Afton of Margate Castle
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AFTON OF MARGATE CASTLE

By Angela Elwell Hunt
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
This is the first book in The Theyn Chronicles.
Book Two is called The Trobadours Quest
Book Three is called Ingram of the Irish

REVIEW
by Miriam Bartlett

This is an excellent book. It is set in the 1100's AD, a time about which very few Christian novels are written. Afton is mostly set in England around the lives of the inhabitants of Margate Castle and it's surrounds. There is also a portion of the book devoted to characters that travel to the Crusades.

The story begins with Afton, an adventurous eight year old who spends most of her time caring for her five younger brothers. Afton, however is a villein (common villager) and that means that she has no rights so when the families sheep dies and the rent (a lamb) cannot be paid the Lady of Margate Castle (Endeline) decides that she wants Afton in place of the lamb.

This story shows how money and power can be used to exploit those who are poor. Afton has no rights and Endeline uses this to her advantage, doing with Afton what she wishes. When Afton is 13 she is married by Endeline's orders to a man who is over 50. This is a distressing story in parts, but it does closely mirror the lives of women all over the world in third world countries where they have no rights. Although set nearly 900 years ago, it does truly mirror modern life. Afton is just a girl that must go throught particular situations to help her to grow emotionally and spiritually.

I thoroughly recommend this book, but I think that it would be wise to restrict it to people over 16 (or even perhaps 18).
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Created: Monday 11th September 1996
Last Updated:Saturday 9th August 1997 12noon AEST

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