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The Great Level

A tale of love and loss in a historical setting

Stella Tillyard author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:11th Jul '19

Should be back in stock very soon

The Great Level cover

In The Great Level, a Dutch engineer's life is transformed by a passionate love affair, leading him to confront his past and the choices he made.

Set against the backdrop of 1649, The Great Level follows Jan Brunt, a Dutch engineer who arrives in England with dreams of draining the Great Level marshlands. His life takes a transformative turn when he encounters Eliza, a spirited woman whose love challenges his conventional views and ignites a deep emotional connection. Their relationship flourishes amidst the beauty and danger of a world on the brink of change, forcing Jan to confront his own beliefs and the societal constraints surrounding them.

As Jan immerses himself in his work, he finds himself torn between the allure of the New World and the haunting memories of Eliza. The narrative captures his internal struggle as he grapples with the consequences of his choices and the impact of his love on his life. When a letter from a boy rekindles memories of the fens, Jan is compelled to confront the past he left behind and the love that shaped him.

The Great Level is not just a tale of romance; it is a rich exploration of identity, resilience, and the human spirit in the face of adversity. With vivid descriptions and intricate character development, the novel offers readers a glimpse into a bygone era, making it a captivating read for those who appreciate historical fiction that resonates with timeless themes.

Stella Tillyard has done that magical thing - combined solid historical research with an ethereal sense of the past. Her New Amsterdam in America is as wonderfully realised as the shifting world of the Fens in England. It’s a haunting book with characters who stay with the reader as their lives unfold like a sea mist -- Philippa Gregory
The Great Level proves worth the seven-year wait… This is an impressive piece of work, rich in historical detail and human insight -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times *
Rousing and heroic... this is a novel of large vision and careful detail... [Tillyard] paddles her coracle deep into little-known channels and conjure atmospheres as thick as still summer air over the meres... Richly involving… The story of a strange and passionate relationship -- Alexandra Harris * Guardian *
Historian Stella Tillyard's first fictional outing, Tides of War, earned her a 2012 Orange Prize nomination. Her second novel similarly showcases her skills as a chronicler of period and place... Fans of Rose Tremain will find much to admire in Tillyard's richly detailed and atmospheric romance -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *
There is much to love in The Great Level - Tillyard writes with great authority...and the book has the smack of authenticity. The passages that Eliza narrates...are wonderful -- Antonia Senior * The Times *

  • Short-listed for East Anglian Book Award for Fiction 2018 (UK)

ISBN: 9780099526438

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 15mm

Weight: 170g

240 pages