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The Woman in the Shadows

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The Woman in the Shadows

By: Carol McGrath
Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens
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When beautiful cloth merchant's daughter Elizabeth Williams is widowed at the age of 22, she is determined to succeed in the business she has learned from her father. But many are opposed to a woman making her own way in the world, and Elizabeth could have powerful enemies - enemies who know the truth about her late husband.

Then Elizabeth meets kindly, ambitious merchant turned lawyer Thomas Cromwell. Their marriage is based on mutual love and respect...but it isn't easy being the wife of an influential, headstrong man in Henry VIII's London. The city is filled with ruthless people and strange delights - and Elizabeth must adjust to the life she has chosen or risk losing everything.

©2017 Carol McGrath (P)2017 Oakhill Publishing Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage Biography England
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Bought this book on a bit of a whim and was very pleasantly surprised! It's not my usual genre but I was intrigued and then totally captivated by it. The book is not set around one particular event or built around one steady plot - rather, it's like a diary that jumps back and forth between several years. It details everyday Tudor life and the slow but steady rise of Thomas Cromwell through the eyes of his wife, Elizabeth. The author describes things like running a household, religion, weddings, births, deaths, politics etc. I knew very little about the time period beforehand but I soon became totally immersed. Everything is so perfectly and easily described and the language is never flowery or over-indulgent and is never dull or repetitive. I felt like I really knew and liked all the characters. I am so glad I took a chance on this book, it felt like an indulgent treat!

A great surprise!

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Interesting to learn of the woman behind the great Thomas Cromwell. The ending was unexpected and leaves part of subjects life story untold (unless there is a follow up book)

A wife's lot cut short.

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I dont want to be nasty to the narrator but reading the burning house bit sounded like she was describing a lovely picnic. I hated this book and would like my money back

rubbish romanticised

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