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Cynthia Harnett
This is a story of the wool trade in the late 15th century. It focuses mainly around Nicholas, the son of a major wool merchant as he tries to uncover a mysterious plot. It also features his budding friendship with Cecily who he is betrothed to early in the book, this would be a real culture shock to modern children as she is only 11 at the time, although the betrothal is planned to be lengthly. This relationship, and that of Nicholas to his mother are really well done. Nicholas's relationship with Cecily is not over romanticised, being young (he is little older than her) they largely view it as friendship. His mother seems somewhat overbearing and demanding for Nicholas in much of the book but in a lovely scene when he has just found out he is to be betrothed she quietly pulls him in for a hug which gives much greater depth to her character. She also gains more depth when Nicholas's father, otherwise a good and thoughtful man, casually talks to Nicholas of the need to beat your wife - the openness of this a clear historical cultural difference. By Nicholas's actions he clearly shows that he views this advice with at the least scepticism.
It is one of the great challenges of historical fiction to write characters that are of their time and to give us a window into that time without condoning that to a modern child, particularly when they are reading alone. In terms of gender, Harnett does this well, showing various ways to interact and having conflicting views of relationships - this is done subtly but is there. She doesn't walk this line quite so well with nationality, the main adversaries are the Lombards, money lenders and foreigners and while there are many differences of opinion about them the main character is inherantly suspicious of them as foreigners. I feel there was space for a more complicated ending that would have encouraged children to challenge the assumptions made about who is and isn't trustworthy.
Overall though it is a lovely book, Harnett really focuses in on a myriad of historical details. I particularly liked the detail on the objects used, pulling them out in illustrations. In the afterword she goes on to say that many of these objects are able to be seen at the V&A and wouldn't that be exciting as a child, or adult! This is similar to the approach of the excellent History of the World in 100 Objects the bbc produced, I am sure it is something Cynthia Harnett would have loved. This detail is also there in terms of geography with maps and plans of journeys taken and references to parallels with the modern day locations made in the afterword.
I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the wool and cloth trade. I think lots of children would love the specificity of this knowledge, particularly if local to the Cotswolds where the book is set. I really enjoyed a visit recently it Witney Blanket Hall and the town museum, this focus in on a particular trade always makes me think about the sense of community around those trades (Sabotage at the Forge is another that does this) and how we can recreate that in a modern world. I increasingly find myself feeling that lots expect it to be about work but that it should be around hobbies and pride in the building up of shared knowledge about our particular interests. Like Alan Garner, Barbara Willard and many others this has a strong sense of place and it is interesting to consider how our sense of place changes when it is no longer, to anywhere near the same extent, defined by the trade of that place, Garner of course offering an alternative conception of what defines a place as myth and history rather than present trade.
The plot was interesting because it wasn't so much about who was up to something but how to do anything about it and the balance of when to bring grown-ups into the loop. This will feel a very familiar dilemma to most children and will be one they all have opinions on.
Written by Jack.
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