There’s no shortage of rancor lately from
opposing segments of the political spectrum. And there’s nothing new about
that. Regency era politics were just as acrimonious. The Morning Chronicle (the Whig paper) espoused views opposed to
those in The Morning Post (conservative).
The Prince Regent was booed in the street, and caricaturist James Gillray depicted
him, and others, in monstrous terms, the wild exaggeration a criticism of their
personalities.
In my book A Radical Arrangement, being reissued
tomorrow, this political divide causes a host of complications. Timid,
sheltered Margaret Mayfield has been repeatedly warned about her parents’
radical Whig neighbor Sir Justin Keighley. Indeed, she sees him as little short
of a devil. When he speaks to her on a garden path, she panics, runs away,
trips and falls. A bewildered Sir Justin is discovered kneeling beside a woozy
and disheveled Margaret. Her skirts have hiked above her knees!
Margaret’s
puritanical parents insist they must marry, no matter how little they wish to.
They see no other choice for their daughter – even though they hate everything
Sir Justin stands for. Goaded to rebellion by this unfairness, Margaret finds
her inner steel and runs away from home. Not only that, she shoots Sir Justin when she believes he’s
pursuing her. But then she discovers that he had no intention of bowing to her
parents’ decree, and she feels honor bound to nurse him back to
health. Trapped together in a small coastal inn, they clash, converse, and
gradually discover that polar opposites can be radically beguiling.
What a great premise! People who get to know each other beyond the superficial prejudices usually find more in common than they ever thought possible. If only we could start on that footing. Best of luck with the book sales!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! This sounds like a fabulous read, Jane. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteGreat blurb, very intriguing. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, folks!
ReplyDelete