About the Book
Mildred Holland revelled in the eight years she and her vicar husband William spent travelling 1840s Europe, recording beautiful artistic treasures and collecting exotic artifacts. But William’s parish in a tiny Suffolk village is a world away from her previous life.
When a longed-for baby does not arrive, she sinks into despair. What options exist for a clever, creative woman hemmed in by social expectations?
Then a chance encounter fires Mildred’s creative imagination. With courage and tenacity, she embarks on a herculean task. Defying her loving but exasperated husband, and mistrustful locals who suspect her of supernatural powers, Mildred rediscovers her passion and begins to live again . . .
Format: ebook (246 pages) Publisher: Urbane Publications (since republished by Bloodhound Books)
Publication date: 2nd May 2016 Genre: Historical Fiction
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My Review
The book is inspired by a visit the author made to the church of St. Mary the Virgin in Huntingfield, Suffolk which is famous for its painted ceiling. What is even more remarkable is the story of the woman behind it – Mildred Holland, the Huntingfield Paintress of the book’s title.
There couldn’t be more of a contrast between the years Mildred and her husband spent travelling Europe and the life that awaits them in the small village of Huntingfield. Whilst William immerses himself in his parish duties, Mildred finds herself unable to settle into the role of Rector’s wife. Despite her best efforts, the villagers don’t seem to warm to her. They find her unconventional; the fact she walks to the village rather taking the carriage for example. She becomes the focus of village gossip, some quite vicious. Her adventurous spirit, the spirit that saw her convince her husband they should embark on a tour of Europe rather than settle straight into conventional married life, now has no outlet. ‘How could life change so utterly? How could one person cope with that difference?’
Both Mildred and William are disappointed to find the parish church in a state of disrepair requiring significant financial investment. Furthermore the plain interior, a legacy of the English Reformation, is a far cry from the lavishly decorated buildings they encountered on their travels. For William, returning the church to its former glory is about helping his parishioners to feel closer to God. For Mildred, it’s more about the aesthetic possibilities and an opportunity to immerse herself in something that will provide a distraction from her humdrum life and the disappointment that she and William are childless.
Gradually Mildred finds herself more and more involved in the renovation of the church. It means not only defying social conventions but also overcoming her own self-doubt and, increasingly, severe physical challenges. Mildred’s is an inspiring story of tenacity, independence of spirit and a determination not to be limited by society’s expectations of a woman’s role. I must mention William too. His enduring support for Mildred, his admiration for her resolve and his desire to do everything in his power to ensure her happiness were very moving.
The Huntingfield Paintress is a fascinating story, beautifully told.
You can learn more about St Mary the Virgin Church, as well as view images of the interior, here. You can also listen to a podcast about the history of the building.
In three words: Engrossing, inspiring, heartwarming
Try something similar: That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn
About the Author
Pamela Holmes was born in Charleston, South Carolina. At the age of eight, she moved with her family to England. After school, she lived on a Somerset commune where she became adept at milking cows and laying hedges. Then she graduated as nurse from London University and began to work as a journalist in print and TV on health topics. When her sons left home, she turned to writing. The Curious Life of Elizabeth Blackwell is her third novel. She has also written The Huntingfield Paintress (2016) and Wyld Dreamers (2018). (Photo/bio: Author website)
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