That was a shocker for which the 'innocent-looking' grey covers and beautiful binding of this Persephone edition did not prepare me! I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time, but the feeling I'm left with, mostly, is anger. Anger at a system which--historically, at least--punishes women for their sexuality and their ability to bear children. (Well, let's be honest . . . not just historically but still to this day). ( )

This book speaks to a harsh reality. Young girls were sent off to the Lowell mills without anyone to look after them. They were too young and too ignorant to know how the world worked. This story is beautiful and heartbreaking. ( )

Emmeline is sent away from her impoverished family to earn money working in the cotton mills of Lowell, Massachusetts in the 1830's. She was very young, very "country," and very lonely. When her manager takes an unnatural interest in her, she welcomes the attention and has no idea that she should be avoiding him. Nor does she recognize her own pregnancy until it becomes obvious to her landlady. the baby is born and sent away and Emmeline returns to her family in Maine. She keeps her secret for many years and devotes herself to her parents and family. Then one day, when she is in her mid30's, a road crew moves into the area and Emmeline finds herself attracted to one of the men. When her aunt visits to see Emmeline's dying mother, the aunt who found a family to take Emmeline's bastard 20 years before, she pieces together the terrible secret of her marriage. I shouldn't have been surprised by this plot twist, but I was stunned. poor Emmeline! Despite her family shunning her after that, she continued to live out her life on her home place. ( )