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There are currently 27 member reviews
for Accidents of Providence
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Bonnie B. (Port St. Lucie,, FL)
A Captivating Love Story and Tragedy
The year is 1649 and England is fraught with political turmoil. Different political parties fight for power and war is raging. The author renders the ambiance of London well - the stench, poverty, turmoil and chaos.
Rachel is a glove maker's assistant and finds out that she is pregnant. She has been having an affair with a married man that already has 14 children. English law states that if a woman kills her child after giving birth, she is to be put to death. After Rachel's baby is born, her boss sees her walking to a deserted area carrying a bundle and follows her. She sees Rachel burying something. The next day, her boss digs up what she finds to be an infant's grave and reports Rachel to the authorities. A trial ensues.
The book is very captivating. My only criticism is that there is too much political information in it, as though the author used her dissertation as the background for the story and added the novel's most interesting aspects - Rachel's pregnancy, her love affair, the trial - as an afterwards. Despite this, most of the book was riveting and I think it deserves a high '4'.
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Deanna W. (Port Jefferson, NY)
Well Researched Historic Fiction
I really enjoy historical novels. Having read Fingersmith and The Dress Lodger, I was looking forward to reading this book. It has all the elements one could want in an historic novel - a secret love affair - a crime - investigation public trail and a surprise twist at the end.
Perhaps too much of the novel was spent on the ideology of the Levelers and the Puritans.
Over all, an enjoyable and informative read.
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Catherine M. (Grand Forks, ND)
Accidents of Providence
Stacia Brown’s "Accidents of Providence" follows two significant storylines. The main narrative details the life of Rachel Lockyer, an unmarried glove maker who finds herself pregnant at a time in history when all women were marginalized and those unmarried and pregnant were further disdained by society and punished harshly for their unfortunate circumstances.
Another storyline, which is intertwined with Lockyer’s, is that of the Levellers, a socialist political group advocating legal equality (not necessarily for women, though) and religious tolerance. William Walwin, the father of Rachel’s unborn baby, is actively, albeit hesitantly at times, involved with this group.
The story moves through Rachel’s pregnancy, her relationship with William Walwin, the investigation of the events surrounding her baby’s death, her trial for violating “An Act to Prevent the Destroying and Murdering of Bastard Children", and the decline of the Leveller’s influence in 17th century England.
Overall, this is an absorbing book; however, I could see no reason for Rachel to be in love with William Walwin, an insipid and uninspiring character at best.
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Carol N. (Indian Springs VIllage, AL)
Accidents of Providence
This books was a quick read for me, however, I felt it lacked something in the telling of the story. It was obvious that the author did a great deal of research into the time period and her details were very vivid. I thought the main characters lacked some development and never did get that interested in their story. I would have rather seen some development of the lives of the main characters rather than some of the graphic descriptions she did have of animal treatment.
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Kim L. (cary, IL)
No accident
Very enjoyable read. I could not put this book down. I finished it in two days. I liked the history lesson, and the characters were very believable. The ending had an interesting twist.
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Sherri A. (westbrook, ct)
Accidents of Providence
This novel was just...ok for me. I couldn't really connect with the characters and at times it felt like a fictionalized thesis...I guess I was expecting more; oh well.
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Marie A. (Warner, NH)
Accidents of Providence
The author does a good job in referencing history and in presenting characters--some based on real people who lived in London during the 17th Century and other fictitious characters who fit in and complement the story.
The story is woven around the Puritan assumption that a woman's sexuality was not hers to do with what she wished ergo Rachel Lockyer's dilemma and its effects on members of her community.
If a book group were to select ACCIDENTS OF PROVIDENCE as a choice, the title could act as a springboard for discussion. How interesting would that be?
Though I found the book interesting in its topic, I did not find it remarkable in its presentation.
