#BlogTour: Nevertheless She Persisted by Jon Walter @jontywalter @DFB_storyhouse @annecater #NeverthelessShePersisted #RandomThingsTours

Book Synopsis:

Clara and Nancy both have choices to make. Two sisters, working in a women’s prison in 1913; many of the inmates they are faced with have been arrested for their actions as part of the suffragette movement. For Nancy, there’s one inmate in particular – the enigmatic Duchess – who she finds herself drawn to, following the Duchess’ lead into the fight for the right to vote.

But for Clara, the choice is not so clear-cut. She’s started stepping out with a chap called Ted. But if she were to marry him, she would have to give up the job she loves, and lose her independence forever.

Nevertheless She Persisted is published on the 6th September in hardback and ebook.  You can pre-order your copy here.

My Review:

Nevertheless She Persisted is a fascinating look at the suffragette movement from two very different women with opposing views.  It’s also a very timely book as this year marks the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote.

The story follows two sisters Nancy and Clara who meet suffragettes whilst working at Holloway prison.  Out of the two I much preferred Nancy who quickly becomes involved in the suffragette movement.  It was lovely to see her come out of her shell away from her family and to read about her drive for a very worthwhile cause.  She is truly a warm, caring women that I quickly warmed to and wanted to keep reading to find out more about her. Clara on the other hand came across as being quite cold and confused.  She seemed to want all the benefits of having independence, like being able to continue working whilst married, but do none of the campaigning which grated on me.  She seems to be a bit of a goody two shoes always thinking she knows best, especially when it comes to her sister, which I just wanted to scream at her for.

I always enjoy reading books about the suffragette movement as it’s a very important part of our history.  The historical details the author includes really added to the story and helped me to picture the setting in my mind.  I had read about the force feeding, but not about the suffragettes being released to recover and then being rearrested.  I found the parts describing this and the woman’s treatment in prison very interesting as i love learning new things!

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.  If you like fascinating historical fiction about an important part of our history you’ll love this book.

About The Author:

Jon Walter is inspired by the power of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. A former photojournalist, he took pictures of the people we rarely get to see, and as a writer he listens out for the quieter voices of those that don’t get heard. Here, inspired by the suffragette movement, he explores how it was the everyday decisions of women over their own lives that made its success inevitable. Jon’s previous books, Close to the Wind and My Name’s Not Friday, were also published by DFB, and have been shortlisted for numerous awards.