Novel set in 1950s HOLLYWOOD and EALING (London)
Fever: a Story from a Devon Churchyard
Location(s): Devon
Genre(s): Historical, Nonfiction
Era(s): Nineteenth century
How many of us have wandered through a country churchyard and been moved by the memorials to young children? In this book the author sets out to discover the truth behind a number of graves dating from just one year in a nineteenth century Devon village. Her compelling investigation reveals the harsh reality of life in a small village before the days of effective medical care. By skilfully weaving social history, research and imaginative reconstruction she builds a sympathetic portrait of a community in the midst of adversity. We hear of strange remedies, the attempts of the clergy to help the stricken village, and the desperate poverty and over-crowding in farm labourers’ cottages – the same cottages which are considered desirable today.
It is a story common to many rural communities; it is impossible to remain unmoved by the knowledge that this story is true.
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