On the morning of her wedding to her childhood sweetheart, Pell steals away with her adopted brother and her horse. She has watched her overburdened mother struggle to feed her numerous children with no help from her drunkard husband, and swears she’ll never subject herself to such misery. She leaves for the Salisbury Fair in search of work and time to contemplate the next steps of her life.

Misfortune strikes devastatingly hard, forcing Pell to undertake a long and arduous journey. On the way, she meets gypsies and poachers, and acquires a lanky and loyal puppy. Furthermore, Pell begins to realise that her ties to home and family are stronger than she first believed, and that love and connection to others are vital to living.

The Bride’s Farewell is written in such a way that you simply can’t put it down until you have devoured every last page. Meg Rosoff’s latest novel transports readers to the 1850s with stunning use of imagery and phrasing. Pell’s journey will entirely captivate readers.