Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for my invitation to the tour for The Maids Of Biddenden by GD Harper. Thanks to the author for my copy of the book
‘There is no me; there is no you.
There is only us.’
The Maids of Biddenden is inspired by the real-life story of conjoined twins Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, born in 1100 into a wealthy family from a small Kent village.
Joined at the hip, the sisters overcome fear and hostility to grow into gifted and much-loved women – one a talented musician and song-writer, the other a caring healer and grower of medicinal plants. Entangled in the struggles for power and influence of the great Kent nobles of the time, they achieve much in their lifetimes and leave behind a legacy in Biddenden that survives to this day.
This is the heart-warming and inspirational story of two remarkable women leading one joint life, challenging adversity to become the best they can be.
I am a lover of historical fiction so when I saw this tour I had to join it. The blurb intrigued me straight away. A fictional biography based on actual historical characters and events during the 12th century in Kent, England.
Conjoined twins, Eliza and Mary Chuckhurst where born at a time when conjoined twins were classed as the devil’s spawn and abonimations. People during this time just thought looking at them would put a curse on their lives.
GD Harper has so skilfully blended fact and fiction that I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. This is a 400 page novel, but I was so interested in the twins journey that this story flew by.
The twins spent the first few years of their lives hidden away from everyone. The time came that they could no longer be hidden and Eliza, Mary and their family fought tooth and nail to be accepted by society. The twins may have been conjoined but each had their own personality. The very fact they had to find a way to work as one to achieve what they wanted, shows they had ingenuity too.
Eliza and Mary went from being vilified to revered. Both having differing skills, Eliza is a talented musician and Mary a healer. Helping people and entertaining them too. They spend their lives doing good and become well known too. They even plan a legacy that will go on into the future. That legacy still stands today.
I am a history ‘nerd’ ‘geek’, whatever the word is these days. I have loved history since I was small. This is a book that fascinated me. I have never considered how conjoined twins got through life in times long gone. I was captivated by the twins lives and how strong these women were. Their determination to work together to get were they wanted to be, almost made me proud. The further I read the more I felt nothing would stop these two.
The Maids Of Biddenden is an engrossing inspirational and uplifting tale of two women who beats all odds to become what they wanted. Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction.
Purchase Links
US – https://www.amazon.com/Maids-Biddenden-heart-warming-inspirational-12th-century-ebook/dp/B09ZBKX9S4/
Author Bio
I became a full-time author in 2016, publishing three novels under the pen name GD Harper. I have been both a Wishing Shelf Book Award finalist and Red Ribbon winner, been shortlisted for the Lightship Prize, longlisted for the UK Novel Writing Award and longlisted for the Page Turner Writer Award. The Maids of Biddenden was a finalist in this year’s Page Turner Book Award for unpublished manuscripts, longlisted for the Exeter Book Prize and the Flash 500 Novel Award, and shortlisted for the Impress Prize.
Social Media Links
Facebook: @gdharperauthor
Twitter: @harper_author
Website: http://www.gdharper.com
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 