Set in 1290, this novel follows the daily life of Catherine, a high-born teenager living in Lincolnshire, England. Through her personal diary entries, she documents her resistance to her father’s attempts to marry her off to wealthy suitors for financial gain. Catherine uses tactical disobedience, such as blackening her teeth or feigning madness, to sabotage potential matches. The narrative details medieval domesticity, including spinning, embroidery, household chores, and the medicinal use of herbs, while highlighting the restricted agency of women in feudal society.
Young adult readers interested in historical realism read this book to understand the visceral, often unglamorous reality of the Middle Ages. It appeals to those who want a protagonist who challenges social hierarchies through wit and stubbornness. The reader gains a grounded perspective on how individual personality clashed with rigid class and gender expectations in the thirteenth century. It provides a clear look at historical social structures without sanitizing the era’s lack of hygiene or personal autonomy.
Clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1994
- Language
- EN
