- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Piatkus (2 July 2020)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0349422974
- ISBN-13: 978-0349422978
Synopsis
1891 Spindrift House Cornwall
Talented painter Edith Fairchild is poised to begin a life of newlywed bliss and artistic creation in the inspiring setting of Spindrift House, freshly inherited by her charming husband, Benedict, and overlooking the stunning harbour of Port Isaac. But when her honeymoon turns sour, her dreams are all but dashed and after a moment of madness and desire she finds herself pregnant with another man’s child.
Edith swears never to tell her secret and devotes herself to her art. Joined at Spindrift House by her friends – Clarissa, Dora and the secret father of her child, Pascal – together they turn the house into a budding artists’ community. But despite their dreams of an idyllic way of life creating beauty by the sea, it becomes clear that all is not perfect within their tight-knit community, and that the weight of their secrets could threaten to tear apart their paradise forever…
Review
The Light Within Us is the fabulous new novel from Charlotte Betts, and even more exciting is that this is the first in a trilogy. Set in the last decade of the nineteenth century The Light Within Us is the story of three different women, Edith, Clarissa and Dora who all studied at the Slade Art School. Edith is newly married to fellow student Benedict, but their happiness is short lived as he betrays her during their honeymoon, and she seeks solice with fellow artist Pascal. Back in Cornwall at Spindrift House, Edith, Dora and Clarissa devote their lives to their art, eventually buildng it into an artists community where they are self sufficient. But, when secrets and animosity from the locals come to the for, their artisitc paradise could be in trouble. Can the three friends survive and flourish against the odds.
In the past I have read quite a few of Charlotte Bett’s books, and. love her style of writing, painting a picture with her words. The Light Within Us opens with some of the most beautiful writing I have read. Spindrift House is very much a character in its own right, and Charlotte Betts opens with the most beautiful descriptive prose describing the house and the landscape of Cornwall. There is as much detail put into her characters, with Edith, Dora and Clarissa at the centre. All three are very different, and all face difficult desicions, but they face it together. Dora was my favourite character, she had such a wonderful nature, and being the only one who came from a working class backgroung knew how to cook and look after a home. She always seemed to have a sunny disposition, and a natural maternal instinct even though she feels she will never marry or have children. Clarissa comes across as confident, knowing what she wants, but a traumatic childhood has left her with scars that will never heal. Edith thinks her marriage is perfect, her husband devoted, but she soon learns that marriage is not what she though it was, and that her husband is selfish and vain. Of the three women it is Edith who grows the most, coming from a well of background, with servants and nannies she has to adapt to a life without them, learn to cook and raise her children. What the journey of these three women shows is that against all odds they can learn to fend for themselves, and flourish is a more relaxed setting.
In the acknowledgements at the end of the book Charlotte Betts write how her Granny used to tell her stories of living during Victoria’s reign, during which women had no rights and were just the property of first their father’s and then their husbands including all money and assets they may have. Through Edith, Clarissa and Dora we see how hard it was for women, in marriage they could be pregnant every year, and if you got pregnant out of wed lock, you were disgraced and illegal abortions could kill you. There was also the threat of being sent to an asylum at just the word of their father or husband. This is what makes the story of these women so incredible in this book, they overcome the hurdles put in their way, although they do pay highly for their freedom, something we all take for granted.
Cornwall was the perfect setting for this book. There have been many artists communities in Cornwall over not just decades, but centuries. The light, climate, landscape and beautiful beaches that attract the artists, in many different disciplines. I loved the idea of Clarissa’s jewellery made from sea glass, although again women were not always seen as real artists, their work was seen as infrior. This book is set in a period where the art world was changing, William Morris founded the Arts and Crafts Movement moving towards a more functional art and more wome were coming through. Charlotte Bett’s wrtitng does bring the dramatic Cornwall ladscape to life, through the different seasons, form the high winds blowing across the beaches to the heat of the summer and all the flora and fauna that appear adding to the atmosphere of the book.
The Light Within Us is a book that captivated me from start to finish. This is a book about the friendship, love and the disappointments of the three ficional characters and how they are there for each other whatever happens. I do love a book about the art world, and the commune in Cornwall was the perfect setting to show how art can unite people from whatever backgroung, and that art covers many different disciplines. Rich in detail, full of passion this is a delightful and fascinating read. I really can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the trilogy as the teaser at the end looks amazing.
I’d like to thank Little Brown Books for inviting me on the blog tour in return for my honest review.
