"Let us promise ourselves," she said, "never again to obstruct each other's wishes, never again to allow quarrels to prevent us from working in harmony. We shall speak with one voice, be of one mind, and agree the one thing we are doing next".
"We were observers of each other's world and it was wonderful these worlds were different. God ordained that our bodies were bound together, but not our minds. Our minds soared off in different ways, giving us a degree of freedom from each other".
The Maids of Biddenden by G.D. Harper is a thought-provoking and moving historical novel set in the early 12C. The novel is inspired by the local history of Kent (some historians dismiss the story of the Maids of Biddenden as the folk myth).
Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst are sisters and conjoined twins, known as the Maids of Biddenden. They were born in 1100 into a wealthy family from a small village in Kent.
Joined at the hip, they are not expected to live long beyond babyhood. Their mother dies in labour, and the distraught father sends the babies to the care of Malling Abbey.
Mother Avicia is appointed the prioress of Malling Abbey. She is elated, and also distressed to discover the abbey's dark secret. She prays for strength before meeting the twins.
The sisters are cared for by the nuns. One of the nuns, Sister Agnes, goes beyond and above the call of duty. She is kind, compassionate and there is a special bond between her and the twins. Sister Agnes is very fond of Mary and Eliza, whose whole world is inside the four walls of their room, with a few playthings being their possessions.
Sister Agnes confides in Mother Avicia, "They are remarkable beings... When on their onw, they are in constant discussion with each other. Even Mary, who is quiet in the presence of others, has a lively tongue when alone with her sister. They debate, explain, question each other every waking moment of their day. The smallest grain of learning is seized upon and expanded by their inquisitive minds".
Mother Avicia's predicament is to decide the fate of the twins. Now that they are grown, they cannot be hidden indoors forever. The money paid by their father is not enough, and the abbey cannot provide the reliable care. Yet, if they are sent into the community, they might become victims of the ignorant people.
She tells the nuns' assembly, "The Maids are innocent of all sin, yet they spend their life with no more freedom than a caged animal. As long as they are on this Earth, they should be loved, and be allowed to flourish and grow, We need to plan for their freedom, that they might see even a little of the world outside these four walls".
The sisters have to overcome hostility, aggression and prejudice within their close family and the community. Amazingly, they will become a talented musician and song-writer and an inspirational herbalist and healer.
Set against the vividly-drawn backdrop of the political and social changes in the society, their story is heartwarming and poignant at the same time. Creative and spirited, the young women find themselves entangled in the dirty world of politics, from the local nobility in Kent all the way up to the Royal court.
Despite the circumstances of fate and power games of the local nobles, they manage to achieve so much and leave behind a legacy which survives to this day at Biddenden.
"When we were children we had dreamt of being the same as everyone else. As we got older, we dreamt of being special. Now we simply wanted live out our days in harmony with those around us".
The main protagonists, Mary and Eliza, are individuals with their own hopes and aspirations, who are in sync with each other. They are not idealised, but complex characters. When they were little, they presumed that one day they would be "splitted".
Young Mary is a bit of a bully towards her shy sister. Growing up, the psychological pressure of doing everything together makes them resentful and even bitter towards each other. As the story unravels, you observe the development of their personalities and strengthening of their relationship, as well as the acceptance of each other's different desires and ambitions.
The author is very convincing in exploring this unique condition, the everyday life, the difficulties of being accepted, their physical differences. It is done sensitively and sypathetically.
The Maids of Biddenden is a really special book, which takes a reader on a journey back to the 12th C. It's an intriguing tale set against a fascinating period of history, with wonderful female protagonists. An evocative read which will keep you captivated, a powerful story, with a fabulous sense of place and historical period.
Purchase Links
US - https://www.amazon.com/Maids-Biddenden-heart-warming-inspirational-12th-century-ebook/dp/B09ZBKX9S4/
This post is part of the blog tour for The Maids of Biddenden.
Many thanks to G.D. Harper, Ginger Cat and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!
Author Bio –
I became a full-time author in 2016, publishing three novels under the pen name GD Harper. I have been both a Wishing Shelf Book Award finalist and Red Ribbon winner, been shortlisted for the Lightship Prize, longlisted for the UK Novel Writing Award and longlisted for the Page Turner Writer Award. The Maids of Biddenden was a finalist in this year’s Page Turner Book Award for unpublished manuscripts, longlisted for the Exeter Book Prize and the Flash 500 Novel Award, and shortlisted for the Impress Prize.
Social Media Links –
Facebook: @gdharperauthor
Twitter: @harper_author
Website: www.gdharper.com
https://www.instagram.com/gdharperauthor/
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