Set against the backdrop of English Civil War between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, news of these political issues is slow to reach the mire. With her husband missing feared drowned, Alinor is in the unenviable position of being neither a widow nor a wife and is forced to take counsel from her brother. I am a healer and a finder of lost things.ĭescended from generations of wise women, Alinor is constantly treading a fine line between healing and helping and being accused of witchcraft by locals who love to gossip. I can draw a tooth and set a bone, cut out a sore and heal an ulcer, but I do nothing else. I used to have my licence, when the bishop was in his palace and could grant a licence - before he was thrown out and ran away.

She also works at the nearby mill with her daughter, and earns money where she can.Īlinor describes how she makes a living on page 27: Struggling to scratch together a living, Alinor is a midwife and uses her skills with herbs to heal the sick and injured in her district. Hell yes! Called the Fairmile series, it all starts with Tidelands.Īlinor lives in poverty with her two children, having seemingly been abandoned by her abusive fisherman husband. Spanning more than two centuries, this series will show how regular, everyday women shape history. In this new series, Philippa Gregory is going to be tracing generations of the same family through their lives beginning in 17th century England, and following them all the way to Europe and the United States. Set in England 1648, this is a brand new series from one of my favourite historical fiction authors. Tidelands by Philippa Gregory is my most anticipated new release for 2019 and I was excited to get my hands on it.

Tidelands book summary