5 out of 5 stars ~~ Book Review
Delicious….but more than that
the story taught me something I previously didn’t know about. Fleet Street Prison in London was a ‘debtor’s prison’ exclusively and notorious for its appalling conditions. If a person, common folk or a member of the aristocracy, couldn’t pay their debts they could be charged by the creditor, tried and sent to ‘Fleet’ until their debts were paid. I don’t know how anyone could think that a person could accomplish this while incarcerated.
Many prisoners spent decades there and sometimes died while still in prison.
By His Grace and Favor, written by Christina Dudley, is a delightful regency story that delves into the horrific conditions of the prison and the neighborhood that grew up around it to service its needs.
Our Founding Fathers were careful about importing any of the policies or laws that governed England at the time to our new, fledgling democracy. With regard to a ‘debtor’s prison’ I am assuming that’s why we eventually had bankruptcy relief laws. Our law makers saw the folly of Fleet Street Prison.
The story telling is superb and the characters all engaging and well developed. It’s book one in the series, Lord Dere’s Dependents and I can’t wait for the next one.
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