Cover Reveal and Editorial Review of "The Secrets They Wrote"

Cover reveal for the new book "The Serets They Wrote" (The Secrets Series) by Jill George - cover design by White Rabbit Arts at The Historical Fiction Company

Book Blurb:

In Victorian England, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, a daring sensation novelist, defies societal expectations to pen the scandalous Lady Audley's Secret. With six children in her care, one on the way, and a controversial partnership with a married man, Mary balances the weight of public scrutiny with her unrelenting drive to tell stories that reflect the raw, untamed truths of women's lives. Yet, the literary world views her audacity with suspicion, questioning whether a woman can wield such narrative power without consequences. As Mary grapples with her place in a male-dominated literary landscape, her resilience and brilliance ignite a legacy far beyond her time.

Decades later, modernist writer Virginia Woolf, a bold voice in her own right, returns to her childhood home in St. Ives. Standing before the lighthouse that inspired her, Virginia reflects on the women who paved the way for her literary ambitions. Among them is Braddon, whose daring to depict the inner lives and struggles of women resonates deeply with Virginia's own desire to reshape the boundaries of fiction based on her own memories. But as Virginia contemplates her creative legacy, she must also face the lingering shadows of her inner battles and the complex relationships between past and present voices.

A tale of defiance, creativity, and the profound connection between two remarkable women, The Secrets They Wrote explores the unbreakable bond of women writers across generations and celebrates their courage to challenge the status quo and the enduring power of their words to reshape the world.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/C698

Author Bio:

Jill George, Ph.D., has recently received an award/accolade from several prestigious editorial reviews as a "Get It" author for her new release Illuminating Darwin: Arabella's Light. She is a historical researcher specializing in Victorian era London and Cornwall, UK. Her writing mission is to rebalance history based on women’s successes and the men who supported them. She does hands-on research of each site mentioned in her books. Her latest novel is Illuminating Darwin: Arabella's Light -a true and grippingly dramatic story about the only woman who was a close friend and book discussant with Charles Darwin. She is currently publishing a historical gothic romance series called, "A Hopeless Dawn" of which book 1, A Hopeless Dawn, is now available! Follow Jill on illgeorgeauthor.com and @jillgeorgeauthor. Jill lives in Pittsburgh, PA, USA with her family.

Editorial Review:

““I held his gaze. “Virtue and morality have their place, Mr. Crawford. But so do complexity and truth. My characters are not angels, but neither are they caricatures. They are women as they are—clever, flawed, desperate, and brave. My characters and settings are both deep and written in detailed prose. What I write is not vile. If that offends your sensibilities, perhaps it says more about you than it does about my work.””

Mary is at the publishers. Waiting. Is her manuscript any good? Will it be accepted? For women writing in the 1800s, those may be two separate questions that are not necessarily sequential. And this is Mary Elizabeth Baddon, with “Lady Audley’s Secret”, introducing the then-revolutionary concept that women are three-dimensional beings with flaws, intelligence and secrets. Definitely flaws… Lady Audley’s personality is far from perfect and the novel is now popularly known as “sensational” literature – in other words, a page turner that had readers of the time agog with amazement.

Decades later (circa 1920s), Virginia Woolf is musing over “To The Lighthouse”, another classic work that highlights that showcases a female author at the top of her profession. But what binds these two authors together? In “The Secrets They Wrote”, Jill George examines the lives of these two greats, and the personal and professional challenges they faced in their respective times. There are men in the story too, some supportive, some not, but it is clear that the two stars of the show are Mary and Virginia, each unconventional (modern readers may wish to substitute the word “determined”) in their wish to write, and each of them attempting to fit in with social expectations to greater or lesser degrees. The importance of marriage appears inescapable; like this reviewer, readers will no doubt compulsively consult Google for the details. One of the great delights of reading historical fiction is surely the rabbit holes the reader willingly descends into as two incredible women come to life and more information is sought.

There is scandal (for the times); Mary has been an actress and Virginia’s personal life caused raised eyebrows. Jill George captures the depth of character of both women; their repudiation of social norms shows their great strength, and is also a tribute to the people who love them and stand by them. This is not only a novel about writing, but also about defiance, and about the trailblazers who have fought for self-determination.

“How long had my mother known she was dying? How long had she carried that knowledge silently, shielding us all? The way Mrs. Ramsay would—letting the worry settle into her bones, never speaking it aloud, never allowing the children to see.

I stopped near an empty bench and decided to sit for a moment. There was a terrible intimacy in fearing death. It bound people together as much as love did—perhaps more. It was why fathers hesitated in doorways, watching their sleeping children as if memorizing them. Why mothers paused before speaking, as if their words could hold back time. Death lingered in silences, in the way a husband and wife shared a glance but never voiced what truly weighed upon them.”

In writing about Victorian times and the early 1900’s, George has used dialogue to great effect, conveying the discrimination and the doubts and fears each woman had to face in order to pursue their dreams. The patronizing words of Mary’s potential (male) publisher will unfortunately not be unfamiliar to many modern women striving to achieve a goal. Success is definitely the best revenge. Both Virginia and Mary are given equal voices and do not overshadow each other.

““The room was dim, the only light coming from the lamp on my desk. A copy of To the Lighthouse lay before me, its pages filled with the culmination of months of thought and labor. Yet, as I gazed upon it, a sense of unease settled in my chest.

I had poured my soul into this work, delving into the depths of consciousness and time.

But at what cost? The toll on my mind had been immense. The waves of depression that had once threatened to consume me had receded, but they were never far, always lurking at the edges of my thoughts.

I closed my eyes, the weight of the decision pressing upon me. To write was to risk my sanity, to expose myself to the very forces that had once driven me to the brink. Yet, to cease writing was to surrender to the void, to let the silence engulf me.”

“The Secrets They Wrote” by Jill George is a surprising and emotional read, exploring the lives and careers of two exceptional women who are connected through a love of writing and a determination to succeed. Each of them have personal struggles, and George superbly balances both their external and internal challenges in this thought provoking and highly readable novel that includes both “complexity and truth”, just as Mary said!

*****

“The Secrets They Wrote” by Jill George receives 4 ½ stars from The Historical Fiction Company

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