Lily
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-07-03 00:51:40
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Rose Tremain
- ISBN：1529115175
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Summary
Nobody knows yet that she is a murderer。。。
Abandoned at the gates of a London park one winter's night in 1850， baby Lily Mortimer is saved by a young police constable and taken to the London Foundling Hospital。 Lily is fostered by an affectionate farming family in rural Suffolk， enjoying a brief childhood idyll before she is returned to the Hospital， where she is punished for her rebellious spirit。 Released into the harsh world of Victorian London， Lily becomes a favoured employee at Belle Prettywood's Wig Emporium， but all the while she is hiding a dreadful secret。。。
Across the years， policeman Sam Trench keeps watch over the young woman he once saved。 When Sam meets Lily again， there is an instant attraction between them and Lily is convinced that Sam holds the key to her happiness - but might he also be the one to uncover her crime and so condemn her to death？
Praise for Rose Tremain:
'One of the very finest British novelists' Salman Rushdie
'One of my favourite writers' Nina Stibbe
'There are few writers out there with the dexterity or emotional intelligence to rival that of the great Rose Tremain' John Boyne
Abandoned at the gates of a London park one winter's night in 1850， baby Lily Mortimer is saved by a young police constable and taken to the London Foundling Hospital。 Lily is fostered by an affectionate farming family in rural Suffolk， enjoying a brief childhood idyll before she is returned to the Hospital， where she is punished for her rebellious spirit。 Released into the harsh world of Victorian London， Lily becomes a favoured employee at Belle Prettywood's Wig Emporium， but all the while she is hiding a dreadful secret。。。
Across the years， policeman Sam Trench keeps watch over the young woman he once saved。 When Sam meets Lily again， there is an instant attraction between them and Lily is convinced that Sam holds the key to her happiness - but might he also be the one to uncover her crime and so condemn her to death？
Praise for Rose Tremain:
'One of the very finest British novelists' Salman Rushdie
'One of my favourite writers' Nina Stibbe
'There are few writers out there with the dexterity or emotional intelligence to rival that of the great Rose Tremain' John Boyne
Reviews
Chookychook
，
A book that is a very fine escape into Victorian England with the plight of a orphan girl facing life's harsh reality。 It was written like a Dicken's novel with the good & the wicked getting their comeuppance。 A lovely book。 A book that is a very fine escape into Victorian England with the plight of a orphan girl facing life's harsh reality。 It was written like a Dicken's novel with the good & the wicked getting their comeuppance。 A lovely book。 。。。more
Susanne （Pages of Crime）
，
4。5 starsWell written historical fiction should take you along for the ride back into the past and this novel does just that。 My only gripe is that it could have made the distinction between the different times of Lily's life a little clearer。 4。5 starsWell written historical fiction should take you along for the ride back into the past and this novel does just that。 My only gripe is that it could have made the distinction between the different times of Lily's life a little clearer。 。。。more
Lily
，
eine tolle geschichte in wundervoller sprache， verschiedene zeitebenen sind ineinandergeflochten， so erleben wir lily von dem moment an， in dem sie als baby ausgesetzt von sam trench gefunden wird， wie sie im findelhaus aufwächst und ihr grauenhafte sachen widerfahren， wie sie auf dem bauernhof bei nellie und deren kindern eine kurze schöne kindheit geniessen darf， ehe sie ins findelhaus zurückkehren muss。 als sie erwachsen ist， arbeitet sie als perückenmacherin und fühlt sich angezogen zum poli eine tolle geschichte in wundervoller sprache， verschiedene zeitebenen sind ineinandergeflochten， so erleben wir lily von dem moment an， in dem sie als baby ausgesetzt von sam trench gefunden wird， wie sie im findelhaus aufwächst und ihr grauenhafte sachen widerfahren， wie sie auf dem bauernhof bei nellie und deren kindern eine kurze schöne kindheit geniessen darf， ehe sie ins findelhaus zurückkehren muss。 als sie erwachsen ist， arbeitet sie als perückenmacherin und fühlt sich angezogen zum polizisten sam trench。 der liebe stehen aber zwei dinge im weg: sam ist verheiratet und lily ist eine mörderin， sie hat aus rache gemordet und weiss， dass die früher oder später sam den mord gestehen wird。 eine wunderbare geschichte um 1850 in england， freundschaft， liebe， schuld und scham， aber auch sexuelle gewalt und nötigung im christlichen kontext sind thema。（und das deutsche cover ist viel schöner） 。。。more
Sue Frances
，
Loved this story of Lily。
Emma Hardy
，
An interesting and thought provoking read that takes you to Victorian London in an instant。
Eleanor
，
This book seemed promising， and at the beginning I found it more engaging。 However， as it went on， I felt disconnected from the protagonist and as though the stakes weren’t high enough; she was obsessed with being caught out for the murder but nothing made me really care if she was。 There were also elements of the plot that were dropped which made for an unsatisfactory ending。
Karen Keane
，
Lily was abandoned as a baby and fostered out to a loving family for the first 6 years of her life， then she had to be returned to the Founding Hospital， in order to pay back society for her keep。 The story of Lily is one of heartbreak and revenge and leaves us not quite sure whether she has reached her happy ending。
Rose Gan
，
Beautifully written as one would expect from Tremain as well as achingly sad。 But I found it difficult to engage with Lily and found the book - which is short - quite a drag。 It did not draw me in。 The structure of the book -where the central issue of the story is revealed at the start- may have been the problem for me。 The novel could not sustain the lack of a dramatic arc。 I was disappointed for I love Tremain’s work。
Colin
，
We’re in favourite author territory here; Rose Tremain’s novels and short stories have been a reliable pleasure for many years， and her latest， Lily， is no exception。 The gorgeously retro cover design of the first hardback edition， together with the book’s subtitle， ‘a tale of revenge’ lets the reader know that they are in for a tale of Victorian melodrama - although， this being Rose Tremain， there’s more to it than that。 Lily - in that most classic of melodramatic tropes - is a foundling discov We’re in favourite author territory here; Rose Tremain’s novels and short stories have been a reliable pleasure for many years， and her latest， Lily， is no exception。 The gorgeously retro cover design of the first hardback edition， together with the book’s subtitle， ‘a tale of revenge’ lets the reader know that they are in for a tale of Victorian melodrama - although， this being Rose Tremain， there’s more to it than that。 Lily - in that most classic of melodramatic tropes - is a foundling discovered by a young police constable by a set of Bethnal Green park gates on a cold， murky November night in 1850。 Taken in by the famous Coram’s foundling hospital， Lily’s life is set on a course that leads to joy， abuse， murder， revenge and love。 Gripping from start to finish and marvellously evocative of time and place， Lily is not to be missed by anyone who loves a good story well told。 。。。more
Ernie
，
As I have read books by Rose Tremain earlier， I was surprised to realise that she was writing in some kind of homage to Dickens and Hugo in this story of a child saved by a police constable and taken to the London Foundling Hospital in 1850。 Perhaps it was written in response to the shocking revelations about orphanages with hidden mass graves or boarding schools and missions where colonised peoples were kept by force。The variation to this story is revealed in a more subtle but equally cruel var As I have read books by Rose Tremain earlier， I was surprised to realise that she was writing in some kind of homage to Dickens and Hugo in this story of a child saved by a police constable and taken to the London Foundling Hospital in 1850。 Perhaps it was written in response to the shocking revelations about orphanages with hidden mass graves or boarding schools and missions where colonised peoples were kept by force。The variation to this story is revealed in a more subtle but equally cruel variation to this practice as the baby Lily is literally， farmed out to Nellie， the mother of three boys 0-6 who live on a farm。 However， Nellie proves to be a kindly mother， despite the necessarily hard labour together in the fields。 Cruelty returns when Nellie， after six years of treating Lily as well as any of her own children and despite her affection for the girl， must obey the hospital’s terms of adoption and return her there for training and work in the city。 ‘We do not tolerate sentiment’ or any attachments formed with Nellie， says the cruel nurse to the ‘child of an undeserving mother’。 Shades of Shaw’s definitions of the deserving and undeserving poor that revealed the hypocrisy of the fledgling welfare state。The story proceeds along Dickensian lines with the adult Lily working in a wig-making shop and the return of the police constable。 There is no Dickensian humour: no Mr Bumble or other grotesque characters。Tremain is such a good writer that I enjoyed the reading while wondering why she had chosen to take up that task。 T S Eliot described his cat poems as being like a pianist’s five finger exercises to keep up his writing between more serious enterprises or periods of writer’s block。 Perhaps this was Tremain’s reason。 。。。more
Jill
，
A somewhat predictable story of the fate of unwanted children in 19th century London。 Some beautiful descriptive writing and interesting character development。
Paola
，
I had never read anything by this author but noticed it in the library and gave it a try。 Well， I read it in one breath， just could not put it down。 I could feel the strength of character in Lilly and at the same time I was heartbroken at her fate。 It well portrayed the Victorian period and the flow of the story was superb。 I will certainly be reading other books by this author。 Highly recommend。
Sian
，
This is a dark portrayal of the grim conditions of Victorian London written in the beautiful prose you would expect from Rose Tremain。 It is almost Dickensian in its themes of social injustice， tragedy， melodrama， murder， neglect and abuse。 The cruel treatment at the Foundling hospital where the children are punished for the ‘sins’ of their mothers is particularly moving as are the scenes of the children's anguish and lack of understanding of their separation from their foster parents。 Lily or ‘ This is a dark portrayal of the grim conditions of Victorian London written in the beautiful prose you would expect from Rose Tremain。 It is almost Dickensian in its themes of social injustice， tragedy， melodrama， murder， neglect and abuse。 The cruel treatment at the Foundling hospital where the children are punished for the ‘sins’ of their mothers is particularly moving as are the scenes of the children's anguish and lack of understanding of their separation from their foster parents。 Lily or ‘Miss Disobedience’ as she is named by her abuser， is spirited， determined and very human。 I found myself rooting for her inspite and perhaps because of her deed of revenge。 I would have preferred a less open ending and as a result would give a 3。5。 。。。more
Rachel England-Brassy
，
I cannot go on reading this no matter how much I love her novels Merival and Restoration。 This is just not grabbing me and Lily is just a drip。 It bugs me that I paid almost $40 for this book I was so very keen to get my mitts on and Ghosh I’m not going to finish it， but life is too blooming short to see if it gets more interesting。 I also commuted a book crime and skipped to the end and yes it really is not worth finishing。 DNF
Gladys Ryan
，
This is a beautifully written book。 I picked it up and thought， "No， not for me 。。。 dirty streets of London， olden olden olden days， little white girl。。。 i just can't relate"。 But I could and I did。 And I wanted to protect Lily， and I wanted her to cut herself some slack， and I wanted her to have all the happiness in the world。A gem of a book。 This is a beautifully written book。 I picked it up and thought， "No， not for me 。。。 dirty streets of London， olden olden olden days， little white girl。。。 i just can't relate"。 But I could and I did。 And I wanted to protect Lily， and I wanted her to cut herself some slack， and I wanted her to have all the happiness in the world。A gem of a book。 。。。more
Jess Barbour
，
an absolutely heartbreaking story， set in Victorian london， in such a vivid setting
Stephen
，
A book rich in period detail。A thoroughly engaging tale of guilt，cruelty，neglect and finding some sort of actual peace and happiness。 A recommended book，although lacking a little something overall to flesh out the story and conclusion。One mystery is left totally unresolved。 Enjoyed immensely despite this。
Sara
，
Moving， beautifully written， lingers in the mind for a long while after finishing
Helen
，
A good holiday read， very sad but engaging tale。
Anna
，
DNF。 I found it difficult to read after the very first pages where the author makes a six-year-old a masterful liar and a very skilful plotter。 So unrealistic。
Rebecca Shtasel
，
This book made me very nervous for a good long while - but then it's designed to do that from it's very first page。 I kept thinking， this is too grim a story - badly abused girl， kills her abuser and is then sent to the gallows。 But somehow， Rose Tremain manages to turn it around and this becomes a story of survival， redemption and love that left me saying， as I finished reading the last paragraph， "What a lovely book。" This book made me very nervous for a good long while - but then it's designed to do that from it's very first page。 I kept thinking， this is too grim a story - badly abused girl， kills her abuser and is then sent to the gallows。 But somehow， Rose Tremain manages to turn it around and this becomes a story of survival， redemption and love that left me saying， as I finished reading the last paragraph， "What a lovely book。" 。。。more
Sophie
，
Hmm， I’m a bit undecided about this book。 I didn’t really like the writing style， but still wanted to read to the end to find out what happened。
V
，
A sad， tender & bleak portrayal of Lily’s life up to her late teens。 Lily， a foundling， must rally against the harsh realities of Victorian life， the hierarchies， religion and duty - in which caring for foundlings is one absent of love and gentleness with the exception of her foster family and the man who found her。 I liked the different timelines used to portrayal her past & present。 The Victorian mentality about duty， society and disease is ever present。 At times reminiscent of Jane Eyre at Lo A sad， tender & bleak portrayal of Lily’s life up to her late teens。 Lily， a foundling， must rally against the harsh realities of Victorian life， the hierarchies， religion and duty - in which caring for foundlings is one absent of love and gentleness with the exception of her foster family and the man who found her。 I liked the different timelines used to portrayal her past & present。 The Victorian mentality about duty， society and disease is ever present。 At times reminiscent of Jane Eyre at Lowood。 。。。more
Wendy Orchard
，
An easy read
Claire
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Rose Tremain is my favourite author。 This book like all others immerse you in the lead characters life and her writing makes it so visual。 Her content is always real and doesn’t shy away from the harshness of the era she’s writing about。 I found parts of this book very hard going due to the child abuse， there were times I wanted to stop reading this book。 It is only due to my own discomfort and inability to recommend books with stories of child abuse is why I rated it a 3 not a 4。 I worked with Rose Tremain is my favourite author。 This book like all others immerse you in the lead characters life and her writing makes it so visual。 Her content is always real and doesn’t shy away from the harshness of the era she’s writing about。 I found parts of this book very hard going due to the child abuse， there were times I wanted to stop reading this book。 It is only due to my own discomfort and inability to recommend books with stories of child abuse is why I rated it a 3 not a 4。 I worked with abused kids a long while back for numerous years， and ever since then have a personal rule that I don’t read child abuse stories。 。。。more
Sandra Danby
，
The sub-title of ‘Lily’ by Rose Tremain is ‘A Tale of Revenge’ and on the first page we learn that sixteen-year-old Lily Mortimer is a murderer and expects to die soon。 It is a compelling beginning。 This is the story of Lily’s life from when as a baby she was found abandoned in a sack being attacked by wolves。 Found by a police officer she is taken to London’s Foundling Hospital from where she is placed with a foster family at Rookery Farm in Suffolk。 A beautiful telling of a difficult childhood The sub-title of ‘Lily’ by Rose Tremain is ‘A Tale of Revenge’ and on the first page we learn that sixteen-year-old Lily Mortimer is a murderer and expects to die soon。 It is a compelling beginning。 This is the story of Lily’s life from when as a baby she was found abandoned in a sack being attacked by wolves。 Found by a police officer she is taken to London’s Foundling Hospital from where she is placed with a foster family at Rookery Farm in Suffolk。 A beautiful telling of a difficult childhood， softened by Tremain’s exquisite writing， ‘Lily’ shows Victorian London where charitable works sometimes work for the orphaned child and sometimes against。 It explores the nature of happiness in a rural life， often hard， but surrounded by love。 At the age of six， Lily is returned to London and forbidden contact with her foster parents， Nellie and Perkin Buck， who were paid for their care of her and， after delivering her， collect a new foster baby。 Lily is courageous， pragmatic， rebellious and， throughout the harsh years that follow， is sustained by the memory of Nellie’s love。 And so starts the cycle of Lily’s life， of hope followed by despair。Lily’s friendship with fellow orphan Bridget is very touching。 It reminded by of Jane Eyre’s friendship with Helen Burns at Lowood， a story that has stayed with me ever since first reading the novel as a teenager。 The almost-adult Lily， dreaming of her death， wonders， ‘Whyever did I struggle so long and so hard to make my way in a place which was bent on my destruction ever since I came into it？ Why did I not surrender to death when I was a child， for children’s pictures of death are fantastical and full of a strange beauty？’ The story changes pace when Lily realises she cannot put the past behind her， she must face what she did and why。The timeline flits back and forth a bit between Lily as a child， in Suffolk and at the Hospital where she is trained for menial employment， and as an adult when she works at the gloriously named and imagined Belle Prettywood’s Wig Emporium which makes wigs for opera and stage productions。 It is in the older voice that we learn more about the murder she committed。 This is not a murder mystery or a whodunnit， it’s not even a who-was-it-done-to。 It's about a girl who survives an abusive， neglectful childhood by giving and receiving love， kindness and compassion， who learns how to survive alone in the world。 Yes， Lily is vulnerable。 She longs to love and be loved， but she’s also resilient， despite everything。Compelling， difficult to put down。 Beautifully written。Read more of my book reviews at http://www。sandradanby。com/book-revie。。。 。。。more
Sue
，
Beautiful writing。 How coud we have thought it was acceptable to treat children lke that？ Rethinking attitude to Coram。
Maureen
，
3。5 rounded up Tremain tells a good story， and this is no exception。 At times the plotting felt stretched though - the Scottish lady benefactor， the mysterious disappearing object， the relentless twists and turns of a dark fate - while it was a page turner in places it felt just a little overdone。
Erika
，
Was a bit confusing with the constant shifts in timeline but sucked me in and I was pleased with the ending。
Jackie Marchant
，
I love Rose Tremain's books and this was no exception。 Well written and beautifully told， it brings to life the streets of Victorian London。 A sad tale， but also full of hope。 I love Rose Tremain's books and this was no exception。 Well written and beautifully told， it brings to life the streets of Victorian London。 A sad tale， but also full of hope。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Lily
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Lily&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Lily&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0