The Rowan Tree - Softcover

Gower, Iris

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0593050819 ISBN 13: 9780593050811

Publisher: Bantam Press, 2003

Synopsis

Young Manon Jenkins, growing up in the sleepy village of Five Saints in the heart of Wales, has led a comfortable and secure life as the only daughter of an elderly, doting vicar. She dabbles in herbalism and seems to have the gift of healing. But when her father dies of a sudden heart attack she finds herself homeless, and the only solution is to join the cattle drovers on the long journey to London. ife on the trail is hard; the women walk for the greater part of the journey over rugged terrain, and when the drive reaches the outskirts of London where the cattle are to be fattened up for the sales at Smithfields, they have to turn their hands to any work they can find. But on the heady, star-filled nights on the trail Manon becomes enchanted by Caradoc, the eldest son of the powerful Lloyd family, the founders of Lloyds Bank. In those days it was called the Bank of the Black Ox, and Manon is dazzled by Caradoc's charm and wealth. She succumbs to his advances, later finding herself abandoned and pregnant on the streets of London - but she never gives up hope of returning to the life she left in the peaceful valleys of Wales.

About this title

About the Author

Iris Gower was born in Swansea, where she still lives. The mother of four grown-up children, she has written over twenty bestselling novels. She received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Wales Swansea in 1999 and has been awarded an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cardiff.

From the Back Cover

anon Jenkins has had a cherished childhood in the sleepy village of Five Saints in the heart of Wales, but when her beloved father dies, she is left homeless and alone. The handsome blacksmith, Morgan Lewis, cares deeply for her, but she cannot make herself marry a man she doesn't love. She longs for Caradoc Jones, son of a famous Welsh cattle drover and, in desperation, she accepts a job as chaperon to Caradoc's spoilt sister Georgina, and joins the drovers on the road to Smithfield market in London. She plans to seek her fortune as a herbalist, preparing medicines for sale to both the rich and the poor.

Life on the trail is hard, and Non struggles to be accepted by the other women on the journey, as they walk long miles over rugged terrain. One heady, star-filled night Caradoc finally becomes her lover, but she is devastated when he refuses to marry her. She is determined to survive without him in London, but when she realizes she is pregnant, she finds that it's not easy to escape the clutches of the Jones family.

A wonderful new heroine and a heart-warming story from the author of the Firebird series.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593050819
• ISBN 13: 9780593050811
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304