The Sacred River by Wendy Wallace

In Wendy Wallace’s first novel, The Painted Bridge, the heroine was imprisoned by her devious husband in a mental asylum. At 23, Harriet, the heroine of The Sacred River, is similarly held captive, in this case by her asthma. The 1880s London winter threatens her every breath, and being a self-taught scholar on all things Egyptian, Harriet urges her doctor to recommend to her parents that warmer climes are vital to her health, and only Egypt will do.

Harriet’s mother, Louisa, has any doubts removed by a visit to a spiritualist, leaving her father to find them a house in Alexandria and a sensible travel companion. His sensible sister, Yael, is eventully persuaded.

Fearing she will never see England again, Harriet is surprised when a tarot card reading with her shipboard companion, Mrs Cox, offers the promise of marriage and children, and that she will find her future husband on the boat. The obvious candidate is Eyre Soane, a handsome young artist, but he has his own agenda – one of revenge. He has recognised Louisa, who many years before had been a model for his artist father.

Weaving together events from the past with Harriet’s dramatic recuperation in Egypt and Yael’s discovery of a new purpose to her life, The Sacred River is a journey of discovery for three very different women. Egypt gives them a chance to step out of a rut, as well as providing a superbly exotic backdrop to the story. Wonderful characters and a strong sense of narrative drama round out a brilliant reading experience.

Posted by JAM

Catalogue link: The Sacred River