Description

An historical novel set at the time of The Great Plague in London. It conveys how the atmosphere in London changes from a disbelief that the Plague is anything serious, to the full-blown horror of the death carts and being locked up – in effect to die – if your house is suspected of infection. You be going to live in the city, Hannah? Farmer Price asked, pushing his battered hat up over his forehead. Wouldn t think you d want to go there Times like this, I would have thought your sister would try and keep you away. Hannah is oblivious to Farmer Price s dark words, excited as she is about her first ever trip to London to help her sister in her shop The Sugared Plum , making sweetmeats for the gentry. Hannah does not however get the reception she expected from her sister Sarah. Instead of giving Hannah a hearty welcome, Sarah is horrified that Hannah did not get her message to stay away – the Plague is taking hold of London. Based on much research, Mary Hooper tellingly conveys how the atmosphere in London changes from a disbelief that the plague is anything serious, to the full-blown horror of the death carts and being locked up – in effect to die – if your house is suspected of infection. A brilliant new departure from this best-selling author. Mary Hooper is another writer to watch The Independent