Novel set in USA, VIETNAM and JAPAN
Forgiveness

Location(s): Derbyshire
Genre(s): Historical, Crime, Fiction
Era(s): Nineteenth Century
It is 1863. ELIZABETH ‘BESSIE’ GOODWIN, a young woman of conscience and spirit, lives with her grandfather, CAPTAIN FRANCIS GOODWIN, at Wigwell Grange in Derbyshire. In August Bessie is stabbed to death by GEORGE TOWNLEY, to whom she had been betrothed, when he discovers that she has fallen in love with a young clergyman whose identity George is unable to ascertain but who we know as the REVEREND WILLIAM YOUNG. After the murder George asserts, to general incredulity, that his actions are morally justified.
SAMUEL LEECH, a small-time Derby solicitor and a habitual worrier, takes on the thankless task of representing George. After an eventful trial George is found guilty and sentenced to hang. Bessie’s maid, ANN POYSER, then visits Samuel to tell him about a cryptic note given to her by Bessie in which she appears to doubt George’s sanity. Francis has destroyed the note and sworn Ann to secrecy. Fortified by Ann’s disclosure Samuel discovers a legal loophole which he then uses to prevent George from being hung. Samuel is the target of intense public recrimination. He worries about decisions he has made in the case. In the moment of his historic triumph, Samuel feels unable to celebrate. A year later George commits suicide in Pentonville, having been transferred there from Bethlem Hospital after he was found to be sane after all. Francis dies a day later. Samuel worries that he is responsible for George’s death.
Nine years after the murder, Samuel is challenged by his eldest son FREDERICK LEECH, a newly-qualified barrister, to explain his role in the case. He does so via a series of frank and self-critical letters. In the novel Samuel’s letters to his son are interleaved with a third person, present tense account of Bessie falling in love with William. Frederick is shocked at aspects of his father’s conduct of the case. He suspects that Samuel developed feelings for George’s mother MARY TOWNLEY and that this influenced his conduct of the case. This leads to a rift . Father and son later resolve their differences whilst visiting Bessie’s neglected grave and censored memorial.
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