Overview

The second novel in the Mr Pepys series by popular historical novelist Deborah Swift, featuring the Great Plague Sometimes money costs too much. The Great Plague has London in its grip. As the summer heat rises, red crosses mark the doors, wealthy citizens flee and only the poor remain to face the march of death. Ambitious and attractive, Bess Bagwell is determined her carpenter husband, Will, should make a name for himself and schemes to meet Samuel Pepys, diarist, friend of the King and an important man in the Navy shipyards. But Pepys has his own motive for cultivating Bess, and it's certainly not to benefit her husband. With pestilence rife in the city, all trade ceases. Will is forced to invest in his unscrupulous cousin Jack's dubious `cure' for the pestilence which horrifies Bess and leaves them deeper in debt. Now they are desperate for money and the dreaded disease is moving ever closer. Will Pepys honour his promises or break them?

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9781786154972

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Reviews

Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life... Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined' * Lancashire Evening Post * A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail * Readers' Favorite 5* * PRAISE FOR THE PEPYS TRILOGY: Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines * The Visitor * Excellent book! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and I've really enjoyed this book. Set in the 17th century, the characters are nonetheless highly relatable - they have family problems (deadbeat relatives, embarrassing relatives, strained relationships with parents and children - that contemporary readers can identify with. I also enjoyed the rich social history in this novel. The author did a terrific job of showing how people actually lived in England during this time period -- Netgalley Reviewer This was a very well-written tale, descriptive, exciting, and with exceptionally rendered characters -- Netgalley Reviewer Grabs our attention from the very start and keeps us riveted. We learn what a farthing would buy, what people wore, how guilds were organised and so on, and this is all really interesting. A wonderful read * Books Are Cool Blog * A harrowing, emotional yet satisfying page turner -- Cryssa Bazos, author of <i>Traitor's Knot</i> Swift's re-imagining of the life of Bess Bagwell and what drove her to become one of Samuel Pepys' most enduring trysts is remarkable. Her characters are so alive that you either want to reach out and lovingly save them from themselves or angrily shake them until they realize the messes they are creating. An immersive and rich imagining of a mysterious woman from Pepys' life that will hold readers until the very end. * Historical Novel Society *

Swift's re-imagining of the life of Bess Bagwell and what drove her to become one of Samuel Pepys' most enduring trysts is remarkable. Her characters are so alive that you either want to reach out and lovingly save them from themselves or angrily shake them until they realize the messes they are creating. An immersive and rich imagining of a mysterious woman from Pepys' life that will hold readers until the very end. * Historical Novel Society * A harrowing, emotional yet satisfying page turner -- Cryssa Bazos, author of <i>Traitor's Knot</i> Grabs our attention from the very start and keeps us riveted. We learn what a farthing would buy, what people wore, how guilds were organised and so on, and this is all really interesting. A wonderful read * Books Are Cool Blog * This was a very well-written tale, descriptive, exciting, and with exceptionally rendered characters -- Netgalley Reviewer Excellent book! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and I've really enjoyed this book. Set in the 17th century, the characters are nonetheless highly relatable - they have family problems (deadbeat relatives, embarrassing relatives, strained relationships with parents and children - that contemporary readers can identify with. I also enjoyed the rich social history in this novel. The author did a terrific job of showing how people actually lived in England during this time period -- Netgalley Reviewer PRAISE FOR THE PEPYS TRILOGY: Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines * The Visitor * A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail * Readers' Favorite 5* * Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life... Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined' * Lancashire Evening Post *

Author Information

Deborah Swift is a historical novelist living on the edge of the Lake District, an area made famous by the Romantic Poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge. Before becoming a writer, she had a career as a scenographer and costume designer for theatre and BBC TV. Her first novel, The Lady's Slipper, was shortlisted for the Impress Prize, and she is the author of ten further historical novels including the Women of Pepys' Diary trilogy. Find her at her website www.deborahswift.com.

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