The Country Girl by Sally Tarpey
Genre: Historical fiction, WW1, Sagas
Read: 5th April 2023
Published: 5th April 2023
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
An absolutely heartbreaking and uplifting First World War story of hardship and hope.
1912. Fifteen-year-old Kate Truscott waves goodbye to her family and leaves her small Hampshire village to become a nursemaid to five children she’s never met. Her heart full of hope, she’s looking forward to a new adventure.
Life in town with the wealthy Winton family is very different to anything this simple country girl has known before. Mr Winton is strict but his wife is kindly, and Kate soon settles in. She enjoys looking after her mischievous young charges, and becomes firm friends with Clara, the eldest daughter. At the same time, she can’t help but notice that eighteen-year-old Philip, the eldest son, is so very handsome.
Kate knows that society would never accept a match between a wealthy banker’s son and a lowly nursemaid. So when local gardener Archie asks her to walk out with him, Kate agrees — even though her heart belongs to Philip.
Then war breaks out. Both Philip and Archie enlist in the army and head to France, leaving Kate bereft.
When Kate discovers she’s pregnant, she has no one to turn to. Facing the horrors of the workhouse, Kate’s future looks bleak.
What will happen to Kate as a penniless unmarried mother at a time when women are judged harshly and the men are away at war?
The Country Girl is Sally Tarpey’s debut novel, and is inspired by the true story of her grandfather’s first wife.
Fans of Nadine Dorries, Rosie Goodwin, Dilly Court, Anna Jacobs, Tania Crosse and Dominic Luke will devour this emotional WWI saga
MY THOUGHTS:
As soon as I read the premise for this book, I just had to read it. And I was not disappointed. The story flows like a gentle stream in the form of Dilly Court and Catherine Cookson that soon you find yourself wholly immersed within time and tide, making you not wanting to put it down. At 280 pages, it is a quick read which I read mostly in one sitting. But it is also an easy read with a nice steady gentle pace.
Beginning in 1912, fifteen year old Kate Truscott leaves her family and village of Micklewell to take a job as a nursemaid to a wealthy family with five children - three of whom she will have care of. The Wintons have two other staff - Mrs Bowden, or Mrs B., the cook and Eliza the kitchenhand and maid. Kate finds a friend in Eliza immediately but that is shortlived when Eliza leaves to marry and take up a position as cook in the house in which her new husband Tommy is butler. There are a couple of other kitchenmaids over the years but none she felt as close to as she did Eliza.
One of Kate's duties is to accompany the elder Winton girl Clara on her daily walks. At first, the two are silent companions with the exception of Clara listing off all her upcoming social engagements or fashions she wishes to buy. But after a time the two girls, who are the same age, become friends despite the social divide. And along with her mother Mrs Winton, Clara attends some suffragette meetings with Kate. Times are changing, but are they changing quick enough?
One of the highlights of her employment with the Wintons, besides the children - Thomas and five year old twins Simon and Sophie - is the eldest son Philip who is to attend Cambridge in the coming year. It is obvious there is an attraction but how can she, a lowly servant girl, find happiness with someone of Philip's class? Despite her feelings for him, she sees no future for them. So when she meets Archie Mabbs one morning en route returning from taking the children to school, she begins to walk out with him...though her heart belongs to Philip. She finds herself in a quandary not wanting to lead Archie on but knowing that she cannot be with the man she truly loves.
And then war arrives in September 1914 and both men enlist to fight. Yet when both return on leave, at separate times, it is clear neither man is the same as the young idealistic one who went off to war just months before.
After a few stolen moments and a couple of months later, Kate finds herself pregnant with no one to turn to. She cannot return home to Micklewell and bring shame on her family for being an unwed mother and yet she can no longer remain in the Winton's employment. As soon as she reveals her condition to her employers, she is dismissed immediately. With nowhere else to go, she finds herself in the workhouse where the work is hard and the days are long. But when she learns that her child will be taken from her once weaned, Kate realises she must find another way. But where will she go? With no job, no husband and a babe in her arms, she has run out of options. Or has she?
Quietly in the dead of night, Kate steals herself and seeks the help of the one person she knows she can turn to who will not turn her away. But will it be too late?
I absolutely adored this sweeping story and was totally absorbed from the very beginning. It is such a captivating tale with a beautiful storyline and wonderful characters. It is interesting to note that this story came about when the author was researching her own family history. I was thrilled to read that Sally Tarpey is currently working on a sequel to THE COUNTRY GIRL because I cannot wait to revisit Micklewell and Kate, Albert, Ronnie, Dot, Ada and everyone again.
A thoroughly beautifully engaging tale from beginning to end. I was so enthralled I didn't want it to end. And I can't wait to return again. A stunning debut.
I would like to thank #SallyTarpey, #Netgalley, #JoffeBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheCountryGirl in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
When she’s not writing, Sally can be found enjoying time with her family, striding out in her walking books, battling with weeds on her allotment or planning her next adventure.
thank you so much for supporting the tour and for sharing your review to kick off the tour x
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