BOOK REVIEW | COERCIVE CONTROL | FAMILY SAGA
Lady Hartley’s Husbands
Life Ambitions Tarnished
In her debut novel, Lady Hartley’s Husbands, Andrea Emblin follows the fortunes of the Meadows family, in particular, Reenie Meadows, a strong-willed child who grows into an ambitious woman. From a carefree childhood in Cornwall, where outwitting her controlling mother is all part of the game, Reenie is heartbroken when the family moves to London. She is forced to leave not only her beloved Cornwall but also the man she loves. It is the 1930s. There are no easy ways to bridge the gap and stay in touch. Although she was the one to move away, she feels abandoned.
Reenie hasn’t lost her ambition, but events harden her shell and make her cynical. As she climbs the social ladder, her mother is delighted, although there is a shift in the power dynamic between the two of them. It is Reenie’s sister who voices her concerns about the path Reenie is pursuing. But both she — and Reenie’s inner voice — are soon silenced.
The move from Cornwall puts the family at the heart of war-torn London during WWII, but it is post-war England and the years towards mid-century that shine a light on Reenie’s skewed view of life, and how the early years shaped her destiny. With family and friends gone, when things take a dark turn, Reenie…
