A Casualty of Grace by Lisa BrownMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Casualty of Grace is a tale about two British children, Oliver and Simon, who are sent from late Victorian England to live in Canada. The orphans end up living on a farm where they have to endure hard labour as well as the intense cold of Canada’s winter, sleeping in a barn. The plight of the two brothers is meant to represent that of many hundreds of children from similar circumstances, such as workhouses and poorhouses, during the years that the British Home Children system was in existence. Oliver’s loyalty and affection towards his younger brother is touchingly told through the various circumstances that they find themselves over the years that lead up to their maturity. It is difficult to read to the end of the story without developing a growing respect and admiration for Oliver, whose courage and insight are believably and skilfully drawn by Lisa Brown. Despite the obvious hardships and tragedy that befall the children the author still manages to include aspects of kindness through the occasional comforting attentions of the farmer’s wife, notwithstanding a tender friendship between the teenage Oliver and Helen a local girl. This reader wound up rooting for the boys and the undercurrent of trust for a more favourable life still to come came through, which I attribute to Brown’s wonderful writing.
Casualty of Grace is a novel of historical fiction that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a story about people and their relationships with others, both kind and cruel; people whose perseverance through harsh circumstances can illustrate just how much strength of character may lead to triumph and hope for the future. It is a satisfying tale of tears and smiles. I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
View all my reviews
RSS Feed
