A review by estherb
The White Hare by Jane Johnson

mysterious medium-paced

4.0

The White Hare captures everything mystical and magical about rural Cornwall.


Set in 1954 Mila and her daughter Janeska (Janey) relocate to Cornwall with her mother, Magda, to start afresh from her ill fated marriage to Dennis in London.

It’s here, they move to a remote southern part of the county; a smell valley not far from Mousehole. As they arrive a white hare leaps before their car, causing Magda to serve and Janey feels a special bond with the animal.

What ensues is a discovery about the house they bought and its previous inhabitants, a sad tale which is slowly uncovered.

Along the way we are introduced to some great women (keziah and Ariadne whom I adored) in more than once sense of the word, which I felt built on the feeling of womanhood which the hare encompassed. 

Lastly Jack, what a sweet, honest man who had Mila’s and Janet’s best interests at heart and who rabbit also seemed to like very much.

As I’m familiar with Cornwall I can imagine this story so clearly in my minds eye, and I’m going to investigate the place it was based on (St Buryan) when I go in a few weeks time.
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