The Anchoress (Robyn Cadwallader, HarperCollins)

A small, dark cell in 13th-century England is the setting for the majority of Robyn Cadwallader’s debut novel, which arrives with some anticipation after being sold at auction into multiple territories. Seventeen-year-old Sarah has willingly confined herself to a cell attached to the back of the village church; as an ‘anchoress’ she is expected to devote her life to God, to be a confessor to the village’s women, and to be a living relic to help the village prosper. However, Sarah soon realises that she cannot shut the world out, and nor can she escape her past. The main character’s confinement creates a claustrophobic read. This is counteracted, however, by several chapters written from the perspective of Sarah’s confessor and scribe Ranaulf. While the plot is slow to unravel, there are some profound and beautifully written passages that give this book literary weight. Cadwallader’s portrayal of 13th-century England is not based on true events, but the author has previously written a PhD on women and virginity in this period. The Anchoress is recommended for fans of historical fiction, including books such as Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites.

Chloe Townson is an avid reader and bookseller at Riverbend Books in Brisbane

Category: Reviews