TW: This book has depictions of physical and sexual abuse
Hearty of Cruelty by Maybelle Wallis follows 20-year-old Jane Verity, reduced to a Birmingham workhouse in 1840 after a scandalous affair with an actor, Edmond. While Edmond has gone off to seek his fame and fortune in the theatre world, Jane has been cast out by her parents and their respectable London home and must seek refuge in a workhouse-having been seemingly abandoned by Edmond. Jane gives birth to her illegitimate baby, but the boy does not survive the cruel conditions of the workhouse.
Jane is plucked from the harsh workhouse by Birmingham Coroner Dr. William Doughty to serve as his housekeeper as well as a caretaker for his ailing wife. Jane is guarded and tentative around Doughty, having experienced abuse at the hands of Edmond, the workhouse employees, and the sadistic Rev. Glyde who sits at the head of the workhouse’s board and guides the “spiritual education” of the women in the workhouse. Glyde is also the brother-in-law of Doughty, Doughty having first some to the workhouse to investigate an apparent suicide by hanging.
As Jane works in service in Doughty’s home, she soon comes to find that his wife Harriet suffers from serious mental health issues and has been self-medicating with opium and laudanum to the point of dangerous addiction. In time, Jane discovers something much more sinister between Harriet and Glyde. While Doughty is at first brusque and distrustful of Jane, he soon warms–too much so. He and Jane battle their growing feelings for each other as Harriet’s condition worsens. While at times I found myself wanting Jane and Doughty to “get together,” more often than not I found his behavior very much of his time: problematic, controlling, possessive, even manipulative at times. Jane comes from a history of abuse and recognizes this behavior at once, despite his moments gentleness and kindness toward her.
Wallis walks this fine line with adept observation of social and gender norms of the time. Despite Jane being drawn to Doughty and dangerously edging toward another scandalous affair, she also recognizes several times that Doughty will never see her as, nor treat her as, an equal. From the outset she recognizes the power imbalance between them and how, if they give in to their passions, Jane will be lead to further ruin and likely back in the workhouse. Unlike most stereotypical Victorian heroines, Jane acknowledges that Doughty will always “see himself the master and she the servant.” As such, Jane sets a goal to regain employment as a professional piano player. Her music is her solace and her true vocation, as well as possibly her only “way out” of having to rely on very unreliable men going forward. She seeks to carve her own path and stand on her own two feet after her dealings with men who have effectively ruined her life. I really loved that the author did not sugarcoat the situation with Doughty, nor make him too modern in his sentiments and actions. I also appreciated the author’s ability to paint the gritty, dirty city of Birmingham in all its grimy industry. I was engaged the entire read through and would consider Heart of Cruelty a page-turner.
I am eager to read the next install of Jane’s journey, The Piano Player.
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