Beatrice Parvin
Writer
Upcoming Show Adapted from the Novel
Folk Operetta
Comes to Oxford!
Saturday 18th October – 7.00pm
St Columba's Church, Alfred Street 0X1 4EH
Captain Swing and the Blacksmith
‘A marvellous bit of storytelling’ John Hegley
A riotous tale of passion and tragedy set on Salisbury Plain, rapturously showcased with spellbinding voices, fiddle wizardry and accordion. Steeped in the rich lyricism and storytelling tradition of British folk songs, this haunting tale is played out against the notorious Swing riots of 1830, when the quiet fields of England blazed with violence and fires in the night.
£12 in advance, £14 on door.
Bar open from 7pm to 10.30pm
Performance / Book / Album
I’m fascinated by the world that you depict here, that of a rural nineteenth century character whose family has been buffeted by wider historical forces…the most impressive feat here is the musicality and lyricism of your language; which makes this a really poetic read.
Andrea Stuart, author of
‘Sugar in the Blood’
This is a remarkable debut novel, and I hope we shall see many more from this gifted author.
Debbie Young, author of the Sophie Sayers Village Mystery Series
Praise & Reviews
Parvin’s debut novel, though driven by an obsessive love, is no romance; and while a character finds redemption, it is no parable. Rather, it is a portrait of a time. Evocative of a mean age, Captain Swing and the Blacksmith is both riveting and relevant. Recommended.
Rebecca Kightlinger, Historical Novels Review
The writing is deft and assured, the history, whether it is detail about how people lived or the impact of profound social changes, never gets in the way of the narrative. Indeed, although the book is quite long the plot is well paced without becoming breathless…
Naomi Clifford, author of ‘Women and the Gallows’
Engrossing, beautifully written, absorbing and in places, heartbreaking, Captain Swing and the Blacksmith is a fabulous first novel, but in addition to this delightful (if haunting) story, the book is accompanied by a CD which compliments the narrative in the folksongs of the period. Both are a Diamond of a bargain!
Helen Hollick, Discovering Diamond Review
I so enjoyed the book and Sue’s tale…the writer kept me absolutely engrossed in her story and the historical detail and observation added to the realism and rawness in part.
Reader, Anonymous
About Beatrice Parvin
Beatrice Parvin has spent her time, ever since she can remember, creating stories. She is a committed daydreamer and a believer that writing the past questions the present. How buildings hold memory, our relationship to space and time and the influence of ancestors, conscious and unconscious, inspire her writing.