In Sarah Jenner's debut novel, The Lost Apothecary (#982), she switches between telling the stories of three women: two in 1791 London, and a present day American tourist in London. Because this is fiction, you know that their stories are bound to intersect.
Nella is a female apothecary in 1791 London whose specialty, learned from her mother, is treating women's problems, the ones male physicians can't be bothered with. After her mother's death, Nella's practice has taken a more sinister turn; she still provides solutions to women's problems, but now that includes the troublesome men in their lives. Enter Eliza, whose mistress wishes to be rid of her philandering husband. She is intrigued by Nella's hidden workshop and pesters her to learn more.
Meanwhile, Caroline has just arrived in present day London on her romantic tenth anniversary trip. But she's alone, as things did not happen as she expected. Her safe, comfortable life and marriage have fallen apart in the last few days and she needs time on her own to think. What happened to her own plans for her life and career? A chance encounter with a tour guide persuades her to join a mudlarking expedition on the banks of the river Thames. The discovery of a tiny glass vial etched with the image of a bear sets in motion the events which will lead to finding the Lost Apothecary.
It was a good read, and it's easy to understand why this book has made it onto so many Book Club reading lists. Moral conundrums abound here, both past and present. But, oh, why can't the editors cull the anachronisms before sending the book to press? It's not using your "smarts" to "okay" a historical fiction novel which tries otherwise to fit the eighteenth century language! It's so jarring! It's my own personal hobbyhorse, but I'm going to continue to ride it!
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