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The Secret Christmas

A Measham Hall story

Anna Abney author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Duckworth Books

Published:7th Nov '24

Should be back in stock very soon

The Secret Christmas cover

A magical seventeenth-century Christmas tale from the author of the Measham Hall novels

The Puritan parliament has outlawed the celebration of Christmas, but when a theatre troupe begging alms turns up at Measham Hall, the family’s Catholic traditions of hospitality and charity dictate they must welcome the strangers in, despite the risks involved.

December, 1653, England. The Puritan parliament has outlawed the celebration of Christmas and while shops must stay open every day, the theatres have been forced to close their doors.

The Hawthorne family have been allowed to return to their ancestral home, Measham Hall, just in time for Christmas. This is only after Sir Nicholas Hawthorne has reluctantly agreed to take an oath of loyalty to the Commonwealth. When a theatre troupe begging alms turn up on their doorstep, the family’s Catholic traditions of hospitality and charity dictate they must welcome the strangers in, despite the risks involved. These magical and exuberant guests transform Christmas at Measham Hall into a secret celebration, filled with theatrical performances, music and bountiful banquets, much to the delight of the children, William and Alethea.

This festive prequel to The Master of Measham Hall is a delightful tale of a small rebellion and sows the seed for decisions William and Alethea will make in years to come.

‘It’s rare for a historical novel to feel so timely’ Jo Baker, Sunday Times bestselling author of Longbourn

ISBN: 9780715655573

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

144 pages