One review on 07 Aug 2025

First Published: 2020

Fiction

Islands of Mercy

Author: Rose Tremain 

Summary: Two doctors in Bath 19th Century and the daughter of one who is suited by the other, and her aunt, and the keeper of the tea shop who becomes becomes involved.

Publisher:
Vintage
Date first read: Thu 7th Aug 2025

Format:   Kindle

Catalogued: 7th Aug 2025

Synopsis

No synopsis available

Reviews

Definately a good read

by rogerco on Thu 7th Aug 2025.

Quality writing evoking the context through a modern eye. Set in Bath, London and Sarawak the scenes with Rajah William Savage in Sarawack are the least convincing, but moderately entertaining.

Janes Aunt Emmeline and lover Julietta seem ahead of their time but are probably not - just not what we expect from Victorians. Jane as the strong independent minded Victorian lady reminds one of the story of Emily Hoibhouse a few years later.  Her suitor, the younger doctor Valentine Ross is simply despicable in every way. Clorinda the tea shop propietor is plausible, as is Jane's dad, the older doctor in the partnership.

A good interveaving of their separate tales