The Harlot's Progress: Yorkshire Molly - by Peter Mottley

by Charlotte
(East Yorks)

'The Harlot's Progress: Yorkshire Molly' by Peter Mottley

I was sent this book free, to review, by the pulishers, because of the Yorkshire connection.

The novel, a historical story, was inspired by Hogarth's artistic works 'The Harlot's Progress', and it is the first of a trilogy of works by this author on the theme.

The novel follows the fortunes of an innocent Yorkshire lass, Molly, as she steps off the York coach into her new London life, with hopes and dreams of marriage to her cousin.

The book was a great read, a real page-turner, with a plot that sets a thrilling pace - I actually finished reading it in just a few days (that's alongside work, and at a full 363 pages!!)

Within a few pages, the characters really start to come to life, and the reader soon starts to empathise with the heroine, Molly, as she slips unwittingly, and in all innocence, into a lifestyle she never intended... and comes to realise the devastating loss of her cherished hopes for the future.

The environs, characters, action, emotion and thoughts are all vividly described, and really pull you into the story - it's not sugar coated at all! ...but this really brings Molly's world alive to you.

The book is not for those with delicate sensibilities, and it's probably not for you if you are easily offended - but, having said that, the language and scenes are not gratuitous - they are of the time and the place, and help add to the realistic world built around our Molly.

Most of the novel takes place in London, but Yorkshire is constantly in the thoughts of Molly as the representation of her innocence, and her former life: "...I dream of the moors up above York..."

Without trying to give away the plot twists and the ending, the story moves through Molly's fall from grace into a bawdy house brothel, and how she finds friendships, alliances and revenge, leading to notoriety as 'The Cheapside Whore'.

She then falls into a new life as the companion of an elderly gentleman: "...a different kind of transaction". Here she finds not only companionship, but also love, betrayal and hatred.

As it all falls apart, her thoughts again turn to Yorkshire... but needless to say things don't go to plan, and she starts on a new kind of life - living on her wits, and falling into 'witchcraft', becoming the mysterious 'African Sorceress'.

Molly's life then turns into a fight for survival in the face of danger - fearing for her own and her friends' safety - and of vengeance.... what will become of her...???

I really enjoyed this book - fast-paced, thrilling and with a descriptive prowess that really builds the whole world around you as you read...

Very much looking forward to the next in the trilogy!



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Charlotte

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