Sonia Velton

An interesting tale set in the Huguenot silk weaving community of London in the 18th century. Sara Kemp arrives in the city with a reference address in hand, but confused by the hustle and bustle of the city, she allows herself to be taken in by a sympathetic older woman. Mrs. Swann is a brothel keeper who drugs the innocent girl and sets her to work. After a customer leaves her near death, Sara runs away, seeking help from Esther Tholer, a master weaver's wife who had spoken kindly to her in the street and sent a Bible to Sara in the brothel. Although she keeps it a secret, Esther's own mother was a reformed prostitute, and she hopes to redeem the girl by offering her a position as her lady's maid. Her only conditions are that Sara remain virtuous and repay the money she was given to purchase her freedom from the brothel.

Esther's other secret is her dream of designing silk patterns for her husband's business. She is a skilled artist, but Elias scoffs at her endeavors and urges her to stick to managing the household. But she persuades Bisby Lambert, a weaver working on his master submission in their garret, to weave her design. As their mutual admiration blossoms, so does Sara's relationship with another weaver, John Barnstable, a rabble rouser inciting the weavers to join in making demands on silk dealers like Elias Tholer. Rebellion, for all involved, has its consequences, changing even the women's lives forever.

I enjoyed Velton's detailed descriptions of the everyday lives of women, households, and the weaver's trade, and her characters were engaging and believable.… (more)

Blackberry and Wild Rose has been well researched. It is set in eighteenth century London amid the Huguenot silk weavers, and tells the story of two women, Esther, the wife of a master weaver, and the other, Sara, a young girl who had been working as a prostitute until Esther helps her to escape that life. This fast-paced story is told from the perspectives of the two strong female characters.

The cover excited me before I'd even started listening to the story. Its design reminded me of the ornate fabrics used in those times.

Esther Thorel's husband, Elias, is a master silk weaver. He would have had more doors opened to him, had he married within the Huguenot community, but he chose to marry against his family's wishes, and accepted that he had to had to take a back seat in all things. The Thorels are childless but his priority is his business, not his wife. Esther longs to create her own silk designs, but Elias dismisses her, telling her she does not understand his business, and should go back to her charitable works.

Sara Kemp is the daughter of a servant. Her mother sends her to London to make her way in the world, giving her the address of someone who will help her settle. Unfortunately, Mrs Swann, a brothel keeper, sees the pretty young girl alight from the coach and lures her to the Wig and Feathers tavern, where she is drugged, robbed and put to work as a prostitute.

While Esther is delivering bibles for Pastor Gabeau, she witnesses a young girl being badly treated by an older woman, and intervenes. This is how Esther first meets Sara, and decides to help her into a respectable position.

I absolutely loved this beautifully narrated audio book, and was enthralled from the first chapter. I was captivated with the comprehensive descriptions of the working of the silk looms which helped me visualise the journeyman weaving while his draw boy controlled the warp thread. I was also interested in the economics of the time, learning about the Indian calicos and cheaper silk imports which threatened the weavers' livelihoods.

Blackberry and Wild Rose was compulsive listening and I'd highly recommend to readers who enjoy historical fiction.… (more)

Set in 18th century London, this story transports you immediately to the world of the Huguenot silk weavers. The descriptions are vivid from the underbelly of London's whore houses to the upper middle class homes of the silk merchants. This novel revolves around two women, Sara Kemp, a prostitute and Esther Thorel, the wife of a very well-respected silk merchant. And although Sara and Esther have very different social stations in life, as women, their choices are dictated by the men around them. I loved this story - great pacing, complex characters and such a compelling story.… (more)