Book Blurb:
Elizabeth Carne is torn apart by the conflicts of the English class system: local poverty; her love of Henry, a man from "the lower order;" and her role as an heiress.
As a woman without a college education, she struggles to gain credibility in her father's banks as she tries to maintain her family's long legacy of wealth and philanthropy. Amid lies, murder, smuggling, famine, and restrictive social norms, Elizabeth fights for her love of Henry, the local miners, and fisherman. Meanwhile, the failure of the mining industry looms over her like an ominous storm.
Jill George's meticulously researched and gripping story uncovers the joys and sorrows of a brave and brilliant woman's mission to overcome the class system to create a more unified and prosperous region, country, and world.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/thelightamongus
Author Bio:
Jill George, Ph.D., is an industrial psychologist who has worked in the organizational and leadership consulting space for thirty years. As part of this work, she has travelled the world extensively and met with thousands of leaders. She has published several books and many articles on leadership in engaging work cultures. She employs her competency and assessment skills to build deep and intriguing profiles for her characters. Jill has been a lifelong history enthusiast and lover of all things Victorian. She has been thrilled to partner with true historian, John Dirring, Ph.D., of Devon, UK, on this project. Her next novel is called Illuminating Darwin: Arabella Buckley’s Story about the only woman who was a close friend to and discussant with Charles Darwin. Jill lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three teenage children, whom she adores.
Editorial Review:
“It is a good things that you and your family do to aid the less fortunate. You have the spirit of God flowing though you. It is as if a light of goodness shines through you. Through your donations, it is as if you are helping us see there is a light among us.”
For fans of the Poldark series, and lovers of all things involving Cornwall, this beautiful book relays the story of Elizabeth Carne, a fascinating and remarkable 19th-century woman who was ahead of her time and laid the foundation for incredible educational and geological programs during that time period, based in her hometown of Penzance.
In the opening, at fifteen-years-old, she is already a fountain of knowledge, supporting her father, a well-known banker and geologist, spouting forth her opinions and answering questions with very forthright answers on an excursion to St Michael's Mount. This preview of Elizabeth's intellect sets the stage for the entirety of the book, revealing a very strong-minded young woman whose legacy, as her father instills in her, to become the first woman banker of Cornwall, and a forceful voice in the world of geology. Although she is a heiress, she uses her good fortune as a means for philanthropic pursuits, for the betterment of the people of Cornwall, especially the miners, the farmers, and the children who lack in any sort of education. Yet, this pursuit leaves her quite alone, unable to settle into a normal relationship with a man, in particular Henry Pearce, a man below her station but who connects with her on a very deep level.
“The differences in classes create isolation and monotony of thought and feeling, and then prejudice and class differences separate us from justice.” I will look to how much I have learned from Henry, the Freethy family – and yes, even Mr Richards – and also the perceptions of my friend Betsy the baker, the miners and the ball maidens, to enrich my book here and I am all the better for knowing these people and their abilities and perspectives. I see how others in the world could also benefit.
As Elizabeth grows up, and matures, taking on more and more responsibility in the bank, in writing weighty articles about the problems of social inequality and the lack of education, as well as her geological findings, her hasty rejection of Henry has him pursuing and marrying another young lady in the town, a woman who involves herself with some unsavory characters involved in smuggling, a blight upon the Penzance community. Elizabeth, herself, has several run-ins with the main smuggler, yet she is able to maintain her calm and continue shining as a moral and upright citizen whose Methodist upbringing and her own solid visions help her to overcome quite a few tragedies throughout her life. She is determined to uphold her promise to her father to ensure the family's legacy even in the midst of economic hardships (the downturn of the mining industry), unbearable poverty surrounding her, the restrictive society tightened like a corset around women, and the sudden freedom given to her after the men in her life (her father, grandfather, and brothers) depart in one way or another.
I will blend these together as examples for my book. I will entitle it, Country Towns and the Place they fill In Modern Civilization.” I will solicit reactions from Bell and Daldy, publishers in London, and ask them to publish it, if they are favorable. I believe these were the publishers my cousins, the Brontës, used, but I will confirm.
The historical research woven into this tale is astounding, and the educational aspect about this woman whose story might have been lost to time if not for Ms George's dedication for revealing the importance of her life, is quite noteworthy in light of the fact that Elizabeth's cousins, the Brontë sisters in Yorkshire are quite well-known in relation to her story. Ms George is to be commended for bringing Elizabeth's life to the forefront in such a superb narrative. Ms George even gives us an exciting twist in the relationship between Elizabeth and Henry, a fictitious relationship, but one that works well into the storyline involving smuggling rings, lies, and murder, and represents, as the author notes, the true love the people of Cornwall had with the incredible woman. This book is highly recommended.
Nothing in this world made me happier than these cliffs that looked as if a giant had taken an enormous spade or axe and hewn them along the coast like cutting a piece of cake. I wanted to burn this fresh happy day in my memory to recall during times of sadness in the future. I was hesitant to truly feel happiness when it did come along because it seemed profound sadness was always just around the corner. I tried to keep a happy, positive outlook and insisted to myself that a day like today was one of life's jewels.
*****
“The Light Among Us: Cornwall” by Jill George receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence.
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