Author, Liz Shakespeare, was born in Devon and the family stories she grew up with
and the sense of being deeply rooted in the area have, she feels, influenced
her writing.
She draws her inspiration from the North Devon countryside, from the strong
historical identity of the area and the sense of past lives that can be
experienced in any long-inhabited area. She is interested in social history
and particularly in the lives of the less advantaged. A synopsis for each book follows, Liz's books are available from www.lizshakespeare.co.uk
The Turning of the Tide. Young and vulnerable Selina Burman from Clovelly and her two young children are confined in the harsh environment of Bideford Workhouse. Her prospects improve when she meets Dr Ackland, a popular G.P. committed to social change. He employs her as a servant in his own household, despite the doubts of his wife and the Bideford community. Selina's work gives satisfaction, but her search for love and security does not conform to the expectations of a middle class Victorian family and threatens to damage both her own future and Dr Ackland's career. Set in Bideford and Clovelly, this novel draws on newspaper articles, letters and census returns, and powerfully brings to life the factual origins of the story.
The Turning of the Tide. Young and vulnerable Selina Burman from Clovelly and her two young children are confined in the harsh environment of Bideford Workhouse. Her prospects improve when she meets Dr Ackland, a popular G.P. committed to social change. He employs her as a servant in his own household, despite the doubts of his wife and the Bideford community. Selina's work gives satisfaction, but her search for love and security does not conform to the expectations of a middle class Victorian family and threatens to damage both her own future and Dr Ackland's career. Set in Bideford and Clovelly, this novel draws on newspaper articles, letters and census returns, and powerfully brings to life the factual origins of the story.
Fever: A Story from a Devon Churchyard.
How many of us have wandered through a country churchyard and been moved by
the memorials to young children? In this book the author sets out to
discover the truth behind a number of graves dating from just one year in a
nineteenth century Devon village. Her compelling investigation reveals the
harsh reality of life in a small village before the days of effective
medical care. By skilfully weaving social history, research and imaginative
reconstruction she builds a sympathetic portrait of a community in the midst
of adversity. It is a story common to many rural communities; it is
impossible to remain unmoved by the knowledge that this story is true.
The Memory Be Green: An Oral History of a Devon Village
Within living memory village life has changed beyond recognition. Yet the
old ways have not disappeared completely for they survive in the memories of
our older neighbours. In this book men and women born early in the twentieth
century recall a vanished way of life: a time when large families kept a pig
to supplement a simple diet; every drop of water was carried from the
village pump; the whole village turned out to help with the hay harvest and
life was as slow and steady as the horse which pulled the plough.
Reviews of Liz's books can be seen at www.lizshakespeare.co.uk
