My Name is Matilda

The year is 1827, and an uneducated but enterprising young Devon farm girl starts selling her strawberries and home-made clotted cream at the local market. She is befriended by an upper-class young lady, Hannah Hill, who becomes a regular customer. Unexpectedly, this friendship leads to Hannah?s wealthy parents offering Matilda the chance to become their somewhat inept daughter?s companion and chaperone. From there, and her meeting with Hannah?s brother, the new young rector of Timsbury, Matilda?s life changes for ever.

This charming fact-based story, set in the southwest of England during the nineteenth century, has been written by Matilda White?s great-great-grandson, a New Zealand resident who stayed in Devon for four months to thoroughly research his ancestor?s fascinating life.

Matilda?s achievements?substantial for one so humbly born?as well as her sacrifices are described in loving detail in a tale filled with scandal and social expectations, happiness and tragedy. Yet this is the story not only of Matilda?her friends and family, ranging from down-to-earth rustic folk to upper-crust aristrocrats, are portrayed with the same care.

It?s a book you?ll find engrossing from start to finish!