Sweet Mace

A Sussex Legend of the Iron Times

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Pages: 402

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About this book

At daybreak in a Sussex valley near the sea, Gil Carr picks flowers while thinking of Mace. The surrounding woodland fills with birdsong, described at length as a concert with soloists, instruments and a conductor. This opening gives the historical romance a strong sense of place, lingering over streams, spring flowers and the sounds of the countryside before the tensions between its people come into focus.

Mace cares for Gil, whose ship has sailed, but must also deal with Sir Mark's unwelcome courtship. Her father, the iron founder Master Cobbe, grows uneasy about their guest's intentions, even as his thoughts return to experiments with a howitzer. George Manville Fenn brings together affection, local industry and disputes over authority. The appeal lies in the contrast between the carefully observed natural setting and the pressures surrounding Mace, her father and the seafaring captain.