Bodies Politic, is the latest novel by Michiel Heyns.(go here to read his interview with The Book Club Blog)
The story focuses on the highly articulate accounts of three suffragettes: Emmeline Pankhurst, her daughter Sylvia and the enchanting Helen, who was loved by Harry, the neglected son of Emmeline and beloved brother of Sylvia.
It describes the events of a past they shared, not always harmoniously but through the suffragette movement. It is a fictionalised account but are based on actual historical instances and with most of the encounters described, imaginary.
Michiel Heyns has done it again, written a highly readable book! It is sometimes slow going but the writing is brilliant and Michiel has an uncanny knack of transporting you to the time and events described. It is a story of a family, at odds with each other, but still there is a resemblance of love. It is a story of the relationships formed and broken, the strength of these women and the path that they have chosen.
This book shows us what it would of been like in this time period and the struggle for women’s rights. If you haven’t yet read any of Michiel Heyns, you are missing out!