A
Weaver’s Web has a simple, basic story line: poor
family, husband makes good, wealth has impact on all family members. And that’s
where simplicity ends. Chris Pearce has done some very skilful ‘weaving’ himself.
From the first paragraph the reader is
immersed in England at the time of the Industrial Revolution with hand
craftsmen losing their livelihood to mechanisation.
Many writers of historic novels either
write their history without checking facts or include long and boring passages
to explain the relevant history. This is definitely not the case with this
book. The historic story line is well researched and flawless and with Pearce’s
creative writing skills it becomes intriguing and fascinating. You will relive
the sights and sounds of Manchester – its people, factories, poverty, grime,
injustices and attempts at revolution.
The believable characters have appropriate
attitudes of the day; like it or not that’s the way it was. You will love or
hate them, cheer them on or want to throttle them. However, you feel about each
individual they will draw some emotion from you.
This is historical fiction at its best.
If you don’t like reading about injustices,
cruelty, male dominance and class discrimination then keep away from good
historic novels that accurately depict the past and the
attitudes of the day. We can’t change history but we can learn from it.
I would also recommend the book to anyone
researching their family history. If you have found ancestors during this
period A Weaver’s Web will give you a
very clear understanding of what life was like for
your forebears, rich or poor.
It is a shame that Chris Pearce experienced
so much difficulty in getting A Weavers’s
Web published because it is an excellent literary work. I would even go so
far to say that it is worthy of inclusion in the curriculum for students of
literature as an example of prose that educates and entertains.
I got to the end and kept flicking my
finger on the Kindle. It finished all too soon. Next book please Chris!
This book was provided to me for free for an honest and unbiased review.
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