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A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
The Tides Between by Elizabeth Jane Corbett
4.0
‘This was real life, not one of her dad’s fairy tales.’
In 1841, fifteen-year-old Bridie Stewart, her pregnant mother Mary and stepfather Alf Bustle are part of a group of emigrants leaving England for Port Phillip in Australia aboard the Lady Sophia. It’s a new start for Alf and Mary, but Bridie is still mourning her dead father. Mary wants Bridie to forget her father, to cast aside childhood and to prepare for adult life in Port Phillip. Bridie, against her mother’s wishes, has hidden in her baggage a gift from her father, a notebook filled with his fairy tales.
Rhys Bevan and his pregnant wife Siân are also travelling to Port Phillip. Rhys realises that Bridie is trying to hide something, and helps her. Thus, begins a friendship between Bridie and Rhys, a refuge for each of them from other concerns, a friendship enriched by story-telling.
As the Lady Sophia travels slowly towards Port Phillip, Bridie makes her own journey into adulthood, into awareness that life is more complicated than she thought. Rhys is crippled at times by claustrophobia, afraid for Siân and for the future. Alf tries to do the right thing for his family, even though his efforts are not always appreciated.
‘But, sometimes, a thing is worth doing, if it means a lot to another person.’
Ms Corbett brings her characters to life amidst the difficulties imposed by the close confines of travel in steerage. There are interesting backstories to learn, there are Welsh fairy tales to consider, and there is tragedy. I enjoyed the fairy tales, was reminded of the difficulties faced by emigrants to Australia in the nineteenth century, and was moved by circumstances and tragedy. While Bridie is the central character, it was the stories of Rhys and Siân that particularly held my attention. And of Alf, a fundamentally decent human being, trying to do his best.
I finished the novel wondering what the future held for the passengers once they arrived in Australia. I’d certainly like to read a sequel!
Note: My thanks to Ms Corbett for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 1841, fifteen-year-old Bridie Stewart, her pregnant mother Mary and stepfather Alf Bustle are part of a group of emigrants leaving England for Port Phillip in Australia aboard the Lady Sophia. It’s a new start for Alf and Mary, but Bridie is still mourning her dead father. Mary wants Bridie to forget her father, to cast aside childhood and to prepare for adult life in Port Phillip. Bridie, against her mother’s wishes, has hidden in her baggage a gift from her father, a notebook filled with his fairy tales.
Rhys Bevan and his pregnant wife Siân are also travelling to Port Phillip. Rhys realises that Bridie is trying to hide something, and helps her. Thus, begins a friendship between Bridie and Rhys, a refuge for each of them from other concerns, a friendship enriched by story-telling.
As the Lady Sophia travels slowly towards Port Phillip, Bridie makes her own journey into adulthood, into awareness that life is more complicated than she thought. Rhys is crippled at times by claustrophobia, afraid for Siân and for the future. Alf tries to do the right thing for his family, even though his efforts are not always appreciated.
‘But, sometimes, a thing is worth doing, if it means a lot to another person.’
Ms Corbett brings her characters to life amidst the difficulties imposed by the close confines of travel in steerage. There are interesting backstories to learn, there are Welsh fairy tales to consider, and there is tragedy. I enjoyed the fairy tales, was reminded of the difficulties faced by emigrants to Australia in the nineteenth century, and was moved by circumstances and tragedy. While Bridie is the central character, it was the stories of Rhys and Siân that particularly held my attention. And of Alf, a fundamentally decent human being, trying to do his best.
I finished the novel wondering what the future held for the passengers once they arrived in Australia. I’d certainly like to read a sequel!
Note: My thanks to Ms Corbett for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith