Catherine J Bowness

Cynthia or A Short Stretch of Road Catherine J Bowness

This lively novel is set during the Regency. It involves two sisters - and two men - who chase each other up and down the road between East Kent and London in the middle of a cold February. Cynthia and Amabel's father has died recently and they face having to leave their home when his heir arrives to take possession. Both are upset; Amabel, at fifteen, is an impulsive girl and takes matters into her own hands. This drives Cynthia to run after her with the intention of saving her from ruin. But things are not quite how they look and very soon Cynthia finds herself in a perilous situation, both emotionally and physically, although she doesn't recognise either until it is too late on one front and nearly too late on the other. The sisters' adventure veers between hope, despair and romantic love. Along the way they have a great deal of fun and not a little danger. It is written in an ironic and sophisticated style, which harks back not only to the period in which it is set but also to the literary form prevalent in the early to mid 20th century.