I’m very grateful to fellow author and blogger, Luanne Castle, for her 5-star review of Louisa, an Historical Novel.

You can read it, and the comments, on Luanne’s site here:

Review of Louisa, a Powerful Historical Novel about Being Born a Woman | Luanne Castle: Poetry and Other Words (and cats!)

And below I have featured it in full:

After reading Australian writer Gwen Wilson’s memoir I Belong to No One, I was eager to read her new historical novel, Louisa, based upon the life of her great-grandmother. I certainly can see how Gwen inherited traits of a desire for independence, strength, and a fierce spirit from her ancestor.

Louisa was born in England in 1855 to a successful Anatomical Bootmaker and his wife. When her father passed away, Louisa was 17 years old. She was inspired by her mother’s insistence on running the family business herself, even though it was frowned upon for a gentlewoman to do so. Louisa herself had dreams of independence and turned down two marriage proposals before shocking her family by emigrating. The new land of Australia beckoned her.

All Louisa’s idealistic plans for herself to become a teacher with no need to marry come crashing down around her as circumstances and cultural norms constantly dictate her woman’s place in society. Her life is very difficult, and at times it seems that Louisa will never be happy because as a woman she has no legal rights.

This theme is brought home at the first job she takes. She signs on as a so-called governess in a remote outpost where she witnesses how powerless a married woman could be, living under the thumb of her husband. The tragedy that occurs foreshadows later events in Louisa’s life.

The book addresses marriage, love, romance, domestic abuse, hypocrisy, single mothers, “illegitimate” children, and the role of women—all under the umbrella of Victorian Australia and England. I found the book to be well-written and very engaging. I didn’t want to put the book down and eagerly looked forward to “what comes next.” I find myself still going back to the book, thinking about feisty Louisa and the other women in her life. You will not want to miss this book.

I understand we are going to get a sequel to Louisa, Florence & Lucy, based upon the lives of Louisa’s daughters and focusing on what it was like to be of illegitimate birth. Gwen Wilson is also promising a companion nonfiction work where we will learn where Wilson’s research of her family history intersects with the novels. I can’t wait to read them!

If any of you have read Louisa, and use Goodreads, I’d delighted if you would

post your review there as well.

Reviews are also possible on the publisher’s website, and on Amazon.

Every little bit helps enormously.