The Light Among Us
The Story of Elizabeth Carne, Cornwall
“Elizabeth Carne was clearly a remarkable woman whose contribution to Cornish society, geology and the world of banking and commerce has been admirably woven into this well-researched historical novel. It is a story which truly needed to be told and provides an insight to both Elizabeth’s life and to those of her contemporaries in Cornwall during the 19th century.
I could not put this excellent read and fascinating story down.”
— Tony Mansell, an editor of Cornish Story, an author Skrifer Istori of many local history books, and Bard of Corsedh Kernow
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Elizabeth Carne is torn apart by the conflicts of the English class system: local poverty; her love of Henry, a man from “the lower order;” and her role as an heiress.
As a woman without a college education, she struggles to gain credibility in her father’s banks as she tries to maintain her family’s long legacy of wealth and philanthropy. Amid lies, murder, smuggling, famine, and restrictive social norms, Elizabeth fights for her love of Henry, the local miners, and fisherman. Meanwhile, the failure of the mining industry looms over her like an ominous storm.
Jill George’s meticulously researched and gripping story uncovers the joys and sorrows of a brave and brilliant woman’s mission to overcome the class system to create a more unified and prosperous region, country, and world.
Reviews
Reviewed by Kathy L. Brown
A fictionalization of the intriguing Elizabeth Carne
The Light Among Us explores the life and legacy of a forgotten pioneer in the struggle for women’s equality in the workplace, public education for all, and social justice.
Elizabeth Carne was a gifted intellect, geologist, artist, author, and businessperson who lived and worked in Victorian-era Cornwall. Never married, she inherited a bank and land holdings and administered them for the betterment of society and in keeping with the tenets of her Methodist upbringing. Her responsibilities were unusual for a woman at that time, and she faced much resistance.
As a child, Elizabeth Carne’s father was her primary tutor, insisting on a rigorous education in a wide range of topics of particular interest to him as an amateur geologist and successful banker. After Elizabeth’s brother’s death, Carne deems his daughter the only viable option to take over the family bank and trained her up accordingly.
In some ways Carne’s life is that of a typical, genteel Victorian-era spinster, making up baskets for the poor, adopting orphan relatives, attending church, and writing numerous letters. But in others, it is highly unusual as she takes on responsibilities such as assessing investments for her bank, inspecting trade ships for purchase, and traveling on geologic expeditions.
Carne’s lifelong enthusiasm was the natural world and geology in particular. She loved the rugged Cornish coastline, and it shows in vivid & loving prose.
“The sea breeze and the roar and froth of the waves below were calming and comforting to me. I felt most at home here among the cliffs and granite formations…Gorse, chamomile, hemlock, and meadow saffron clung on to their stalks blowing in the wind about the rocks. Nothing in this world made me happier than these cliffs that looked as if a giant had taken an enormous spade or axe and hewn them along the coast like cutting a piece of cake.”
Carne was not shy about expressing her opinions in defense of others, yet always wellspoken, intelligent, and polite. She chose her words, whether written or oral, carefully and to maximum effect. When a privileged couple challenge her plan to establish and endow schools for poor children, Carne delivers a spirited defense of literacy and universal, compulsory, and free education.
“The room was silent. ‘Mr. and Mrs. Shackelworth, my endeavour is to offer education as a means of giving children better prospects in life. And in the Lord’s eyes, no child is vulgar. We have heard your concerns. Now, I suggest you depart and let us move forward before it is much too little, too late.’”
Much like Carne herself, the book’s voice is clear and well-spoken. The reader watches an engaging woman blaze a new trail even as she lives her life in service to others and her family legacy. Yet, for all her groundbreaking accomplishments, Carne is above all a dutiful child. Her family’s need for her to helm the family banking business supersedes any desire she might have to marry and have her own family or even pursue a career in science.
As her father explains, after she falls in love with a working class mine engineer, although their differing social classes is a problem, the bigger issue is that, given the responsibilities of a wife and mother, she wouldn’t have the freedom to work as a banker. And the very real dangers of childbirth in the nineteenth century could well cut her life short before an heir to the family legacy came of age.
A detailed list of historical notes about the people, institutions, and events of Carne’s time supplement the narrative and will be valuable to readers who wish to take a closer look at the Victorian era. The novel offers a sweeping view of the life of a true woman pioneer.
To maintain the first-person point of view and still convey relevant background information, Carne sometimes thinks and says things for the reader’s benefit. This practice can interfere with the natural flow of the character’s otherwise appealing voice.
Readers interested in natural science and social justice reform, as well as a little-known yet intriguing woman who led the way, are really going to enjoy this novel. The themes and issues of The Light Among Us bear serious thought and discussion—a great choice for a book club.
Reviewed by Trix Lee-Rainwater
In the 19th century, when women struggled to gain equal credibility with men in the business world, how would one heiress with no formal educational degree manage to surpass the societal expectations and stay true to her life’s mission? We’ll find out in The Light Among Us by Jill George with John Dirring.
It was 1832 and it was the first time for 15-year-old Elizabeth Carne to accompany her father on a walking tour with a famous author from London. Elizabeth’s father, Joseph Carne, was a successful banker, industrialist, and mining company partner, among many other titles, and he was keen to present his daughter as living proof of the premise that education for women would improve civilization. Elizabeth indeed was living proof as she demonstrated her deep knowledge of geology and local history. This impressed their guest but nothing was unexpected as it turned out that Elizabeth had been studying with her father over the years. During this walking tour, Joseph Carne also mentioned that he planned for Elizabeth to take a position in his bank, something that greatly surprised Elizabeth considering the restrictive norms of society regarding the roles of women. Three years thereafter, Joseph Carne was fully set to bring up Elizabeth as his heir apparent. Elizabeth’s insights on potential business prospects and investments were welcomed by her father but, behind her back, several seasoned businessmen were simply jesting about courting the heiress as a new wife. This was the beginning of Elizabeth’s struggle in not only establishing a name for herself but also creating a space for women in society.
Elizabeth was only eighteen and fully set on a mission to not only continue with donations as her grandfather and father had done for years but to help out impoverished communities in a more meaningful way. She first met the mine purser Henry Pearce during one of her visits to the Wheal Alfred mine. Eventually she requested his aid in her mission. They fell in love with each other but Elizabeth had to decline Henry’s love due to the systemic class divide – her being an heiress, and him being from a lower class. Henry eventually got married and inadvertently got involved in a smuggling situation. Despite Elizabeth’s own struggles, her ever-present love for Henry propelled her to action.
The Light Among Us by Jill George and John Dirring is a well-researched historical fiction novel about a non-fictional brilliant woman, Elizabeth Carne, and how she bravely challenged the norms of 19th-century society to fulfill her life’s mission to create a society that’s equal for all. Elizabeth was a remarkable character with equally remarkable personal values, fighting for education for everyone even during her teenage years. There were several other commendable characters such as Mr. Bodilly Sr. with his unerring conviction and support for Elizabeth when their bank’s clients were undermining her capability solely because she was a woman. Mr. Bodilly Sr. and what he represents are what we need in any society, in any era. I thought that the romance between Henry and Elizabeth was not established properly but I paid it no mind because this story was more than a love story. The love that struck me the most wasn’t the love between Elizabeth and Henry but rather, Elizabeth’s love for purpose and learning. Overall, this was a motivational story that encouraged me to research more about the life and contributions of this remarkable woman, Elizabeth Carne.
Quill says: This is an inspiring historical fiction novel about a real-life woman pioneer fighting to fulfill her life’s missions in the middle of restrictive 19th-century English society.
“We must look back in time to see how far we have come, and how much further we need to go.” The preface of the book that we have today starts with these very wise words, and as you read further into the book, you’ll realise how true they stand. We have to go back and acknowledge our history to hopefully go forward to better places in the future. History is not just old dusty records, but also a source of inspiration. The lives of those who came before us matter to us as it is because of their endeavours we know today as we do. This book will too take the readers back in time to 19th century England, where we will get to meet and get acquainted with Elizabeth Catherine Thomas Carne.
The book transports the readers back in time to a Victorian England and places them right in the middle of the socio-cultural history and readers get a first person view of her time. A time where women were still considered very much docile and incapable. Some of these opinions unfortunately haven’t changed even in the modern 21st century. However, even in those very oppressing times, women like Elisabeth Catherine Thomas Carne broke walls of oppression and built a name and identity for themselves as a woman of substance.
This book celebrates an author, a banker, a philosopher, an educated and contributing member of the society, a philanthropist and most importantly it celebrates the revolutionary woman that Miss Carne was. It is one of the most inspiring stories I have read. I congratulate the author on writing this wonderful piece of literature. The storytelling is engaging and really captures the reader’s attention. Most of all I congratulate her on choosing such an important subject for her debut novel, so that we all remember a strong and powerful woman for who she was.
Reviewed by Janalyn Prude
In “The Light Among Us,” we learn about Elizabeth Carne who was an heiress, a banker, a geologist and many other things. In the book we find her in the fictitious Henry Pierce trying to uncover a smuggler. I found this book so entertaining and I loved Elizabeth character and also do not know which author wrote what, but together they have come up with a great historical fiction book about a real life person. She grew up in Cornwall and was educated but most of what she knew although her high intellect and education was encouraged by her father the collegiate level was all self taught or Learned by doing it. The mix of fiction and fact I think was woven together with great detail and imagination. I sincerely and totally loved this book and highly recommend it if you love historical fiction/romance you’ll love this book. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
Readers' Favorite
Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu
In the modern world, many would agree that having a degree or a college education would give them a better chance of success. But is this really true in every instance? How would things turn out if people abandoned their faith in the magical power of a college degree and placed their faith in themselves, their ability to learn new things, and their ability to overcome challenges? Jill George’s The Light Among Us addresses these profound concerns in a well-crafted narrative that blends fiction and true historical facts. The story follows Elizabeth Carne, a woman who lived in a time when society regarded a woman’s greatest achievements as mere feats, and they were taken for granted. This, however, does not prevent Elizabeth from leading an inspiring life that most of us can only dream about. Elizabeth is the youngest of eight children, and unlike her older brothers, she does not have a university degree. Regardless, Elizabeth is the heir to her family’s vast fortune. How will Elizabeth strive to protect her family’s legacy and status in a world where a woman’s most suitable task is keeping the kitchen clean and other household tasks?
I applaud the author for using the first-person point of view as the primary narration style. The book’s excellent character development and steady pace grant the reader a front-row seat as they watch events unfold. There was nothing about this book that I disliked. Jill George did an excellent job with the writing style. The novel ends with a cliffhanger that will keep readers interested as they wait for the next scene. I was amazed by the story’s compelling storyline until the very last page. Because the characters were so well developed, I felt like I’d known them my entire life. As I related to their experiences, I could feel their pain, happiness, and sadness. That being said, there were times when I had a smile on my face, while there was other times when I was heartbroken and sad. I recall Elizabeth’s father being very sick and struggling to utter one word. I couldn’t help but cry in this situation. This was the most heartbreaking scene in the book for me. What I liked best about The Light Among Us was its originality. George’s ability to conjure up a relevant historical era in which political, social, and economic aspects of people’s lives coexisted is astounding. Her imagination and creative abilities are admirable and deserve to be recognized.
George blends facts and fiction to deliver a perceptive and incredible story of British author, natural philosopher, geologist, conchologist, mineral collector, philanthropist, and banker, Elizabeth Carne’s journey to overcome the class system of the era. Elizabeth, the youngest of the eight siblings, doesn’t have a university degree like her brothers, but she’s capable nonetheless. As heiress to her father’s wealth, she has a family legacy to maintain. But finding success in a world, where woman’s only role is to remain within the walls of a household and maintain it, is more than difficult. George excels at characterization: she deftly explores the complex personalities of her protagonists, particularly Elizabeth’s, whose remarkable perspective and resolute spirit vividly come to life. The poignant first-person narration beautifully captures Elizabeth’s maturing perceptions along with her inner turmoil as she struggles to find a balance between her tender feelings for Henry and her father’s expectations, which align with her own ambitions. The narrative moves at a measured pace, the plotting remains tight, and the historical world that George creates is profoundly vivid and authentic. The author eloquently and powerfully writes of gender disparity while delving into the era’s class, racial, and economic tensions. Equally compelling as a historical novel and fictional autobiography, the novel honors known facts yet beautifully crafts its own striking version. This is one to savor.
Midwest Book Review
Reviewed by D. Donovan
A highly recommended novel steeped in place, time, and the abilities of a woman to change her course in life.
Kirkus Reviews
~An intriguing, forward thinking character
~Paints an informative portrait of the era
~Historically fascinating
~An in-depth…complex narrative
~An engaging history with a strong female lead
“It is a good things that you and your family do to aid the less fortunate. You have the spirit of God flowing though you. It is as if a light of goodness shines through you. Through your donations, it is as if you are helping us see there is a light among us.”
For fans of the Poldark series, and lovers of all things involving Cornwall, this beautiful book relays the story of Elizabeth Carne, a fascinating and remarkable 19th-century woman who was ahead of her time and laid the foundation for incredible educational and geological programs during that time period, based in her hometown of Penzance.
In the opening, at fifteen-years-old, she is already a fountain of knowledge, supporting her father, a well-known banker and geologist, spouting forth her opinions and answering questions with very forthright answers on an excursion to St Michael’s Mount. This preview of Elizabeth’s intellect sets the stage for the entirety of the book, revealing a very strong-minded young woman whose legacy, as her father instills in her, to become the first woman banker of Cornwall, and a forceful voice in the world of geology. Although she is a heiress, she uses her good fortune as a means for philanthropic pursuits, for the betterment of the people of Cornwall, especially the miners, the farmers, and the children who lack in any sort of education. Yet, this pursuit leaves her quite alone, unable to settle into a normal relationship with a man, in particular Henry Pearce, a man below her station but who connects with her on a very deep level.
“The differences in classes create isolation and monotony of thought and feeling, and then prejudice and class differences separate us from justice.” I will look to how much I have learned from Henry, the Freethy family – and yes, even Mr Richards – and also the perceptions of my friend Betsy the baker, the miners and the ball maidens, to enrich my book here and I am all the better for knowing these people and their abilities and perspectives. I see how others in the world could also benefit.
As Elizabeth grows up, and matures, taking on more and more responsibility in the bank, in writing weighty articles about the problems of social inequality and the lack of education, as well as her geological findings, her hasty rejection of Henry has him pursuing and marrying another young lady in the town, a woman who involves herself with some unsavory characters involved in smuggling, a blight upon the Penzance community. Elizabeth, herself, has several run-ins with the main smuggler, yet she is able to maintain her calm and continue shining as a moral and upright citizen whose Methodist upbringing and her own solid visions help her to overcome quite a few tragedies throughout her life. She is determined to uphold her promise to her father to ensure the family’s legacy even in the midst of economic hardships (the downturn of the mining industry), unbearable poverty surrounding her, the restrictive society tightened like a corset around women, and the sudden freedom given to her after the men in her life (her father, grandfather, and brothers) depart in one way or another.
I will blend these together as examples for my book. I will entitle it, Country Towns and the Place they fill In Modern Civilization.” I will solicit reactions from Bell and Daldy, publishers in London, and ask them to publish it, if they are favorable. I believe these were the publishers my cousins, the Brontës, used, but I will confirm.
The historical research woven into this tale is astounding, and the educational aspect about this woman whose story might have been lost to time if not for Ms George’s dedication for revealing the importance of her life, is quite noteworthy in light of the fact that Elizabeth’s cousins, the Brontë sisters in Yorkshire are quite well-known in relation to her story. Ms George is to be commended for bringing Elizabeth’s life to the forefront in such a superb narrative. Ms George even gives us an exciting twist in the relationship between Elizabeth and Henry, a fictitious relationship, but one that works well into the storyline involving smuggling rings, lies, and murder, and represents, as the author notes, the true love the people of Cornwall had with the incredible woman. This book is highly recommended.
Nothing in this world made me happier than these cliffs that looked as if a giant had taken an enormous spade or axe and hewn them along the coast like cutting a piece of cake. I wanted to burn this fresh happy day in my memory to recall during times of sadness in the future. I was hesitant to truly feel happiness when it did come along because it seemed profound sadness was always just around the corner. I tried to keep a happy, positive outlook and insisted to myself that a day like today was one of life’s jewels.
*****
“The Light Among Us: Cornwall” by Jill George receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence.
