A deceptively simple book, The Colour of Milk is a story about a poor farm girl in the mid-19th century. Mary is sent away to earn money for her family working as a carer to the vicar’s invalid wife. There Mary learns to read and write. In the meantime her sister, still working on the farm, becomes pregnant by the vicar’s son, who escapes responsibility – and gets away with it. After the vicar’s wife dies, Mary experiences abuse. The treatment of women and the poor serves as the backdrop to this tale about empowerment. While the story might not be the most original, it is a worthwhile read just for the voice and lively expression of the first person narrator.
The Colour of Milk
Published by trimarcoblog
I'm a writer and linguist. My short stories have been published in several literary magazines and some of my stage plays have been professionally performed with the support of Arts Council England. One of my essays was shortlisted by Wasafiri Magazine for their Life Writing Competition 2014. As a linguist, I've authored four textbooks, including Digital Textuality (2015, Palgrave Macmillan), and I've had my research published in several books and journals. I am also a regular contributor to the Literary Encyclopedia. View all posts by trimarcoblog
Paola Trimarco 