September 2014 Debut of the Month.
Straddling the end of the Civil War and the death of Charles I, this is an interesting portrayal of the period. We follow Ruth, nursemaid to Oliver Cromwell’s children, who flees when her mother is charged with witchcraft. Finding service elsewhere, then friendship and eventually love, she is forever on the run in a novel with a surprise twist. Strong on insight into the troubled times and the sad plight of women, it is a very fine first novel, unusual and satisfying.
Click here to find out more about this book and the period in which it is set.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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Win an Escape Challenge and a copy of The Spy and the Snake by M J Robotham
Closing date: 02/08/2026
Based on the real figure of the fascinating Elizabeth Poole, The Crimson Ribbon is the mesmerising story of two women's obsession, superstition and hope. May Day 1646. The Civil War is raging and what should be a rare moment of blessing for the town of Ely takes a brutal turn. Ruth Flowers is left with little choice but to flee the household of Oliver Cromwell, the only home she has ever known. On the road to London, Ruth sparks an uneasy alliance with a soldier, the battle-scarred and troubled Joseph. But when she reaches the city, it's in the Poole household that she finds refuge. Lizzie Poole, beautiful and charismatic, enthrals the vulnerable Ruth, who binds herself inextricably to Lizzie's world. But in these troubled times, Ruth is haunted by fears of her past catching up with her. And as Lizzie's radical ideas escalate, Ruth finds herself carried to the heart of the country's conflict, to the trial of a king.
The Crimson Ribbon features in the following genres: Historical Fiction, Debut Books of the Month, eBooks of the Month, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Book Club Recommendations, Books with reviews by our Reader Review Panel, Fiction, Recommendations, General Fiction
The Crimson Ribbon is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Crimson Ribbon was written by Katherine Clements and published by Headline Review an imprint of Headline Publishing Group
The Crimson Ribbon has 346 pages
£9.89
