The Trespass [Paperback]

Barbara Ewing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2003

1849. At sixteen, Harriet Cooper has only one person keeping her from ruin, her older sister, Mary. Their father, Sir Charles, is obsessed with his youngest child and because their mother is dead it is Mary who keeps watch over Harriet's bedroom door. But when Mary dies in London's cholera epidemic, Harriet becomes a prisoner in her own home, her father would rather she acted as his wife than his daughter and she can see nothing but horror before her. It seems impossible, but her only escape route is to flee after her cousin Edward who has recently emigrated to the new colony of New Zealand. Sheltered as her life has been, Harriet discovers untapped reserves of bravery and courage and manages to get herself on a boat bound for Wellington. But as soon as her father realises what she has done, he chases her across oceans and uncharted waters to the other side of the world, where thousands have gone seeking a new life and where Harriet thought he would never find her.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This historical novel presents a somewhat melodramatic view of life in 1849 London. Both London and the novel are thick with excrement, vomit, social oppression, cholera, and sex crimes. Harriet, a wealthy victim of incest in mourning for her beloved sister, flees London for a clean start in New Zealand, where her favorite cousin has just emigrated. Her crazed father and two gentlemen suitors follow closely behind. Along the way, both Harriet and her suitors befriend "lower-class" women and learn the plight of the poor. It's interesting that in a novel that argues so stridently for women's rights, the main character's only qualities seem to be that she is pretty and quiet. Despite the rather prurient descriptions of Harriet's father's intentions toward her, and the somewhat heavy-handed historical allusions (a character just happens to be friends with Charles Darwin, another is named for Mary Wollstonecraft), the adventure is fast paced and enjoyable. The author's point about the historical roles of women and the poor and the connection between them is also well taken. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'A cracking good story told with verve and assurance.' PUBLISHING NEWS 'Packed with period atmosphere, this is a stirring tale.' WOMEN & HOME 'Expertly executed.' MIRROR

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown P/B; paperback / softback edition (July 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0751533904
• ISBN-13: 978-0751533903
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 7.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #670,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historical, August 29, 2003

By 

Annette Gisby "agisby" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Trespass: A Novel (Hardcover)

In the London cholera epidemic of 1849, MP Sir Charles Cooper is

worried for his youngest daughter, seventeen year old Harriet, and

resolves to send her away to the country until the danger has past.

Harriet is pleased to get away from her father, but also worried that

he won't send her elder sister, Mary, with her. Isn't she in danger

from the cholera too? (More danger than either of them know, for Mary

has been helping a doctor treat the cholera patients in the poorest

parts of London.)

Harriet enjoys her stay in the country with her cousins, and wonders

at the easy way the family has with each other, for there is a dark

secret at her London home, one she has no words for, because how can

a young lady speak of the unspeakable?

Harriet plans a daring escape to New Zealand, following in the footsteps

of her cousin, for surely even her father's reach cannot get so far

as New Zealand?

This book is excellent, with a little dash of history thrown in now and

then, but without turning the novel into a history book. The main

emphasis is on the characters, and what characters they were. So

realisitic and evolved. I was on tenterhooks the whole time wondering

of Harriet could ever escape.

At a time when women had no money of their own (unless they were lower

class and could work), they were owned first by their fathers and

then by their husbands, and were not even allowed to work, how could

a young girl escape her terrible fate?

"Everything you say is yours, belongs to me, is provided by me,

everything, every breath that you take belongs to me. I am your

father. And as you well know you owe me absolute obedience."

I devoured this book in two days, you just have to keep reading to

find out what happens next. With a wealth of historical detail and

well drawn characters, it's one you'd want to read again.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of The Chosen.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!!!, April 25, 2005

By 

L. Harbour "book worm" (fort worth ,tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Trespass: A Novel (Hardcover)

This is one of the best books of historical fiction I have ever read.The characters are so belivable you feel you have been transport in time and are part of their world. I read this book in two days, much to the happiness of my children who orded takeout for dinner 2 nights in arrow. (they never get takeout)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow..., August 27, 2004

By 

Annie "bookwishes4" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Trespass: A Novel (Hardcover)

That is what the cover of this little known book should say. I am a big fan of historical fiction and The Trespass was one of the best books in this genre I have ever read. I was hooked right from page one and the story never lost my interest. I felt like I was right there with this young girl Harriet, while she was trying to get away from her father and her life in London.