“Full Circle” by Daisy Wood

I love historical fiction. The full volume collections of Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, and Jack London are only a few of those nestling on my bookshelves. And they aren’t simply gathering dust; I do reread some of them from time to time.

The times long gone always fascinated me. Historical settings described in detail are a feast for my imagination. The interactions between the characters, led by the motives dictated by the norms of the society of the bygone era, are no less bewitching. What strikes me the most is the realisation that, irrespective of the time period, some things remain unchanged.

“Full Circle” by Daisy Wood is set in England during the Georgian era. This time period, viewed controversially by those striving for social equality and justice, holds irresistible appeal for me as a reader.

I was immediately drawn into the story by the family history recounted briefly in the prologue. By the time the main characters were introduced, I already felt invested and wished to learn how their lives would play out. The next thing that hooked my interest was that I didn’t feel sympathetic toward Stewart Hamilton and his struggles. He seemed to me the kind of man who inflicted trouble on himself by having a hot temper and poor judgment. Here, I probably must add that I like such characters about whom you cannot make up your mind at once whether you love or hate them.

As I read on, my curiosity about Stewart and other characters grew, making it difficult to put the book down. I could not guess where the plotlines were heading. I praise the author for making the secondary characters no less interesting than those from the main ‘cast.’ It isn’t often that we get a glimpse into the lives of the servants from the Georgian, Victorian, and Regency eras. It is probably because the writers born in those times simply did not pay much attention to the thoughts and aspirations of those from the lower classes. Nowadays, despite the obvious limitations, we have the opportunity to see a bigger picture. Moreover, since our society has changed dramatically over the past two centuries, we are naturally more sympathetic to all people, irrespective of their social standing.

The story moves forward at a lingering pace, letting the reader learn about the characters through dialogue and domestic scenes. By the time Stewart Hamilton finds himself entangled in the net of intrigue threatening to ruin the peace and happiness of his family, it wasn’t the characters I was worrying about. It was real people’s tribulations that made my heart beat faster and wish that they would find a way out of seemingly desperate situations.

Irrespective of the era, some people seem to have something dark in them that makes them pursue vengeance, often caused by misplaced offense, against logic and common sense. It is only one of the things reading “Full Circle” by Daisy Wood made me contemplate. Along with other thought-provoking themes and heart-stopping plot twists, this is a story about the importance of having those who genuinely care about you. When you have such people in your life, you can overcome the harshest hardships. Sometimes, we make choices forced by circumstances or led by emotions. Still, it doesn’t mean the choices made in this manner are wrong. Life is an intricate tapestry, and it’s not always possible to see the interweaving of its threads.