This book is absolutely amazing , the ideas of feminism during the Victorian era are really quite thought-provoking and the storyline captivates the reader till the very end, a gripping , beautiful novel, which is haunting and captivating. I would recommend this book to any of friends.

Oh my goodness! I was tempted by the cover of his book, and after reading the synopsis thought it was worth a read. It was fantastic. A really amazing book that deals with feminism in a really interesting way. The story twists in a way you wouldn't expect and you have no idea what's around the corner. The books is captivating but informative at the same time. I loved the writing style of Jane Eagland and can't wait to read her next book. It was really fantastic and have started to lend it out to my friends, telling them that they HAVE to read it. Only one word of warning...In my opinion it is an older teen fiction / adult fiction and would be most suited to a 16+ reader. Great Book!

Although Wildthorn has a slow start, it quickly develops into a really good story and I found it difficult to put the book down. Wildthorn shows the feminist issues of it`s era. Louisa, a seventeen years old girl, is locked up in an asylum by her brother and her aunt. It`s an ultimate betrayal of her family. Louisa sees/ lives through the madness and cruelty of Wildthorn Hall, yet meeting Eliza gives her hope, kindness and love.

Wildthorn is a beautifully written, engaging story set in the Victorian era when girls were expected only to become good wives. Any girls interested in books and learning is thought to be somewhat strange - a quote in the book summarises this perfectly: "Excessive study, especially in one of the fair sex, often leads to insanity." Louisa is the intelligent daughter of a doctor who dreams of nothing but following in her father's footsteps. Growing up she was more interested in reading and playing with her brother' marbles rather than the usual accepted activities for girls. One of the colleges in London have just started to accept women to train as medicine but generally, even in the medical profession, female doctors are taboo. The time period is an age where any one who doesn't comply to the norm, including women such as Lousia who don't aspire to get married - could qualify as 'insane' - enough to end up in an asylum. On her way to visit the Woodville family, Louisa Cosgrove finds herself at such a place, Wildthorn Hall. Suddenly every one is calling her Lucy Childs and in time, Louisa doesn't know what to believe or who she really is. The author portrays this in such a way that even the reader is unsure. The story is told in sections, switching between the present at Wildthorn Hall and the past events that led up to her arriving there. At times you're unsure which is the truth, has Louisa been misidentified or is she really Lucy and her memories really in her imagination? The other patients in Louisa's section of the asylum are generally women who in today's terms would be describe as maybe a little unusual or quirky at the most but there are worse parts of Wildthorn Hall. Typical of the time period, there is little or no treatment for those in need of it. These women are simply there to be kept away from society. The style of the writing makes it so the reader really gets to know and understand Louisa and she's a really likeable character, who I could, in some ways, identify with.The descriptions and dialogue make you feel like you're right there with Louisa. The story moves at a good pace and I found myself continuing to read even when I really should have been doing something else. A definite recommended read for lovers of historical fiction, which would also be enjoyed by those looking simply for a good story .

I finished this book today and had the advantage of being able to read it almost in one sitting, being the passenger on a long car journey.I really think this one is best read in large chunks as I feel that the alternate timescales in each chapter would soon being to irritate otherwise. However, after a bit of a dodgy start, I was soon hooked by this one.Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to older teenage readers and adults as I felt that the vagueness surrounding Louisa's homosexuality may be lost on younger readers. To be honest I thought the novel would work just as well without the references to Lousa's relationships with other femals - they added nothing to the plot, which was otherwise very good, with plenty of twists and turns.I'd be very interested in reading any further books by Jane Eagland. Waterstone's Cardholder