During the first few pages of this historical novel, the reader gets quite a bit of interesting information about the woman's movement in Britain during the time when women were supposed to rely on being good little wives who sat at home and entertained their husband's cronies when he brought them home for supper. Not so for our lead character. She owns her own newspaper and helps widowed women left with nothing to get back on their feet. She has no use for the trivial matters of love or proper etiquette. That is until she meets up with her old friend who not only involves her in her affair with another man other than her husband but also the nasty divorce to follow.
It's a riveting book that is somewhat like reading the scandal sheets of today, and whether we like to admit it or not, we all do enjoy some juicy gossip, especially from a book so well written!

I read this off the Giller long list and was amazed..shouldn't have been since Emma Donoghue is fabulous - but I was. The story was well written, the character were rich and well developed. The story of a victorian era divorce was facinating! I am disappointed that it didn't make the short list. Either was an excellent, engrossing read!

I read this book on the recommendation from Betty (see her review below) and I found it very interesting.It is the story of a divorce case in England in 1862 and a female friend who gets caught in the middle. Did she help the wife have an affair? Was she improperly involved with the wife? Will the woman's movement be forever harmed by Fido's involvement in this case? I did sort of have to slog through some of it - the writing was okay for me but didn't totally pull me in. It was a great mix of historical figures and fiction and really rang true. She did a lot of research. I was really interested in the woman's movement - the Cause- and the reactions to it - from men and women. And of course, the legal battle and the law and how horribly harsh it was towards women. It was a very interesting time and I'm glad we have seen the end of it! The author's note at the end is extremely interesting too, it lets you know the rest of the story.

I first discovered Donoghue back in 2000 when I read one of her best selling novels, Slammerkin. I was struck then by the richness of her characters, so well written that the reader develops strong emotions towards them. Most impressive however is Donoghue's historical research. The fabric, mores, culture and so much more of Victorian England are brilliantly and accurately portrayed.

So is the case with The Sealed Letter. As in previous novels, the story is based upon actual historical facts and persons. We meet 'Fido" Faithfull, a liberal thinking spinster who runs her own printing press espousing her 'Cause'- Women's Rights. She meets up with an old friend Helen Codrington, who detests her older husband Admiral Codrington, and the restrictions society puts upon 'correct' female behaviour. Fido is drawn into Helen's world, but is naive and trusting. She offers true friendship, but due to Helen's machinations, is instead thrust unwillingly into the public eye in Helen's very messy divorce. This divorce case takes place in 1864, but believe it or not features a stained dress (sound familiar?), accusations of rape and a mysterious sealed letter that could decide the case.

Donoghue captures the language, the emotions and the time period eloquently. The Sealed Letter is the third of a loose trilogy exploring Victorian society and life through the eyes of the different classes. Slammerkin explores the poor, Life Mask the very rich and The Sealed Letter the middle class. All are extremely enjoyable reads.