helps to shield our hearts from despair and grief since we know who is alive to tell the tale. This was a hard time in a hard land where death was frequent.

Through Mary's eyes we witness the events that lead up to the riots: failed crops, a divided class system, unfair taxation, dire poverty, starvation and workhouses. While all these negative events were swirling around Mary she is a character who endures nothing but misfortune – the loss of her family's farm, the swindling of her father, the loss of her parents, the prejudice against women in the workplace, sexual harassment, the maiming of her brother, loss of her beloved, as well as numerous rapes.

Dunn has done her research in preparation for writing this book. Her descriptions of Rebecca's Children from their inspiration from Genesis 24:60, their leaderless uprising, dressing in white petticoats with blackened faces, their mandate to avoid violence, their infiltration by criminals and the the increased troop levels required to shut them down are all documented in her accurate portrayal.

Her character development along with her descriptive passages showcase Dunn's excellent writing skills. The reader believes they understand exactly what makes each of the characters tick and have a clear picture, in their mind's eye, of both the Welsh towns and countryside during the 1840s.

I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A saga about love over generations. historical romancing and everything you want in an easy book. A very good book by a new author for me. I really recommend reading this book.