This is the 2nd of the 3 novels written about the Elizabeth Canning
case in the 20th century. Unlike Tey's Franchise Affair, Lillian de la
Torre an 18th century scholar attempts to recreate the mid-18th
century by using as much of words used at that time in court, in
journals, in letters. Not as polished or compelling as the Tey 20th
century Franchise Affair (by a professional novelist), but though it's
obvious de la Torre has decided Elizabeth lied (but cannot find any
transgressive sex, or any evidence Elizabeth was anywhere but the
attic she claimed), de la Torre brings home what it was to live in
18th century poverty, no connections, mostly illiterate-- and today we
may add disabled from autism, though very much protected by her
mother. I am looking forward to her portraits of Fielding and others
...
I think Jane Austen would have known of this case. It's intriguing to
imagine what she might have thought, how she might have put it. She
sided with Caroline "because she was a woman".
It arrived yesterday, placed on my stoop ... The world I live in is
made up of two sets of people. Those who deliver things, and those who
accept delivery
It's not intriguing (choose another word) that today in the US senate
a man has been nominated for one of the most responsible and
consequential agencies or departments in the US govt and will probably
be accepted despite his manifest lack of any experience, and
occasional incompetence precisely because among his many vices is that
of sexual predation
Ellen
Ellen Moody