A Weaver’s Web has a simple, basic story line: poor family, husband makes good, wealth has impact on all family members. And that’s where simplicity ends. Chris Pearce has done some very skilful ‘weaving’ himself.

From the first paragraph the reader is immersed in England at the time of the Industrial Revolution with hand craftsmen losing their livelihood to mechanisation.

Many writers of historic novels either write their history without checking facts or include long and boring passages to explain the relevant history. This is definitely not the case with this book. The historic story line is well researched and flawless and with Pearce’s creative writing skills it becomes intriguing and fascinating. You will relive the sights and sounds of Manchester – its people, factories, poverty, grime, injustices and attempts at revolution.

The believable characters have appropriate attitudes of the day; like it or not that’s the way it was. You will love or hate them, cheer them on or want to throttle them. However, you feel about each individual they will draw some emotion from you.

This is historical fiction at its best.

If you don’t like reading about injustices, cruelty, male dominance and class discrimination then keep away from good historic novels that accurately depict the past and the attitudes of the day. We can’t change history but we can learn from it.

I would also recommend the book to anyone researching their family history. If you have found ancestors during this period A Weaver’s Web will give you a very clear understanding of what life was like for their forebears, rich or poor.

It is a shame that Chris Pearce experienced so much difficulty in getting A Weavers’s Web published because it is an excellent literary work. I would even go so far to say that it is worthy of inclusion in the curriculum for students of literature as an example of prose that educates and entertains.

I got to the end and kept flicking my finger on the Kindle. It finished all too soon. Next book please Chris!

This book was provided to me for free for an honest and unbiased review.

This review is also on my website www.pam.id.au ( )

A Weaver’s Web has a simple, basic story line: poor family, husband makes good, wealth has impact on all family members. And that’s where simplicity ends. Chris Pearce has done some very skilful ‘weaving’ himself.

From the first paragraph the reader is immersed in England at the time of the Industrial Revolution with hand craftsmen losing their livelihood to mechanisation.

Many writers of historic novels either write their history without checking facts or include long and boring passages to explain the relevant history. This is definitely not the case with this book. The historic story line is well researched and flawless and with Pearce’s creative writing skills it becomes intriguing and fascinating. You will relive the sights and sounds of Manchester – its people, factories, poverty, grime, injustices and attempts at revolution.

The believable characters have appropriate attitudes of the day; like it or not that’s the way it was. You will love or hate them, cheer them on or want to throttle them. However, you feel about each individual they will draw some emotion from you.

This is historical fiction at its best.

If you don’t like reading about injustices, cruelty, male dominance and class discrimination then keep away from good historic novels that accurately depict the past and the attitudes of the day. We can’t change history but we can learn from it.

I would also recommend the book to anyone researching their family history. If you have found ancestors during this period A Weaver’s Web will give you a very clear understanding of what life was like for their forebears, rich or poor.

It is a shame that Chris Pearce experienced so much difficulty in getting A Weavers’s Web published because it is an excellent literary work. I would even go so far to say that it is worthy of inclusion in the curriculum for students of literature as an example of prose that educates and entertains.

I got to the end and kept flicking my finger on the Kindle. It finished all too soon. Next book please Chris!

This book was provided to me for free for an honest and unbiased review.

This review is also on my website www.pam.id.au ( )

A Weaver's Web is historical fiction set in the early 19th century Manchester and rural surroundings. Hand loom weaver Henry Wakefield, his wife Sarah and their growing family (up to five children) live in poverty, stick to old customs. When their mill is sold, the family moves to Manchester to work in local factories. It's the start of the Industrial Revolution. Entropy sets in when organized protests don't bring the promised revolution, one son runs away and ends up in New South Wales (now known as Australia). Lies, gambling and drinking don't bring happiness or economic progression. Naturalism rules in this novel. Personalities can be related to, despised or wished more luck. A lunatic asylum for Sarah after losing a young baby. Henry Wakefield slowly climbs the social ladder and ends up as an aristocrat, the class he had always despised for treating humans like animals and organize slavery. Now he deploys slaves and orphans himself, still hiding away from transparency and honesty. The book works towards a climax in which family ties are tested to the utmost. Will revenge or love have the final word? A beautifully woven story! ( )