by Meg RosoffRandom House
~ Review in Halifax Herald, October 2010
The day before her wedding, Pell suddenly sees the life of drudgery and dreariness that will be her future. Poverty in 18th century working class England is not kind to women and Pell sees the broken spirit of her mother clearly. Her own spirit rebels and she flees in the night, taking Jack, her horse, and at the last minute her little brother who refuses to be left behind. Her only plan is to head for the Salisbury Horse Fair, where she is sure she can make some money.
Pell has an unusual talent - an intuitive understanding of horses, akin to a ‘whisperer’. It is this talent that catches the eye of a horse buyer. They strike a deal, but the buyer swindles Pell of the promised money. Her brother and Jack become lost in the chaos after the fair and Pell is left with nothing. Her travels take a more desperate turn as she embarks on a search to recover those things most precious to her, and her money.
The Bride’s Farewell is a romantic adventure. Pell is a feisty heroine who would have held her own beside Nellie McClung or Emily Stowe, had time and circumstance allowed. Rosoff’s writing is wonderfully visual, conjuring the reality of poor houses and the lives of the working class poor. “... by the time Pell turned ten she and Lou had an expertise in stretching ends past straining point in an every-hopeful and ever-futile attempt to make them meet.”
At the same time, Rosoff infuses her novel with love and laughter, in spite of the bleakness of everyday life. From beginning to end is a flow of horses, as they are bought and sold, worked, ridden and loved. Horses were an integral and essential part of eighteenth century life and Rosoff perfectly captures the magnificence of these creatures she so obviously loves. And it is Rosoff’s beautiful imagery that leave her readers holding their breath, hoping the movie will come soon.
Meg Rosoff has written three previous novels and is the winner of the Carnegie Medal for her novel Just in Case. She lives in London, England.
