Shadow Flies

In the original British release, this novel was titled They Were Defeated, a nod to the English Civil War that raged from 1642 to 1651. This title suggests an inevitable defeat for both sides long before the conflict erupted. The American edition, The Shadow Flies, derives its name from a poignant poem reflecting on the futility of human desires. Yet, amid these themes, the narrative bursts with life, yearning, and the joy of existence, weaving together threads of assertion, tolerance, conscience, and love. The story is intricately linked to the renowned poet Robert Herrick, who lived in the picturesque Devonshire, where he celebrated natures beauty and grappled with his resistant parishioners, all while yearning for recognition that eluded him until long after his demise. At the heart of the tale is an adolescent girl, a budding scholar and poet, nurtured by her unconventional father who champions equal education for both genders—a stance that endears him to contemporary readers yet puts him at odds with his peers. His dismissive views on religion further complicate his character. Through the journeys of various individuals, the novel delves into a rich tapestry of themes beyond mere politics, touching on poetic sensibilities, academic discourse, witchcraft, science, superstition, and the religious practices of a nation still reeling from the Reformation. Historical figures, particularly poets, make fleeting appearances, their dialogues crafted to echo the mid-seventeenth century, with dialects authentically captured in spelling when appropriate. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland

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