Originally entitled 'Tavy's Daughter', Tania Crosse's second novel 'The River Girl' was published by Pan Books in 2006. It is also available in large print and as an audio book, see Book Information for details.
Tania was inspired by the wild and savage beauty of the Tavy valley to write
this gripping novel which depicts the harsh reality of farming and mining in the area in Victorian times. She
also tackles sensitive subjects which were as rife then as they are now.
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When little Elizabeth Thornton's father is killed in a mining accident, she and her mother have no choice but to take refuge on her uncle's humble tenant farm in the Tavy Valley on western Dartmoor. It is as well that her mother is a skilled herbalist and wise-woman as their lives are governed by the succession of babies her aunt brings into the world.
Inspired by her mother's work, Elizabeth yearns to study medicine and become a doctor, but as a member of the fairer sex in mid-Victorian England, she knows she must be content to follow in her mother's footsteps. Besides which, she could never bring herself to leave the valley she loves so deeply and the tumbling waters of the upper River Tavy.
As she grows into a beautiful young woman, however, her uncle has other plans for her. But out of tragedy comes salvation, and Elizabeth finds peace and security in the most unexpected place. Meanwhile, across the Channel in France, trouble is brewing, and Elizabeth has no idea that a series of events in the Franco-Prussian War will shatter her tranquil existence.
Even the man she comes to love hides a dark and dreadful secret, and in a heart-stopping climax, each of them has to confront a personal terror.
Praise for the River Girl
Set against a well-researched historical background Newbury Weekly News
Never less than entertaining. The plot fairly races along Historical Novels Review
A rich dish of Victorian drama served up with a tasty side salad of intrigue Torquay Herald Express
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