Set in Britain in 1796, in the aftermath of the French Revolution, Sally Gardner’s The Bride Stone simply gleams with the writer’s trademark storytelling mastery. As always, Gardner’s writing dances, light of foot, vivid and energetic as a swirling tarantella, as it tells the brilliantly beguiling story of an aristocratic bachelor whose estate is on the line, and the captivating woman he bought in order to try to save it.
Recently released from incarceration in France, Duval arrives home to England to learn that his father has died, and he has little over two days to marry. Failure to succeed in this seemingly impossible task will see his father’s estate pass into the hands of his loathsome cousin.
After hearing this news, Duval happens upon a wife sale, which is explained to him thusly: “A wife is a chattel; put a scarf around her or a rope, and you can take her to market just as you would a sheep or a cow”. Desperate, Duval finds himself buying and marrying the decidedly enigmatic Edmée.
Entirely unexpectedly, Duval is first intrigued and then utterly enchanted by Edmée: “Perhaps the time had come to find out who this unknown wife of his was. He had looked at death; now he would start to examine living, and he wondered if that might not be harder”. Digging into his wife’s life unearths the “journal of a journey that no woman should ever have been subjected to”, which is only the beginning of Duval’s thrillingly winding quest to discover the secrets and truths of a woman who “dominated his thoughts”.
Sizzling with secrets, and alive with love, The Bride Stone is an absolute gem of a novel — an exquisitely-stitched treasure that’s all but impossible to put down.
1796. Duval Harlington, recently released from prison in France, is on his way home. Memories of the tranquil family estate kept his spirits high through his worst days in La Force, so it is no small sorrow to return and find Muchmore thrown into chaos. His despicable father, he learns, has died. And while he has left the estate to Duval, there is one small stipulation: he must be married, or else lose everything…
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE.
With only two days and seven hours to find a wife, devoted bachelor Duval is prepared to walk away. But then he stumbles upon a wife sale.With women being bought and sold like chattels, Duval is horrified by what he sees. Until he lays eyes on one intriguing figure…
A BRIDE WITH A HIDDEN PAST.
Duval makes an extravagant bid, and he and Edmée are married with minutes to spare. But little does Duval know, this is only the beginning of his troubles. For Edmée is not who she says she is, and her secrets will soon threaten to dismantle everything he holds dear…
CRITICS LOVE SALLY GARDNER: 'Seductive' Observer 'Wildly inventive'The TImes 'Superb... joyful' New Statesman 'A delight' The Sunday Times 'Beguiling' Mail on Sunday 'Magical storytelling' Heat 'A triumph!' Caroline Lea 'Bold and original'Financial Times 'I was completely captivated' Amanda Craig
READERS LOVE THE BRIDE STONE: 'Intriguing, enlightening and romantic' 'Such a page-turner... highly recommended' 'Vivid and tense... will stay with readers long after they finish'
Author
About Sally Gardner
Sally Gardner gained a first class degree at a leading London art college and became a successful theatre costume designer before illustrating and writing books. Her debut novel, I, Coriander won the Nestle Gold Award and she is also a Costa and Carnegie prize-winner. Her books have been translated all over the world and have sold over two million copies. Find Sally online at sallygardner.co.uk, or on X @TheSallyGardner.
Her historical novel for older readers, I, Coriander, won the Smarties Children's Book Prize in 2005. Two thrillers both set at the time of the French Revolution, The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 2009, followed. Actor Dominic West ('The Wire') has bought the film rights to both titles.
Sally Gardner's stories for middle readers include Lucy Willow and the popular Magical Children series of six titles The Strongest Girl in the World, The Invisible Boy, The Boy with Magic Numbers, The Smallest Girl in the World, The Boy with the Lightning Feet, and The Boy who Could Fly, which are also available as audio books.
She has also written and illustrated picture books including The Fairy Catalogue, The Glass Heart, The Book of Princesses and Playtime Rhymes.
The Double Shadow is published in November 2011.
Sally Gardner continues to be an avid spokesperson for Dyslexia, working to change the way it is perceived by society. She is dyslexic and argues that it's not a disability, but a gift.
If you'd love to know more about Sally, click here to download a more detailed biography and Q&A.
To see a video of Sally talking about her book Fairy Shopping - CLICK HERE
Or watch a video of her talking about The Silver Blade:
