BENGALURU: The ‘opening of letters’ by the protagonist and the devastating consequences that follow, form the crux of Amy Snow, a historical novel by Tracy Rees. Set in Victorian England, the book which has aggressive, strong-willed female characters with weak-willed and shallow male characters, gives a peek into a bygone society with entrenched mores and norms.
For a debutante, Rees has written very well as she moves from past to present effortlessly in this tale of friendship, heartbreaks and societal evils. Even the description of an early 19th century English society, from its lifestyle, social mannerisms, customs, habits and working conditions, is eye catching and interesting.The detailing of the clothes worn during those times and the etiquette as well as the lives of both the haves and the have-nots stand out in the novel and make for a compelling read.
There are a great number of characters in this book which are very colourful and prominent and stay in one’s memory for a long time. The Vennaway family including the couple and their daughter Aurelia as well as the servants working on the estate, be it the cook or the gardener, stand out as they work through bitterness and other events of their lives. Apart from this, when Amy Snow sets out on her journey and meets different characters in different towns, they too add colour to the story.
If some characters are helpful, others are downright abusive but Amy, a strong willed Victorian girl, is on a journey of discovery to find the meaning of her life as she sets herself free from the Vennaway couple.
The storyline is very simple but interesting. Left to perish in the snow on a deserted cold night in the woods near Hatville Court as a baby, Amy Snow has never known love or known the mystery behind her birth. She is rescued by the pretty lady of Hatville Court, Aurelia. But her parents and the people on this grand estate give a very cold welcome and are unhappy with the rescue. She is given shelter very reluctantly and is also despised by the masters and servants alike.
Over the years, as Amy grows up literally in the kitchen, she is brought up by the cook and runs wild in the gardens, hidden from the eyes of the estate owners. She realises that her only friend and ally is the sparkling young heiress Aurelia Vennaway. The attractive and confident heiress is also Amy’s only advocate and therefore, for this abandoned girl, she becomes the light of her life as well as the centre of her existence.
Unfortunately, Aurelia falls sick as she is diagnosed with a heart problem and is not expected to live long. After Aurelia returns from an year long mysterious sojourn, away from Hatville Court, she lives for three more years and both friends become very close despite the mystery of her long absence hanging between them. Amy’s world completely collapses when Aurelia dies..
Orphan Amy is once again alone and she is completely devastated as she is driven out from the estate. Aurelia’s parents neither want to hear about Amy nor see her ever.
But her young benefactor leaves Amy one last gift which is nothing but a bundle of letters with a coded key. When Aurelia’s Will is read, Amy discovers that she has left her only 10 pounds but there is much more, a treasure hunt which once these two girls loved to engage in.
Each of these letters that Amy must find and decipher in fact, leads her to different people and places, then ultimately to the secret, hidden by her friend from her family.
Now Amy leaves the safe confines of her only known refuge in the past 17 years and sets on an unknown trail without any support or friends. But to her surprise, it is a difficult treasure hunt which only Amy can unlock. However, unlocking this puzzle finally changes Amy’s life for the better as she traverses across England, meets people, makes new friends, digs into secrets, unravels unknown details of her friend’s past and tries to understand what Aurelia has left behind. Is it a safe and secure life?
Although the book captures the flavour of Victorian England very authentically, the writing meanders and the description sometimes feels repetitive. The length of the novel could have been reduced. A touch of both Jane Austen and Bronte is seen in the textured details. This book makes for an interesting read only during long weekends or holidays.