A Net for Small Fishes: ‘The Thelma and Louise of the seventeenth century’ Lawrence Norfolk

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it’s only in recent months that I’ve started to lean into my unanticipated love for historical fiction. with a wealth of wonderful contemporary novels in the market that vary in the centuries and periods they cover, I’ve generally gravitated towards more well-known and modern areas of the past. a net for small fishes is the antithesis of my typical preferences as centres on a true story of imagined relationship between two women in the court of king james. Full of colour, intrigue, and historical characters we can relate to . . . Jago has a great flair for the sensuous image and evokes the heady mix of gaudy glamour and grime that characterises the era with a distinctive, dense poetry. Historical fiction at its scintillating best and most filmic."

A sensuous evocation of 17th-century noble shenanigans. Jago offers a timely lens through which to reconsider power dynamics in Jacobean England . . . Seamless and stylish . . . Set in 1609, 69 years after the Mantel trilogy concludes, so those mourning Cromwell may find much to scintillate here." There seemed no point in asking how she did, so I repeated my name and explained that I had received a note that morning from her mother. She scowled and opened her mouth to comment but at that very moment the lady of whom we spoke, the Countess of Suffolk, sailed into the room like a ship fully rigged in court dress, every inch swinging with pearls and gold chains. Behind her came her other two daughters, one older, one younger than Frances, sumptuously apparelled but plain by comparison to their sister. They came to a halt, skirts swaying on willow hoops as wide as their arm spans, a priceless armada. The little dog shot under Frances’s undershirt. The scenes painted in historical London are authentically portrayed, along with the engaging dialogue, delivering an enthralling read with intelligent and distinctive voices. The depth of the characters creates personalities full of light and shade, witty, and fascinating.Angling Direct offers a curated selection of fishing nets, landing net handles, net bags, and accessories to meet every angler’s needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, you'll find products that combine quality, durability, and functionality to support your angling activities. The Countess of Essex, Frances 'Frankie' Howard, might seem to be in an enviable position, but she dreams of a marital upgrade. Her odious husband, Robert Devereux, and his petty violence is more than she can handle. Especially when the King's current favourite, Robert Carr, plays so passionately for her attention. But this is a high stakes game...the Court is fractious, full of rivalries and jealousy, and more than one family has fallen when losing the favour of the King. To get what she wants, Frankie will have to risk it all... but she's not the only one with something at stake. Anne Turner, dresser and companion, has less to lose, at least in terms of wealth and status. That's not to say that the ever closer relationship between her and Frankie is without risk. Anne's desperation for more than her hard lot, and the chance to seize it through this society connection, will put her very life on the line. The court of King James 1st is a seething mass of political intrigue as some of the greatest families in the land jostle for influence with their new Scottish king. A Net for Small Fishes focuses on two women caught up in the manoeuvrings of the Howards, one of the great Catholic families who adhered to their faith and maintained a position at court even during the English Reformation Carp landing nets come with a broader, flat bottom to accommodate the sizable carp without harming them.

The servant led the way as if into battle, his torch throwing monstrous shadows of my form against the walls. Fog muffled the light and dewed the stone. Although midmorning, the place felt to be just waking. Frances Howard is the wife of the Earl of Essex and she is trapped in a loveless marriage. After meeting Anne Turner she develops a close friendship with the mother of six. Anne is captivated at this new world she has been introduced to full of extravagance and often times tawdry behavior. Both women are unhappy with their current situations, but not much you can do when you are living in a time when all females are expected to be silent, loyal, and obedient. What will happen if they decide to take matters into their own hands? Hand nets are primarily used for small-scale fishing operations and recreational fishing. They are often used to catch baitfish, such as minnows, for use in other types of fishing. They can also be used to catch panfish, such as sunfish or bluegill, for food or sport. Environmental Impact of Hand Nets A fabulous book. Frankie and Anne's world is not just brilliantly evoked but brilliantly sustained' Andrew Miller

Media Reviews

The Thelma and Louise of the seventeenth century: two mismatched heroines, two grittily textured lives, an outrageous plot (true!), sex, politics, and a gut-wrenching ending." As a real life murder mystery with a historical fiction twist, this was a huge amount of fun. Having read rather dry accounts of the Overbury Affair previously, it was wonderful to experience the vibrancy of this reimagining. I loved the spirit of the female voices, their unlikely friendship, their struggle for self in a world dominated by male power. It's a testament to the strength of feeling in the novel that I hoped for a different ending. But for all the imaginative license Lucy Jago takes in the book, she hasn't aimed to ignore history, just enhance it. And the book is all the better for it. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I became engrossed in jago’s tale of royal courts and companionships. both anne and frankie are carefully crafted characters reimagined from the snippets we know of their real history together. the writing and humour are reminiscent of a modernised austen - that same acerbic wit and satire viewed through a contemporary lens. at times the novel is brutal in its commentary on misogyny and the treatment of women at this time, evoking a plethora of emotions that are sure to make any modern reader angry. but at its core, a net for small fishes is a story of the power of female friendships and how no one is too small to make a difference in another’s life.

Surrounding nets are large nets that are deployed from a boat and encircle a school of fish. The net is then gradually drawn in, surrounding the fish and capturing them. Surrounding nets are commonly used for commercial fishing. Advantages of Surrounding Nets: We are all caught, from the highest to the lowest, in nets of custom and propriety; those that cut themselves free do not swim away but are destroyed” Anne Turner, narrator and heroine of Lucy Jago’s A Net for Small Fishes, feels like she steps straight from the stage of a Jacobean masque. To an extent, she does. Turner, the widow of a London doctor, was a historical figure hanged at Tyburn for her part in the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. She became an instant celebrity, vilified by contemporary playwrights. Turner was the subject of the anonymous play The Widow, and features in Thomas Middleton and William Rowley’s The World Tossed at Tennis. The book’s title refers to justice, which catches small fry while letting larger fish escape punishment. Anne thrums with life all the way through to her tragic, gruesome end, while Frankie is calculating and alluring. The fact that all of the action is filtered through Anne’s voice means that some of Frankie’s escapades have a slightly secondhand air to them, and Carr never really convinces as a replacement for the vile Essex. These, though, are small gripes compared with the many things there are to love in this scintillating novel that plunges you head-first into a darkly compelling chapter of British history. This is well researched and engages the reader. As others have said it can feel a little stilted, but it is enjoyable. Jago consciously wrote about the scandal from the point of view of the women involved and she has also referred to it as a sort of seventeenth century Thelma and Louise.Trolling and trawling are two distinct fishing techniques. Trolling involves trailing bait or lures behind a moving boat to attract and catch fish. It’s a more selective and precise technique, as fishermen can target specific species by adjusting their trolling speed and the type of bait or lure used. Bravura historical debut . . . Jago keenly conveys the peril of being a woman of any class in the 17th century . . . Like all the best historical fiction, A Net for Small Fishes is a gloriously immersive escape from present times, but it’s not escapism." The servant led the way as if into battle' - erm, no, he's simply lighting the way to a bedchamber;